Garden Bloggers Bloom Day June 2014

I realize I am a few days early - Garden Bloggers Bloom Day is on Sunday - but I have a very busy weekend coming up so I thought I'd post early rather than late.

Well, it's a typical June after all in my garden. After months of snow and horrid cold, it got warmer and warmer and all of a sudden my garden is lush and green and loaded with colour. Yay!!

My peonies are blooming and look stunning.

The pale pink shrub rose is in full bloom

The dainty deep purple Siberian Iris has appeared in numerous places around the yard

I have several lovely yellow bearded iris that have fought off borer year after year

Ladies Mantle (Alchemilla mollis) is fresh with wide serrated leaves and bright chartreuse flowers

Yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia punctata) popped up out of nowhere!

Gleaming screaming RED POPPIES!!

The weigela bush suffered quite a bit of die back so I pruned it back harder than usual - is that why I am being treated to such a mass of fuchsia flowers???

The Himalayan cinquefoil (Potentilla atrosnaguinea) has only two scarlet blooms but at least it hasn't died out. It's been around ever since I started this garden 27 years ago…...

I am so happy that my spring garden bounced back from a harsh winter and can provide me and my gardening friends with such a lush, wonderful show now in mid-June.

Please check my food blog for a delicious tart Chocolate Apricot Torte.

Early Spring

Bergenia cordifolia

Sunny warm SPRING just doesn't seem to want to come to Ontario. Today, May 17th, it's 7C outside. Last summer on this same long weekend it was 26C.

WHAAAATTT????

Grumble grumble sad face.

But Mother Nature always seem to come through anyway. I really can't believe how things are getting green and plumping up despite these unseasonable temps.

Climbing Hydrangea

Ladies Mantle - Alchemilla mollis

Magnolia tree blossoms

Scattered magnolia blossoms

Bleeding Hearts - Dicentra spectabilis

Muscari - Grape Hyacinths

Deep Fuchsia Tulip

Red Darwin Tulips

Dandelion (!) (weed)

Red Twig Dogwood

Serviceberry - Amelanchier canadensis

The garden really is changing for the better, despite the weather. Let's just hope for warmer temps soon!

Please check my food blog - one of the latest posts was for Lasagna and the newest is for Zucchini Bread.

Identifying Plants in the Garden

Spring has finally Sprung in Southern Ontario! It's been a looooong wait.

But now that stuff is popping out of the ground, do you know which plant is which?

Here are some hints:

Bearded Iris

Monkshood

Ladies Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)

Daylilies - Hemerocallis

Peonies

Foxtail Lilies

Sedum 'Autumn Joy'

Bleeding Heart

Walk around outside - I'm sure "stuff" is popping up in your garden daily!!

Please be sure to check my food blog - the latest recipe posted is Pan-Seared Veal Chops with Rosemary.

White in the Garden

Fragrant Viburnum 'Burkwoodii'

White is symbolic of innocence, perfection, honesty and lightness. It is associated with the Good and The Beginning.

White brings out the true colour of those beside it.

Lots of white has a cooling, calming effect but the opposite is also true: it can cause a glare in hot, sunny climates.

Silver and silvery blue make it shine.

White brightens shady spots and adds a touch of elegance to areas of the garden.

White narcissus appear in early spring.

Cornus kousa or Chinese Dogwood puts on a dainty white display in the spring.

By mid-summer, the Oakleaf Hydrangea is in bloom

Pom-pom flowers adorn the Cranberry Bush (Viburnum Opulus)

Virburnum 'Mariesii' has a more delicate flower and grows on horizontal branches.

White lilies stand out in the garden with their knock-out colour and fragrance

Fragrant white phlox finish out the season.

What are your favourite WHITE flowers and blooms?


Please check out my food blog - the latest post is Crabcakes with ginger and lime.