Tag: Peonies
Here Are Some Lovely Peonies to Take Your Mind Off of Donald Trump
I feel that right about now we all need something calming and beautiful to look at. And back in early June there was a lot of beauty at the Oshawa Peony Garden outside Toronto.
A Verdant Toronto Garden
Now seems like a good time to revisit the wonderful Toronto Garden Bloggers Fling, held in early June.
Foliage and Fruits of June
Recently a friend told me I needed more color and variegation among the foliage in my garden. I admit that when I think about plants, the foliage is often an afterthought. That’s one reason I like to participate in Garden Bloggers Foliage Day, sponsored monthly by Christine at My Hesperides Garden, which nudges me to …
Peony Frustration
Until I got home on Monday, peonies had been growing on me. Not literally, but over the last couple of years my enthusiasm for peonies had been slowly increasing. , Initially, that level of enthusiasm was quite low. In fact, it was only the steady barrage of wistful sighs from Judy that persuaded me to …
April Leaves Bring May Flowers
Of course you also need rain, but it’s the fresh green leaves of April that herald the flowers of May. For some this tender new foliage is barely noticeable, certainly unremarkable. However, to me their appearance is a moment of cheerful drama. For example, the blue-green leaves of Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) which are among …
Garden Catalog Review: Klehm’s Song Sparrow Farm and Nursery
Klehm’s Song Sparrow Farm began in 1852 as a nursery for fruit trees, and has been in the same family ever since. Charles Klehm, a lover of peonies and charter member of the American Peony Society (founded 1903), shifted the emphasis to ornamental plants. Their website is here. Klehm’s, currently located in southern Wisconsin, offers …
Judy and Her New Camera at Lurie Garden
When we bought Judy’s last camera, about eight years ago, we were amazed by what it could do. It was a Nikon D40, her first digital SLR camera. We both tend to believe that any object that represents a major purchase should be kept until it is used up or no longer working (this explains …
Peony’s Progress
This is the fourth spring since I planted peonies in our garden. I didn’t really want to plant peonies, they didn’t fit in with my native/wildlife-friendly gardening ethos. Plus, let’s face it, they are the ultimate horticultural flash in the pan: blooming one day, gone the next. But Judy yearned for peonies, and I gave …
It’s Alive!
First, the good news. As a result of frequent applications of the Stare of Life, several of the plants on the winter death watch have broken dormancy. Specifically: both my two year old fringe trees (Chionanthus virginicus), the bluebeard (Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Longwood Blue’}, the ‘Blue Adonis’ compact butterflybush (Buddleia), and the ‘Conca D’Or’ orienpet …
April GBFD: Spring Green
At this time of year the blooms of the spring bulbs tend to get all the glory. But it is also worth paying attention to the tender green growth of later herbaceous plants, as well as the woody plants that are just starting to break bud. This new growth has a freshness and sweetness that …
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