Thursday, September 6, 2012

My Dad's Garden - Sept 2012


My dad is an excellent gardener. We have always had gorgeous gardens in all the houses we lived in because of his interest and his skill. Our favourite joke is how he was in the driveway washing the car as I came home from a friend's (I was probably about 16 yrs. old).
"How do you like my Tropicana roses?" he asked, referring to a long long stretch of brilliant coral/orange hybrid teas.
"Nice" I said, hardly glancing at them.
I'm sure he sighed then but is happy now because I am as obsessed with gardening as he is.

I asked him this past Monday if I could come over and photograph his front and backyard.
Oh, he said, you are a few weeks too late. There's really nothing left to see.

Well - I beg to differ! Sure there was probably more in June and July (and I promise I will get my act together faster next year!) but take a look at how beautiful his garden still is now.


At the curb, his bright red celosia and white lisianthus are still holding steady.



Every year, dahlias are the anchors of his front garden. He told me that he bought them all as tubers from a local horticultural plant sale so he has no tags and no names :(
But I think we can just enjoy their beauty and you could track down something similar if they prove to be favourites you are interested in.






I love how dahlias vary in texture, size and colour. He loves them and they obviously love him back, blooming like crazy so late in the season.


He patiently grows the fussy, difficult Lisianthus (Prairie Rose) from seed every year. The white ones he gave me are doing very well in my front garden. He grew some deep purple ones as well for himself.


His yellow and red Rex Begonias are still a lovely shot of colour near the front door.


A short, quiet ornamental grass (could be quaking grass - "Brizia") is happy under the living room window among the evergreens.



Years ago, my Dad picked up this flowering maple at our local horticultural society meeting. Here is what he says:

"...About the flowering maple. It has to be protected from frost. So I took it down to the basement last fall and put it under a grow light. Early spring I started to add a little liquid fertilizer to the water and it started to bloom.  More and more ! It's been blooming like crazy all summer now. So in the same pot it will go down to the basement again, I will trim it a bit and repeat my cycle…."




Here is a little yellow rose that my mother received from a friend on Mother's Day. It was planted near the back basement window and is now in bloom.


Here is an interesting type of verbena.



The yellow rex begonias are still very lush and lovely in their hanging baskets.


And his Rose of Sharon is still in bloom.

And he said there was nothing left to see - hah!!! Glad I went over to check for myself. (A big thanks for letting me share your garden with my readers, Opa).



13 comments:

Nadezda said...

Astrid, your dad is a wonderful man! I guess he is in age and grows a lot of beautiful flowers. I love his Begonias, I had some in containers too and know how nice they look in the garden. And dalias! And yellow rose! Kiss him for me!

Astrid said...

Thanks Nadezda! He is still very active and loves his garden. My mother hardly sees him in the spring :)
And I'll pass on that kiss!!!
Astrid

Jennifer said...

Hi Astrid, A talent for gardening certainly runs in the family. Your Dad is too modest. It all looks terrific, even this late in the gardening season. He does a great job with dahlias especially.

Astrid said...

Hi Jennifer
He will love this comment! Thx!
Yes - he has always had beautiful healthy dahlias and they shine at this time of year.
Astrid

♥ Łucja-Maria ♥ said...

Hello Astrid!
I am charmed by your blog.
It's great.
I admire your flower garden pictures.
They are perfect.
Greetings from Polish
Lucia

Astrid said...

Welcome, Lucia! Thank you for the compliments! It's easy to take pictures of flowers when you love gardening as much as I do!
Astrid

debsgarden said...

Beautiful! I think gardening must be in the genes. My oldest son never was interested in plants until he acquired his own home. Now he calls to talk fertilizer and to ask and give advice on plants.

Astrid said...

Hi Deb
Aren't kids great? They (we) finally all grow up and find their own passionate interests. It makes parents happy when those interests match their own :)
Astrid

Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening said...

It's so wonderful that you and your Dad share the same passion of gardening. His gardens are lovely!

HELENE said...

What a beautiful garden your father have! Loved the red celosias and I have a special relationship with dahlias, would not be without them in my garden! Say thank you from me for letting us come for a visit :-)

Jeremy Beauregard said...

Yes, I can see that your dad is a fine gardener! Besides the obviously healthy plants, the way he arranged them is brilliant. Though they are packed, you can almost still see and appreciate the beauty of each and every plant. That makes a good view from the street. Nice!

=>Jeremy

Shona Martinez said...

Aahh… isn’t this is an awesome view to look up to every morning? :') The beautiful, blooming flowers are really a great sight to behold! The red celosia and the dahlias are what I love the most. They are truly gorgeous and pleasing to the eye!

Shona Martinez

Katy said...

Hands down to your dad, Astrid! He is such a skillful gardener. They say that those people with a green thumb are born not made. He must be one of those people who have innate skills when it comes to gardening. You're so lucky to have him as a dad. In that way, you can make a fine garden with his help, free of charge! Haha!

Katy Eagles