Exteriors/How Does Your Garden Grow

Julia Child

A floribunda that bears buttery blooms with an anise fragrance. Shrub is rounded. An All-America Rose Selections.

Fourth of July

A climber that blooms along the length of its canes. Big sprays of semidouble blooms come in various combinations of red and white; some are striped, some splotched with red. Pretty against a weathered, split-rail fence. 

Betty Boop

A floribunda with fruit-scented, semidouble flowers of yellow-ivory edged with red. The rounded shrub reblooms without deadheading.

About Face

A grandiflora with bronzy red petals on the outside, light golden orange on the inside. Blooms smell like fresh-cut apples. The plant has an upright growth habit.

Rose Border

Pink-flowered 'Baby Blanket' shrub roses combine with pink penstemon, pale lavender society garlic, silvery lamb’s ears, and creeping thyme.

Can you tell, I am getting excited about Spring!!!!

Garden Scene Color Splash Part 2 of 2

Gaura (G. lindheimeri)


White flowers cluster like butterflies atop tall spikes on these airy 2½- to 4-foot-tall plants. Selected forms include 'Siskiyou Pink' (to 2 feet tall), with rose-pink flowers and 'Whirling Butterflies' (to 3 feet tall), with white flowers.

This continues part 2 of 2 about ideas for fall plantings.

Geum chiloense


Tall flower spikes grow from mounds of velvety foliage to 15 inches high, 2 feet wide.

‘Lady Stratheden’ has clear yellow blooms; ‘Mrs Bradshaw’ has double scarlet blooms. Both have a delicate wildflower look.

Gloriosa daisy (Rudbeckia hirta)


Deep golden petals radiate from chocolate centers on 2- to 4-inch-wide flowers.
Plants reach 3 to 4 feet tall and 1 ½ feet wide. Shorter varieties such as ‘Goldilocks’ and ‘Toto’ top out at 10 inches tall.

Jerusalem sage (Phlomis fruticosa)


Tall stems of these Mediterranean natives are set with widely-spaced, hooded yellow flowers.
Moisture-conserving thick, typically furry or hairy leaves are lance-shaped. Pretty planted with lavender and red hot poker (Kniphofia ‘Bressingham Comet’).

Lavender


Every garden should have one of these beauties.



English lavender is the most fragrant, but Spanish lavender’s deep purple “rabbit ears” stand out in garden beds.

Where space is tight, grow a compact form; one we can’t wait to try is Lavandula angustifolia ‘Thumbelina Leigh’, coming late this year from High Country Gardens. It stays 12 to 15 inches tall.

Pineapple sage (salvia elegans)


At its best in fall when it sends up spikes of vivid red flowers, this salvia’s foliage smells like ripe pineapples.

The plant grows 4 feet tall. S.e. ‘Golden Delicious’ grows 1- to 3 feet tall with fire-engine red blooms and chartreuse leaves.

Have fun planting and don't forget to add cuttings from your garden into your home for a fresh festive feel of fall. Find lovely clear vases at my store to display indoor cuttings.
 
via

Garden Scene Color Splash Part 1 of 2

Alstroemeria (Peruvian lily)



Flowers of the evergreen hybrids come in shades of purple with dark flecks and last well in bouquets. Alstroemeria aurea blooms come in shades of yellow and orange.

The 2-to 3-foot tall plants produce flowering shoots as long as the soil doesn’t get too hot. (Twist the shoot off at the base to keep them coming).

Set out these flowers (and one gorgeous foliage plant) in fall or spring for beautiful garden color year after year.

Aster x frikartii


Delicate-looking flowers on ultra-tough plants tolerate just about any soil type. ‘Mönch’ grows to 2 feet-tall and pumps out 2 1/2-inch lavender-blue flowers almost all year if spent ones are removed.

‘Wonder of Staffa’ is another favorite with lavender blue blossoms.

Coneflower (Echinacea)


Colorful and super tough, ‘Ruby Star’ from Monrovia nurseries has large pinkish-purple blooms with pronounced coppery centers.

The plant grows 2-feet tall; the flowers are 4 inches across. Among the many showy hybrids are ‘Orange Meadowbrite’, butter-yellow ‘Sunrise’, and reddish-orange ‘Sundown’.

Coreopsis 'Mango Punch'


The low, mounding perennial covers itself in summer with mango-orange flowers that have a red blush.
We love the fresh, fruity hue of this new variety. Clip the faded blooms so the flowers will keep coming.

Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica)


Must-haves for lightly shaded woodland gardens, these much-loved plants bear tiny but exquisite blue flowers in spring in mild climates.
‘Baby Blue’, a hybrid from Proven Winners, has true blue flowers and grows 6 to 8 inches tall.

Gaillardia x grandiflora


Cheerful daisylike blooms in various warm shades of yellow, bronze, and red. Many varieties are available, with single or double flowers.

Ones we love: foot-tall ‘Goblin’ with deep red flowers bordered in yellow; ‘Yellow Queen’, pure yellow flowers (2 1/2 feet tall), and orange ‘Tokajer’ (3 feet tall).

I don't know about you, but my garden is fadding of color, I started by planting mini yellow mums and found these other great plants to add color to the garden for the fall, trying to keep that spring feel a little longer. via

Window Box Designs

Tricked out for the season in combustible colors and riffed with references of a late-autumn harvest, this exuberant full-sun window box celebrates all that we love about fall-like the vivid colors and leafy textures. While it may require some boldness and a passion for abundance to pull off a planting like this, it was actually very easy-we found all the plants and supplies at our local home-improvement store's garden center.

Modern Window Box


Gleaming white 'Lumina' (large) and 'Snowball' (small) pumpkins spiked with shiny tufts of black-as-night mondo grass is a simple full shade combination that's all-hallows spooky but oh-so chic. In and around, we tucked fat clusters of blood-orange berries, which drip from branches of bittersweet vine (sold in bunches at florists). You can up the spook factor by hiding strands of mini lights between pumpkins.

Simple window box


They're beautiful, they're affordable, and they're low-maintenance; nothing says fast and easy fall gardening like a fully fitted window box. These easy-to-assemble mini gardens also have the advantage of short-term commitment. Planting this fabulous full-sun arrangement is as easy as putting together simple flowers for a dinner party.

Elegant Window Box


We love the luxe, posh look of this full-sun box with its classic pairing of mums and ornamental cabbages. Keeping it from veering into cliche territory are the unusual cascading mums. To get the look, pack a window box with deep smoky purple ornamental cabbages and sparkling white ornamental kales, then intersperse them with rich magenta pompom chrysanthemums trained into a graceful cascade. Ice-tipped trailing ivy adds shimmer in the late afternoon light.

Tropical Window Box


Who says fall has to be all about brown, orange, and yellow? Adorn your cottage with deep purple, warm red, and bright pink for a hot, vibrant look from the last of summer's tropical plants as temperatures cool. These tropical foliage plants (grown as annuals) take bright, indirect light to filtered shade and look smashing right up until frost.

Cheerful Window Box


Bright and lively colors combine to add a hint of happiness to any home in this cheery window box. Forget serious planning and strict styling, and opt for whatever plants bring a smile to your face when you go shopping. These plants prefer strong indirect light or light shade. via

Indoor Houseplants

I love African daisies, cut a fresh bunch for your home to place in any room for that sweet feeling of summer or spring time. There are other advantages to using a variety of indoor houseplants. In the average home, common household substances, such as carpet, smoke, cleaning supplies and building supplies, could be adding pollutants to the indoor air. However, there's a natural way to rid your home of these pollutants: plants.

According to a study conducted by NASA, houseplants can act as indoor air purifiers that filter out toxins like benzene and formaldehyde from the air. Think about it: Houseplants are often native to tropical regions of the world. In their native habitats, they live in light filtered from taller trees, just like the light streaming in through your windows. That’s why even in low light, a plant can photosynthesize, absorbing most indoor pollutants which renders them harmless.

Houseplants don't just improve air quality inside your home. They also boost your mood and enhance the look of your interior space. Here are 10 air-cleaning machines that you can grow in your house.

Tillandsia. Are you someone who kills every plant that comes into the house? Consider growing a tillandsia. It's an air plant, or an epiphyte, meaning that it doesn't grow in any soil. How much care is required to maintain this plant? Dunk it in water every once in a while or mist it. Ideally you want to do this about once a week.

Ivy. This vining treasure is low maintenance and can be trained to achieve a number of looks. Use ivy as a trailing plant to soften the edge of a table, or add structure to any room with an ivy topiary. To make your own topiary, all you need is a piece of heavy duty gauge wire or a wire hanger. Shape the wire into any form you desire, leaving a piece that can be pushed into the soil to hold the frame in place. Or, if you are using a hanger, mold the hanger into a circle or other shape, straighten the hook, push it into the soil and wind several vines around the wire. When you water the plant, keep winding the vines around the wire frame or give it a haircut so that it grows into the shape you desire. If you're having trouble growing ivy, move it outdoors during warm temperatures to allow it to dust itself off and enjoy the "fresh" air.

Kentia palm. These statuesque beauties grow upwards of 12 feet indoors. The more indirect light you give them, the more fronds they'll grow. Because they can stay in their containers for a long time, add a mulch of decorative rock or glass to the soil surface to create added interest.

Dracaena. Traditionally houseplants meant green plants. Yet there are other indoor air cleaners that offer a bit more drama. Beyond plain green, dracaena cultivars offer a range of hues and colors, ranging from lime green or dark jade green to green with white variegation.

Rubber plant. This attractive architectural tropical offers thick, dark green leaves. Use it add some height to the corner of a room.

Lucky bamboo. No soil necessary to grow this plant, just a big vase of water. Place it on a tabletop and watch it grow.

African violet. Looking for some flowers to go with all that foliage? African violets produce clusters of flowers that come in a variety of vivid colors, including pink, white, purple and bicolor. They also have soft, fuzzy leaves that are interesting even when they're not blooming.

Cactus. If you have a window with bright light, take a stab at growing cactus. Although it does best outdoors in the heat and sun, you can grow cactus indoors with bright light and then give it a breather outside during the summer. Water your cactus about once a week, or as needed, and in the winter water it about once a month, if at all.

Orchid. If African violets aren't enough flower power for your living room, orchids are another excellent option. Provide them with bright indirect light and mist them at least once a week.

Bromeliad. Add a splash of color with bromeliads. These unique architectural plants come in a variety of foliage and flower colors, with hints of hot pink and red to variegated forms. Keep bromeliads well watered, allowing them to dry out between watering. However, do not allow to dry out completely. It may be necessary to mist them if humidity is low.

A good piece of advice: when you buy a plant, it typically comes with a plant tag that describes its required care. It should also tell you the plant's preferred temperature. If you can follow those rules, you can do well with houseplants.via HG

Floral Compliments

Michele Eddins, of Floral Compliments, has sent me these stunning photographs of her latest creations to share with everyone. I introduced you to Michele's creativity in 2008. I asked her to share a little information about the styles and she quoted,  "The flowers are custom made following the look of fashion of the Victorian era. Using a single large flower or arranging a carefully picked grouping to compliment your dress and hair style for that special day, these flowers will accomplish the look of femininity and elegance that is also everlasting. These creations are a must-have for the bride who wishes to pass on her memories to the next generation either to be worn again or to showcase".

If you get that special wedding proposal during Valentine's Day,or any time of the year, you need to go immediately to Michele's site and view all of the possibilites for your wedding floral designs...they are simply stunning keepsakes!!!!!!!! Don't forget Michele will totally design your custom colors and style and make special items upon requests. A sneak peak below, gives you a variety of Michele's work, check out the custom made flip flop wedding shoes one customer requested, this was a smart lady!