Stewartia malacodendron
Although it’s Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day I am leading off with a flower that finished blooming last month. It came into bloom at the end of May and I was so frightfully impressed that I have purchased yet another of these trees. I promise another posting on the Stewartias because they are well worth sharing.
Currently the Stewartia japonica which we’ve had for years is just now coming into bloom
Stewartia japonica
In the meantime the other striking flowers at the moment are the lilies. Just a few of them are showing right now but they are lovely
Yellow Lily in the Herb bed
Asiatic Lily ‘Forever Susan’
Lililum ‘Istanbul’
Lilium ‘Purple Marble’
There is also a very late and very large Azalea at the front of the house
Xtra Large White Azalea
The rest of flowering is more or less normal roses, penstemon, and annuals. One exception is the Evening Primrose out on the bank to the pasture.
Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa)
This wildflower came along on its own and appears anytime we don’t mow to close or too often on the pasture hillside.
We have been busy picking and eating fruit (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and cherries). Mostly it’s what we expect but for many of them they are bit on the small side given the extremely dry weather we’ve had (can we say drought?). The exception is the wild cherry tree at the entrance to our forest.
Wild Cherries in Blossom
This tree is just one of many wild cherry trees in our forest. Most of them seem to have come from bird-planted seedlings from the original orchard that we planted forty years ago. They all have reasonable taste and the birds love them.
WaxWing in the Cherry Tree
This gives some idea of the density.
But the really surprising thing is that one of the smaller trees with branches actually close to the ground has absolutely marvelous cherries and they grow without being sprayed. Just pick them.
Josh picking at the xtrasweet wild cherry
This is one of the bowls he brought in the other night.
Wild Cherries
Of course the other thing we get is as a bonus is all the birds visiting at this time of year.
Waxwings Sharing Mulberry
I’ve even seen the bluebird in the cherry tree, though he spends most of his time harvesting grubs in the grass.
A very blue bluebird
Life is good. Now if we could just get some rain…
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day May 2022
Pileated Woodpecker
This bird has been a frequent visitor to our garden this last week so I thought you might want to join him in perusing the flowers at Ball Road for this Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day.
Azalea Exbury Hybrid ‘Gibraltar’
It’s very much the Azalea time of year hereabouts. What is especially nice this year is that we dug four layered offspring from this plant last year and they are now to be found in other parts of the yard.
New Azalea ‘Gibraltar’ from layering
One of our favorite Azaleas is beside the deck. Azalea ‘Visco Sepala’ came from White Flower Farm many years ago, though it’s originally from England. It has a spectacular fragrance.
Azalea ‘Visco sepala’
Naturally at the same time the tree peonies are stepping up to the plate.
Tree Peonies in Bloom
Yellow Tree Peony
Nearby is another very nice perennial.
Glaucidium palmatum
And a very distinctive Japanese Maple that is worth building a garden around
Golden Full Moon Maple (Acer Shirasawanum)
We also have a reliable showing of Lamium by the garage where it outcompetes the weeds.
Lamium orbala
One could easily get lost with trying to account for all the things in bloom right now. If we go back to the Alpine bed there are some special repeat performances.
Dianthus petraeus ssp. petraeus
Aubretia ‘Blue Beauty’
Ornithogalum exscapum
Papaver atlanticum (Moroccan Poppy)
Lewisia cotyledon ‘Rainbow mix’
I want to take a few minutes out to share our meadow-like pasture. Last year son Josh, cut the pasture ultrashort and then seeded the area with crimson clover and wildflowers from Wildseed in Texas. The result has been wonderful. It’s easy to get lost in just the crimson clover.
Wildflower meadow
Crimson Clover Flower
But amidst the clover are wallflowers, peas, flax, sweet william and POPPIES.
Poppy from wildflower mix
Pink Poppy
White Poppy
We also have for the first time Five Spot
Five Spot (Nemophila maculata)
As an ending point for this already long posting let me share the Viburnum on the hillside that overlooks these wildflowers.
Viburnum on the hillside
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day November 2021
Acer japonica ‘Reznicek’
It is definitely late Fall in Maryland for this GBBD and for awhile I thought there not be much in the way of color hereabouts. But the last few weeks have produced a shower of colorful leaves on many of the trees. Of course for us, it’s mainly about the Maples. The ‘Reznicek’ cultivar is one that I brought back from Michigan a few years ago when the annual meeting for the North American Rock Garden Society was held there. This is the first year I’ve ever noticed the beautiful two-toned effect on the leaves. Even without the coloring it has always been a special diminutive tree with finely laced leaves.
Just the ordinary Japanese Maples have also been having a colorful display lately.
Acer japonica fully red
Acer Japonica
Earlier in the month the Amur Maple was putting on a show of its own.
Amur Maple (Acer ginnala)
And right next to this Maple is the Beautyberry which had its own statement to make.
Beautyberry (Callicarpa sp.)
Berries are everywhere in the yard this year but it’s hard not to notice that the Blue Holly is absolutely loaded with berries.
Berries on the Blue Holly
I can only guess that this particular holly is having a good time with the American Holly or the English Holly since our attempts to plant a male Blue Holly have all failed.
But wait! This posting is supposed to be about flowers.
Most of the annuals have been frozen off at this point but there are still a few surprises in the yard. The peas continue to chug along through the first frosts and may even yield a few more edible pieces.
Pea blossom
And one of our reliable David Austin roses is ignoring the cold.
Rose ‘Tess of the ubervilles’ in bud
But mostly it’s Camellias. It’s really their show for the next several months. Anytime the temperature gets into the forties, the spring camellias will send forth a volunteer.
Camelia japonica way too early
And then most of the time there are always some of the Fall Camellias in bloom, as we see now.
Camellia sasanqua Red
Camellia sasanqua ‘October Magic’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Double Rainbow’
When you see flowering like this it is hard to accept that winter is coming any day now…
Just like this bluebird who is trying to decide whether to make another nest.
Bluebird thinking about a winter home…
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day August 2021
Naked Ladies in the Garden
It’s Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day for the middle of the summer. Our garden is like many at this time of year. Mostly annuals, crepe myrtles, and the last of the lilies dominate.
There are a few flowers worth noting. The Cestrum ‘Orange Peel’ has returned from it’s winter dormancy and will bloom until late fall.
Cestrum ‘Orange Peel’
We have a lot of annuals in the picking garden as well as the glads and dahlias.
Annuals in the cutting garden especially Tithonia
Dahilia’s still abundant in the cutting garden
The annuals and shrub flowers are great for attracting insects and birds, many of them very photogenic. I was struck by this little bluebird overlooking the garden.
Bluebird baby with attitude
The butterflies and other insects are striking.
Monarch on Tithonia
Bee on Tithonia
Swallowtail on Buddleia
Clearwing moth on Buddleia
August is also prime time for harvesting
Music Garlic
Contender Peach
100 Years today! — A VERY SPECIAL BLOOM DAY
Frogs with Hydrangea
This month’s Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day falls upon my mother’s birthday — her 100th birthday, something very worth celebrating. She has always loved flowers and we shared many moments of picking flowers and harvesting fruit.
Mom picks the Iris at Ball Rd
Mom in our garden in 2005
And though her body is slowly losing the capabilities it once had, as recently as 18 month ago (pre-covid) we could still share humor and memories.
Mom nursing center
So as I look around our garden today, I know that I owe a lot my appreciation for gardens and gardening to my parents and grandparents. Today is also my father’s birthday (though he died more than 20 years ago) and their wedding anniversary. They were married at the start of World War II and this courtship poem that he sent from his barracks is an example of the many poems my father wrote during their life together
A Letter
Meanwhile back here on the hillside we are harvesting gallons of peas and strawberries. Last night we pitted many of the wild cherries that yield every year without spraying or special care.
Wild Cherries (Big Cherry Sue – the name of the tree)
We’re thinking we should at least plant the seeds
Cherry pits
The birds are happy to help out but they mostly work on the cherries that are beyond our reach.
Brown Thrasher with Cherry
Meanwhile the blueberries are starting to come in and they combine well with cherry juice.
Blueberries, ice cream, and wild cherry juice
But wait. There are still flowers worth mentioning. A lot of lilies are making their annual appearance.
Red Asiatic hybrid lily
Asiatic Lily ‘Forever Susan’
But also some special additional items worth noting.
Spigelia marilandica
Callirhoe involucrata (Wine Cups)
Asclepias tuberosa ‘Hello Yellow’
In the herb garden the perennials are making quite a statement as encouragement to the hummingbirds.
Monarda and Heliopsis in the herb garden
In the greenhouse there are many Zephyranthes popping up, but they don’t seem to follow any respect for my attempts at labeling.
Red Zephyranthes
I peeked in and saw this Hymenocallis blooming the other day (if you don’t catch it quickly it’s gone)
Hymenocallis guerreroensis
Before leaving this rather long post I do need to mention the Stewartia malacodendron. We have grown Stewartia japonica for years and it’s a wonderful tree with beautiful flowers and bark. It’s just about to come into bloom. But its cousin S. malacondendron bloomed about two weeks ago and it has truly remarkable flowers, well worth the time invested in getting to grow outside of its North Carolina origins.
Stewartia malacodendron
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day June 2017
Anemone multifida ‘Rubra’
I will lead off this very late Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day post with a lovely little anemone that came from the NARGS seed exchange three years ago. It’s not spreading but seems to be holding its own in the Monument bed.
I am always surprised that two of Arisaemas hold off until June. Their colleagues begin back in April. But just when you think that winter has finished them off, the Arisaema candidissimum and Arisaema fargesii come popping up through the ground.
Arisaema candidissimum
Arisaema fargesii
It is also surprising to see the Freesia laxa return every year.
Freesia laxa
According to the books this little corm is not viable in our climate. Not only has it returned but it’s jumped the tracks and moved to another garden bed as well.
I have it growing now next to the reliable Brodiaea ‘Queen Fabiola’.
Brodiaea Queen Fabiola
That’s a white Callirhoe in the front of the image.
Callirhoe involucrata var. lineariloba ‘Logan Calhoun’
And they all mix together like this.
Star flowers, wine cups and Fressia.
In the same garden bed we have a bright yellow Butterfly Weed.
Asclepias tuberosa ‘Hello Yellow’
This is very popular with all the butterflies and bees. For example this swallowtail was cruising around the yard.
Zebra Swallowtail
Nearby we find a lovely clematis growing up a trellis.
Clematis ‘Krakowiak’
Also by the garage there is a marvelous foxtail lily that came from Far Reaches.
Eremurus stenophyllus
Back in the monument bed there is the first of the Asiatic lillies coming out.
Asiatic Lily ‘Netty’s Pride’
And a chinese ground orchid that is a little taller than our other ground orchids.
Bletilla ‘Brigantes’
Back in the Camellia bed, emerging through the rapidly growing Japanese Anemones is a very pretty Astrantia.
Astrantia ‘Sunningdale variegated’
If we go back to the Alpine bed, as I do several times a day, a very nice dwarf plant in the Campanulaceae is just finishing. I cannot read the label but I suspect it’s an Edraianthus.
Edraianthus sp?
Just finished now is also another pasque flower.
Pulsatilla campanella
Also in the alpine bed is a new gentian that we found at Oliver Nursery this spring.
Gentiana cachemirica
In the greenhouse there are a few picture-worthy objects as well.
Ornithogalum fimbrimarginatum
This is a two-foot tall Ornithogalum that came from the PBS bulb exchange.
Another PBS acquisition is this Pine Woods Lily.
Alophia drummondi (Pine Woods Lily)
I almost forgot to mention the Stewartia. It has been a consistent flowering tree for June 15th. This year it is loaded with flowers but only one is actually open now.
Stewartia japonica
However, life is not flowers alone. It is the peak time for our berries, especially the blueberries.
Blueberries at their peak
It’s a joy picking blueberries. We brought in gallons last night. I’m convinced the only reason we can do so is that just behind the garden we have a very large mulberry tree and an equally large Bird Cherry that provide even greater interest for the birds.
Wild Cherry (Prunus avium)
Speaking of birds I’ve seen some really nice ones on my early morning bird watching including this Baltimore Oriole yesterday.
Baltimore Oriole eating cherries
Well, that’s a glimpse of our garden right now. What’s happening in your garden?
A Link to Nepal
View of the mountains from the road between Pokhara and Kathmandu
Nepal is an incredibly rich and diverse country with a landscape that ranges from the jungles of Chitwan on the Indian border to the highest mountains in the world. In between are all stages of beautiful rivers and terraced hillsides. There are 6000 species of flowering plants, 900 species of birds, and over 600 species of butterflies. But even with all of that diversity it was the wonderfully friendly people that left us with indelible memories. Their small land accommodates a great many cultures and traditions but seems to rank tolerance very high on their scale of values. I’ve put on SmugMug a set of our images from 3 weeks in Nepal. Here are a few samples.
A young mother who was happy to have me photograph her child
Little girl at Boudhanath Stupa
Green Sapphire, Heliophorus androcles, wings closed
Baby Elephant in elephant grass
Asian Pied Starlings
Osbeckia stellata
Annapurna South reflection
Beginning the New Year
Mardi Gras Apricot Hellebore showing first gorgeous buds
And so the year begins — with a flush of color and many green things poking up through the winter landscape. Our New Years day was in the fifties, following a pretty warm December. The Daffodils are waking up all over the yard and presenting their promise of blooms.
Daffodils on the rise
And Trout Lilies have begun to show their tips in the leaves.
Trout lilies rising up
The Japanese Quince is covered in blossoms and buds.
Japanese Quince in early spring attire
The Camellias (both Fall and Spring bloomers) have never really ceased blooming. Our double Flowered Pink is a japonica but seems to be intent on finishing its spring bloom early.
Double Pink Camellia
There’s even an Anemone coronaria that is proving why they don’t seem to last here on Ball Rd. It’s way early for this plant.
Anemone coronaria in bud
By the end of New Years Day the sun set in glorious fashion against the horizon leaving a promise of interesting things to come.
Sunset for 1st Day 2012
But all of this growth seems not to have paid much attention to the weatherman. As I sit today, there have been snow flurries, the daytime max is going to be around 31 degrees with a prediction of 16 degrees for tonight. It’s like a quick slap across the face for the plants that have forgotten about winter and then like a tease the temps should go up to the fifties again by the end of the week.
In a post script I should mention that we had a curious visitor last week. A small Cooper’s Hawk was in the garden sitting on the ground.
Cooper's Hawk all fluffed out
When we approached him he was very loath to be disturbed by us. We wondered whether he was sick. Then after posing in very hawk-like fashion he lifted off into the air with all his capabilities seemingly in place.
Cooper's Hawk (immature)
It did give me a chance to try out my new camera… 🙂