Where Poppies Grow

Orange Poppy

We shall not sleep,

Though poppies grow.

In Flanders Fields

                                                   - John McCrae

Orange Poppies

 













    
     There is something about the poppy that is so alluring to me with it's fairy like papery petals.
     I have been growing the tall orange poppy, which seems to be one of the most popular poppies for years now. They always make a statement in the early spring when everything is still waking up from it's winter sleep. It gives us that first burst of colour with the promise of all the flowers to follow.
     If your lucky the spring rains won't beat them down before they have a chance to show off in all their glory. These poppies are tall and delicate so unfortunately don't fair very well in the wind and rain.

Pink Salmon Oriental Poppy

Pink Salmon Oriental Poppy

    Poppies are surprisingly easy to grow. They like sunshine and well drained soil. They require little watering and little care. Sounds perfect to me.
    There are small and large, single petaled or multi petaled poppies. They come in pink, yellow, orange, red, white and the rare Himalayan Blue.
   They are also easy to grow from seed. You can save the seed heads, dry them and sprinkle out the seeds. In the spring mix the seeds with a little sand and scatter in the garden. Do not bury the seeds, you can cover them with a very thin layer of soil instead.  
   I have just received the seed heads of a multi petaled beautiful pink poppy,  so hopefully next year I will have another poppy to add to my list. There are many different varieties of poppies and so far I have five.

Red Oriental Poppies

  
 My earliest blooming poppy is the orange poppy that I mentioned. Then there is my pink salmon Oriental poppy. This is such a pretty flower, it is a single petaled flower and really does resemble crinkled paper. Oriental poppies also have black spots at the base of the petals. Stunning!!
     I also have a red Oriental poppy that is almost neon in colour. It is a double petaled poppy and has a strong sturdy stem. This stands up well in the elements. I think I had about twenty blooms this year from a single plant. This is a real show stopper.

Red Oriental Poppy

Iceland Poppies

  

Iceland Poppy

   And then there is my Iceland poppies. These are small plants with small blossoms, one is a light orange and the other is three different colours (red, yellow and orange) The orange Iceland poppy blooms from spring through summer and would be a great addition to any sunshine garden.

Iceland Poppies

    Last year I purchased five poppies near the end of the season, they were  99. cents a piece. They didn't look like much at the time but for the price I figured it was worth a try. Three survived and one was my beautiful red Oriental poppy. So don't forget to scour the garden centres at the end of the season and see what gems you can find.

   Anybody who has seen the Wizard of Oz will remember the field of poppies.  And even though we likely won't have a mass of poppies like that in our gardens we can still have a beautiful display from spring through summer.
    So next time you are looking for something of interest to add to your garden consider the poppy.
Grow your own field of dreams.

    Happy Gardening!!

Spring is in the air

        'Springtime is the land 
              awakening,
          The March winds are 
              the morning yawn.'
                          - Quoted by Lewis Grizzard
   

              

Trilliums

   It may be hard to believe but spring has arrived. Depending on where you live the snow is gone, the daffodils are blooming and the birds are busy building their nests.
   It's that time of year where we get teased by warm days and then hit again with cold days. But sure enough the warmer weather is on its way.

     I love this time of year because it really is to early to get out there and start digging in the dirt but it is a great time to think about what you want to do in the garden. You're gearing up with ideas swirling in your head but you still have time to flip through seed catalogues, scour your gardening magazines and decide what changes you want to make and what plants you want to try.

Sedum Autumn Joy

    I like to start by making a list of plants I'd like to try and changes I want to make. Sometimes I need to divide plants, move them or get rid of them altogether.
    It's also a good time to think about what you want to do with your planters if you have them. Planning ahead saves you time in the garden centre and also helps you avoid buying plants that you don't need or won't work in your garden. I don't know about you but if I don't have an idea of what I need I go in there and it's like a candy store, I want it all.
   So know your garden before you go. Do you have a colour scheme, are you working with shade or full sun. Think about the succession of bloom times allowing your garden to bloom all season. If you want to attract butterflies and birds think about the type of plants you will need.

Christmas rose

 
    This is also the time to get your birdhouses out, I actually put mine out about two weeks ago.  I have a container for yarn that I bought at the One of a Kind show. In the spring I fill it with colourful strips of yarn for the birds and if I'm lucky I will see it tucked in nest here and there around the neighbourhood. I didn't have any yarn last year so I used my garden twine, it's not as colourful but works just the same.
    Also, don't forget about your bird feeders and bird baths. This is the perfect time to clean them and fill them up.

Mourning Cloak

Yarn holder for nesting

   So even though the days may still seem a little cold and spring doesn't look that promising trust that it is just around the corner.  
   Use this time to plan and dream and before you know it you will have the sun in your face and your hands in the dirt.

   And just in case you are still in doubt I have already seen two of these beautiful butterflies along with ladybugs and bees.

    Happy Gardening!!

Something old, Something new

Clematis- 'Henryi'

                               
       " A flower's appeal is in its contradictions -
                                          so delicate in form yet strong in fragrance,
                                                  so small in size yet big in beauty,
                                                       so short in life yet long on effect."
                           
                                                                         - Adabella Radici
                
                              
    Sometimes, no matter how hard we try and how much tlc we give out plants we lose some. This year was a particularly bad one for me, as I believe it was for many people.

    I lost several Rose's, my Corkscrew Hazel, which made me very sad, my Japanese Maple, which made me even sadder since I only put it in last year, my beautiful Butterfly Bush, Lavender  and a few other small plants.

    As disappointed as I was it also gave me the chance to purchase some new ones, not that I really need an excuse.  I bought a new Butterfly Bush in a different color, a couple of new Rose Bushes and of course one more stab at a Japanese Maple, a different variety this time 'Tiger Rose'.

My dead Japanese Maple

Tiger Rose Japanese Maple

     I decided to leave my Corkscrew Hazel just where it was and decorated it with tiny solar lights. I love the way it looks at night and one of the reasons I like Corkscrews is for the way it looks without it's leaves. Now it serve's as a piece of 'Art' in my garden.

'Pinky Winky' Hydrangea

 

My dead Corkscrew Hazel

    I purchased a Hydrangea tree 'Pinky Winky' to replace my Rose tree and I am so happy with it. The colour is amazing and the flowers are great dried.

    I also purchased a couple of new roses, a Hybrid Tea Rose 'Tiffany' and a Grandiflora Rose 'Melody Parfumee' both have a beautiful fragrance. Which for me if I'm going to plant roses I want some fragrance as well.
    I like to sit a small vase on the kitchen windowsill and enjoy it's fragrance as it lightly scents a room. Such a small bloom with great impact.

Grandiflora 'Melody Parfumee'

Hybrid Tea Rose - ' Tiffany'

     I discovered a few new plants to fill in my now empty spaces, one is a Coneflower called 'Now Cheesier' which I love for it's vibrant orange colour and it's great name, both remind me of Kraft dinner.  A variegated Masterwort caught my eye for it's small delicate flower and soft pink colour. I also found a lovely Clematis 'Henryi' which has large white blooms along with a few other little gems.

 Coneflower 'Now Cheesier'

Variegated Masterwort

                
    Funny enough plants such as my Nasturtium and Borage which don't usually come back survived the winter in my garden. I was really pleased about the Borage since I usually have a difficult time finding it each year. 

Borage

Nasturtium

     So don't despair when you lose a plant or two. Think of it as renewal for your garden, a chance to try something new or buy the same plant in a different colour. Either way it changes things up and gives you a chance to play. 
      Also, don't forget as you put your garden to bed it is also time to plant your bulbs. Another chance to try something new.
  Happy Gardening!!
   
          

My feathered friends

Wren looking for a home

                 'Poor indeed is the garden 
                         in which birds find no homes'
                                                 -Abram L. Urban

Sparrows making a home

Baby sparrows

    One of the best parts of having a yard to me is the wildlife it attracts. 

So every year I try to entice more birds with new birdhouses, birdbaths, flowers and of course food. Over the years I have tried many different seeds, Niger seed being the one I thought would bring the Gold finches and Chickadees and it did for a bit.

 It turns out though that Niger is not the favorite. It has a few downfalls, it goes bad quite quickly which I didn't realize and it also does not fair well in the rain. It is imported so depending on how long it took to ship and how long it has been sitting in the store, it has a short life span. Which in turn makes for an expensive and wasteful feed.

Chickadee

So I was on a quest to find a new feed and have been very successful.  Wild Birds Unlimited in Burlington always seemed to have a flock of birds at it's feeder outside it's store. So I inquired as to what they were feeding them. Turns out they love shelled Sunflower seeds. I bought two squirrel 'proof' (is there really such a thing!!) bird feeders, a large bag of the shelled Sunflower seeds and now I 

have a constant parade of birds in my yard.

    They line up on the wires taking turns morning and night. I have had an abundance of Goldfinches, Sparrows, two very faithful Cardinals, Woodpeckers and Chickadees.  My Doves have finally come back and peck at the seed on the ground so it seems everyone is happy, especially me. 

  For the most part the Squirrel can't get at the feed, so all is good. And without the shell there is very little mess.

Gold Finch

Woodpecker

Gold Finches

Female Cardinal basking in the sun.

   One thing to remember though is if you are going to attract wildlife to your yard don't forget the basics, food, water and shelter. Try to have a birdbath or basin and don't forget to clean the water on a regular basis. If you can have at least one tree, large or small it will provide shade and shelter. Plants and flowers also provide shade as well as food. A birdhouse or two will ensure safety for the birds and give them a reason to come to your yard. Once they know that it is there they will come back year after year.  I have had three sets of baby sparrows in my one bird house so far this year. 

Robin having a bath

Baby sparrow having a bath

                                                  
                                                         
                                                                       










  





         'Spring would not be spring
                without bird songs.'
            Francis M. Chapman

    And then of course there is the Hummingbird which over the past couple of years I have been trying desperately to lure to my yard. I might see one once a year since trying but this year I have had several visits. I keep adding plants that they like and it seems to be working. I do put out food for them but rarely does it go to it. It prefers my plants.
    They also remember one year to the next where the food is so keep your plants healthy and keep adding if you can and they will keep coming.

Hummingbird on Bee balm

     My next goal is the Oriole, which I have been working at but without luck so far.
 I will keep on trying.
    So if you want birds in your yard give them a reason to come, then sit back and enjoy your feathered friends.
    Happy Gardening!!

Hummingbird on Monkshood

Hummingbird on Penstemon

For the love of Lavender

Lavender drying

                                                      "The air was fragrant with a
                                                               thousand trodden aromatic herbs,
                                                         with fields of Lavender, and with the 
                                                               brightest roses blushing in tufts 
                                                          all over the meadows....."
                                                                                              -William Cullen Bryant
                                                     
                                                              
                                                                                         

Lavender drying

          Depending on where you live, it is time to harvest your Lavender, if that is your plan.
    I like to harvest at least 3/4 of my Lavender but I also like to make sure that I have enough left that I can enjoy it's scent for weeks to come.
      I think Lavender if one of those scents that you either love or hate. I love the scent of Lavender and have placed it in a garden attached to the deck so I can enjoy it as much as possible.
   My dog even likes the scent and will stick her nose in it a give it a gentle shake, releasing it's perfume. Of course she likes to stick her nose in anywhere that smells like food, like the mint, chives and her favorite the tomatoes.

Luna enjoying the Lavender

        It is best to cut the Lavender stalks first thing in the morning after the dew has gone or in the evening after the heat of the day. Cut the stalks just before the flowers open.
       I gather them in bunches and tie an elastic around the base and then wrap the last few loops of the elastic around a hanger making it easy for hanging. Hang it in a cool dry place for a week or two and then remove the flowers storing them in a jar or other tightly sealed container.

Dried Lavender buds

    "As Rosemary is to the spirit,
          so Lavender is to the soul."
                                   -Anonymous

My jar of dried Lavender

   Now that you have dried Lavender flowers you can use it as potpourri or bake with it.
 You can make little bags of potpourri or little potpourri pillows. These are great for scenting powder rooms or tucked in a drawer or closet.
  I like to bake with mine. In the past I have made Lavender cupcakes with Lavender icing and Lavender shortbread cookies. Last year I infused honey with Lavender. I was happy with all of them and as far as flavor goes the honey was my favorite.
  Like the scent of Lavender, the taste is definitely an acquired taste. I personally love the floral
perfumy taste and infuse the milk with Lavender before using it in my baking.
  

Blueberry Lavender Muffins

   This year I decided to make Blueberry Lavender Muffins.  As usual I infused the milk and then discarded the buds before using. Although I liked the way these turned out I like a strong Lavender taste and would therefore leave the buds in the milk next time.
  The taste of these muffins was a very subtle Lavender so if you are not sure if it is something you will like, try it without the buds first. You can use any muffin recipe that uses milk or buttermilk and if it calls for vanilla or other flavoring omit that, otherwise it will overpower the Lavender.

Blueberry Lavender Muffins

    Most of the Lavender has finished but I planted three new plants this year among my roses (my two favorite scents together) and they are just starting to bloom. I also replaced a plant that I lost over the winter and it has not bloomed yet so I may have a bit more Lavender to harvest before the season is over.
    If you dead head your Lavender you might get lucky and get a second yield. It hasn't always worked for me but I have had some success with that.
    Lavender likes a fairly dry, sandy soil and it is important to let the soil dry out before watering again. I actually forget about watering mine sometimes since it is separate from the rest of my gardens and it seems to thrive from the neglect. Now that's a plant I love.

   So treat yourself and plant some Lavender. Wether you decide to bake with, make potpourri or just enjoy it in your garden I don't think you will be disappointed.

  Enjoy! and Happy Gardening!!
  

Hostas

An array of Hostas in my shade garden

'There is no spot of ground, however arid, bare or ugly, 

that cannot be tamed into such a state as to give an impression

of beauty and delight.'

                                                                -Gertrude Jekyll



     We all have that space in our garden where nothing seems to grow.  Under a tree where the sun never seems to get in or where the soil is dry, sandy or clay like. Spots where we have tried just about everything and nothing seems to survive.

Chartreuse colored Hostas and Mouse ear Hosta 

  I don't know about you but I am always going for the maximum impact, I want the flowers, the color, the scent.

Welcome to the Hosta.

Potted Hosta

Praying hands Hosta (tall) and Lemon lime Hosta

     This to me is a plant that is not given enough credit. I mean the Hosta really has it all. It comes in hundreds of different varieties and I don't know how many shades of green. It flowers, some have scent and it grows almost anywhere.

Flowering Hosta

      I can actually say that I have not found a spot in my garden where Hostas won't grow.  It can be used in containers, boarders or as an accent plant. It can be grown in shade or sun and just about any soil condition.

Elongated leaf Hosta

     Even though I love a garden full of flowers you still need texture and greenery to add interest to your garden, what better plant than the Hosta. One of the great things about the Hosta is that it adds both texture and color not to mention they are almost maintenance free. Besides having to cut the dead flowers after they bloom they will maintain their shape and color all season needing little attention otherwise.

Cup leaved Hosta

  Then there is the size, they come in so many different sizes and shapes that you can tuck them in almost anywhere. They are quite drought tolerant thus surviving in poor soil conditions. Their leaves can be the size of a dinner plate or as small as a silver dollar. There are elongated leaved Hostas and curly, ruffled leaved ones leaving you with unlimited options. 

Large leaved Hosta

  Before you start, think about sun or shade, size and color.  Different shades of green will enhance different plants,  so choose what works for you and fill in the little areas of your garden. Just remember the larger versions take up a lot of space but can easily be divided to maintain the size you want.

   Also think of using them in containers, they can be used alone or in combination with other plants again depending on the size of Hosta you choose. Also, depending on the container, it can overwinter which makes for one less task come springtime.

 So before you right off an area of your garden as unable to grow anything you might want to give the Hosta a try. With a little research you will find which Hostas work for you. Plant, then sit back and watch your garden grow.

Happy Gardening!!

Flowering Hosta

                                                    



  Everything has it's beauty,   
               But not everyone sees it.  
                                             
                               -The Wisdom of Confucius