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!!