Just for the fun of it, I recently wrote up a list of all the flowers and herbs growing in and around my gardens. I decided to share it here just to give an idea of how much can be done in a small garden: Biennials, Perennials, and Shrubs: Bleeding Heart Campanula Columbine Daylily Evening Dame's Rocket Forget-me-not Foxglove Hollyhock Iris Lilac Lupine Mountain Bluet Peony Primrose Phlox Rose Rose Campion Spirea Sweet William Violet Annuals: Balsam Cosmos Four O'Clock French Mallow Heartsease Heliotrope Hyacinth Bean Love-lies-bleeding Malope Marigold Mignonette Morning Glory Nasturtium (Trailing) Nicotiana Petunia Pincushion Flower Phlox (Drummond's) Snapdragon Stock Sunflower Sweet Pea Zinnia Herbs: Basil Borage Chives Catnip Comfrey Dill Echinacea Lavender Lemon Balm Oregano Spearmint Valerian White Horehound Bulbs: Crocus (Species and Dutch) Daffodil Glory-of-the-snow Grape hyacinth Hyacinth Oriental Lily Striped Squill Tulip With the exception of the lilac, spirea, and 2 of the rose bushes, everything has been planted by me over the last 6 years. And all but the lilac and spirea are growing in 3 small gardens (and another one in the making!) in the front yard. Needless to say, I pay very little attention to planting directions when it comes to spacing! But the plants don't seem to mind being crowded. After all, that's how it is nature, and it helps keep down weeds and keeps the soil cool (almost an unnecessary precaution here anyway). During the long winters, I read every gardening book and seed catalog I can find, and by February I am so bored with winter, I feel like I can accomplish anything! And so, every year my gardens get bigger! I didn't plan my garden. I never could make sense out of plant combinations and the color wheel. But I have always had a pretty good idea what I want my garden to look like, and just stick the plants in. Since I prefer pastels and the occasional red or black, it's hard to go wrong anyway (except with too much black, as I already mentioned in my last post! Having started with a very small garden and almost no knowlege of flowers, it has been (and still is!) quite an adventure, but part of what makes gardening so enjoyable is getting to know the plants you grow over the years! Anyway...so much for all my rambling! I've been planting all week and am still only about half done! Here are some pictures...I love how the bean arbor is just visible through the trees! Some close-ups... My new rhubarb patch... This little friend of mine found my wattle fence very interesting, and proceeded to take it apart and chew the sticks! :D
2 Comments
Elsa
6/8/2017 08:41:21 am
Silly puppy!
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AuthorI am a passionate gardener and seed-saver, who also enjoys playing the violin and accordion, running, spending time with my 4 golden retrievers, keeping chickens, photography, and reading. Archives
March 2019
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