Phlox Orange Perfection

Purchased from American Meadow and planted today.   Purchased three plants.  They came bare root but looked in good condition.  Planted in the front between the black eyed susans.

• Botanical Name:

  Phlox paniculata 'Orange Perfection'

• Height: 24 - 40 inches 
• Spread: 18 - 24"
• Light Requirements: Partial Shade, Full Sun
• Color: Orange
• Foliage Type: 2" - 5" long, lanceolate, dark green.
• Bloom Time: Mid summer onwards.
• Spicy flagrance 

Garden Report

It's been a whole month since I have reported.

The black eyed susans still look good.   The Shrub Althea in the back is still blooming away.  Most everything else is stopped except the gailardia and the roses.

The stonecrop is now also in bloom.   While summer is coming to a close there is still lovely flowers in bloom.

Garden Report

Front--Black-eyed Susans and the campanulas.  However, the pot of petunias and vinca are lovely.

Back--In bloom:  Large hostas, potentilla, gailardia, coreopsis, day lily, black-eyed susans, garden phlox, rozanne geranium, Julia Child rose, Hope for Humanity Rose, Good as Gold rose, balloon flowers, white shrub althea. 

It's time to do some dead heading of flowers and prune the roses.   Everything looks great.

Hardy Geranium Rozanne

Name: Hardy Geranium
Variety:  Geranium "Rozanne" Cranesbill
Type: Perennial
Height: 20x20"
Light:  Full sun
Flower color:  Lavender to blue
Bloom time:  June through September
Location:Back yard by the roses
Care:  Cut down in fall when dormant.   Fertilize weekly with bloom booster

Garden Report

Front--the large day lilies are still in bloom as are the campanulas.  The petunias we put in the two large pots by the bench are a great success.   We need to find something better for the pots by the door.

Back--Still blooming:  potentilla, gailardia, hostas, garden phlox, geraniums, balloon flowers, paris coral bells.  The white rose of sharon is in full bloom.   It is now about 6' tall and is really incredible.  The correopsis is giving us a second bloom.  Starting to bloom:  large hostas, roses again, black eyed susans.   Time to cut down the chives and the day lilies.

This week we got a lot weeded on the hill side and the back of the lot.  We also did some trimming on the burning bush.   We just have one more patch of most phlox to do.  

Garden Report

Front--the campanulas are in full bloom, the large day lilies, the small day lilies and the daisies.   It's wonderful

Back---Clematis polish spirit, potentilla, gailardia, day lilies, coral bells paris, garden phlox, roseanne geranium, balloon flowers, small hostas

The front and the back are wonderful.

Arborvitae in Front Yard

Name: Arborvitae
Variety: Thuja Evergreen pyramidal
Type: Evergreen Shrub
Height: 20'
Light:  Full Sun to Shade
Location: North side of frong yard
Care:   Fertilize with evergreen stakes in spring

Name: Arborvitae Globe
Variety: Thuja occidentalis 'Danica'
Type: Evergreen Shrub
Height: 3'
Light:  Full Sun to Shade
Location: Front yard in front of windows and one by garage; also one on south side of house
Care:   Fertilize with evergreen stakes in spring.   Trim back at the first of summer to control growth.

Arborvitae in Back Yard

Name: Arborvitate
Variety: Thuja occidentalis ‘Hetz Midget’
Type: Shrub
Light:  Part to full
Size:  3' x 3'
Plant location: Back yard around deck  7 shrubs.
Care: Trim to keep small shape.  Fertilize with evergreen stakes in spring

Garden News

Front--Daisy, campanula and stell odoro day lily are in bloom.

The petunias in the large pots are wonderful and the vinca are doing great.  Our big pots on the porch are still not doing as well as they should.

The 

South--Catmint, and Algarve lilies in bloom

Back--New Hydrangeas, small hostas, arizona sun gailardia, new coral bells paris, stell odoro day lily, potentilla, polish spirit clematis, roseanne geranium, hope for humanity rose, julia child rose, veronica, balloon flowers all in bloom.

We've moved the new guinea impatient to the upper deck and the Martha Washington to the lower deck.  Both are doing better.

Hanging baskets are definately a success this year.

Garden News

Front:  Saturday we trimmed back all the spirea, the big arborvitae in front of the windows, and the barberry.   Things look neat and tidy.  Blooming:  day lilies, campanulas and daisies.

South:  We noted that the cat mint by the lilacs is doing poorly.  We will now replace it with a rock.
Blooming:   catmint, algarve lily

Back:  It's really beautiful.  Blooming:  coreopsis, gailardia, day lily, hardy geranium, veronica, the new anna bella hydrangea, potentilla, hope for humanity rose, polish spirit clematis.

I need to take pictures of the geraniums and veronicas since they have been there two years now and look like they are going to thrive.  The hydrangea is blooming incredibly well and we weren't expecting that this year.

Garden Flowers

I had two choices of wonderful flowers for the header--the Marie Louise Clematis pictured here or the Hope for Humanity Rose.   I decided upon the roses.

Garden News

Front Yard--The wiegela is still in bloom along with the spirea.

Back yard--The two clematis are beautiful in bloom--the polish spirit and the marie louise.   The potentilla is in bloom as well as a new gailardia that we purchased.   The coreopis is starting to bloom along with the day lilies.   All four rose bushes seem to be doing well and are blooming.   The Julia Child is the best but the others seem like they will do well too.

The Rozanne geranium is huge and covered with blue blooms.   The dianthus is still blooming in the perennial garden. 

It's time to prune of the iris stems and the small geranium.  

Tulip Tree

This year we had a surprise.  We didn't think the tulip tree would bloom until 30 years from now, but this year there are flowers on it.   It's not that spectacular, but nice.  I imagine it years to come it will be better.  This is the Indiana State Tree and these flowers are part of the Indianapolis Temple decor.

Peonies

The peonies in  back are in bloom.  They are behind the gated arbor and don't add to the back yard color, so Wayne's job is to cut them and bring them into the house.  The white ones we brought from Saline, the pink I got from a ward member who has dozens of them and the red one we bought. 

I have always loved peonies.  My mother grew them and my Aunt Alice had wonderful peonies in her yard.   If they are cut before they open, they will open and last a long time.

Garden Report

Front--Just the weigela still.

South--catmint

Back--we cut down the chives.  The shrubs are starting to fade.   Laminum is still blooming--I love that ground cover.   The gaillardia is blooming.  I do hope it survives the winter where it is.  There are a few little blooms on the cheddar pinks--I need to replace that.  The day lilies are starting to bloom.

Our Backyard in Blossom

Ninebark in full blossom.

Summer Snowflake Viburnum is in full bloom.

Dark Purple Iris

Bridal Spirea in full bloom.  This is the best it has ever been.

Garden Report

We are back after being away for a week.  The garden has evolved.

Front--every thing has faded except the wiegela that is now in bloom.

South side--nothing in bloom here

Back--wow, what a show.   The bridal spirea are spectacular. It seems they were benefited by the horrid winter that killed a lot of other stuff.  They have thrived since that winter. The ninebark are in bloom along the back.   In the perennial garden there are poppies in bloom, lavender iris and the cute little biokova geranium.

The water fall looks fantastic too--in the back the summer snowflake viburnum is incredible, the chives are in bloom as are the lavender and the dark purple iris.   And the potentilla is really blooming too.

The grass was in bad shape--needs to be cut and trimmed and we need to get the water on it.

I am also trying some new things for pest control.   I killed the new guinea impatien last year with bug spray so I am trying some Mrs. Meyer soap and water.  If it doesn't kill it I am hoping it will keep the bugs off.

The other is a Bayer 3 in 1 stuff for roses that you put in the water and dump on the roots--supposed to be a fertilizer, bug repellent, and disease control.   See if it works.

Garden Report

The front still looks wonderful with the moss phlox and the lilacs still in bloom.  And the spirea are still a beautiful orange tone.  

On the south the tulips are just fading.

In the back the lilies of the valley are blooming a little.  They have taken a long time to establish.   The bleeding heart and candy tuft are in bloom north of the deck.   By the water fall, the moss phlox are still in bloom and the iris is starting to bloom.  And the lamium blooms and blooms the whole year through.  

There are a lot of things with buds--the bridal spirea, the nine bark, the peony and the geranium in the perennial garden as well as the deep purple iris on the waterfall. There are also buds on the potentilla which is really weird because I didn't think it would bloom until July.

This year I'm looking to avoid killing the New Guinea again.  I sprayed it with the rose spray and it died.  I've found some natural soap sprays which I think I'll try.

We also have issues with the sprinkler system that need to be repaired.

New Purchases

At Sells we bought another Rozane Geranium for the other side of the roses, a Coral Bells called sweet tea which is an orange color and an Arizona Sun Gaillardia.   I wanted to plant the coral bells in front of the climbing hydrangea but discovered that whole area is our drainage system so we planted them on the hillside instead.   The Gaillardia we planted in the rocks by the moss phlox.  I hope they will survive the winter.  They are supposed to.  

At Lowes I got a small calalily called Pink Diamond.  It's small and likes shade, so I planted it in a pot and put it next to the impatiens. 

We also purchased all of our annuals for this year at Pinters and some at Meijers.  It was a huge job.  We got new things for nearly every pot.  I am trying tuberous begonias in the square planters on the deck.   And we picked up Martha Washington geraniums and a New Guinea.  I look forward to watching them bloom and grow.

We purchase all the garden plants and put them in yesterday.   We did 16 tomatoes, 12 peppers and 12 beans as well as zucchini and we hope this year the onions grow. 

Our irrigation system isn't working, though, and so we need desperately to get it fixed before we leave.

Dianthus and Snow in Summer

Name:  Dianthus Fruit Punch
Variety:  Dianthus fruit puType: Tuber

Type: Perennial ever green
Height: 12"
Sun: Full Sun
Flower color: magenta double blossom
Bloom Time: June?
Fragrance:  Yes
Location:  Perennial garden by the vegetable garden


Name:   Snow in Summer
Variety cerastium tomentosum
Type: perennial ground cover
Height: 6"
Sun: Full Sun
Flower color: white
Bloom Time: June
Fragrance:  No
Location:  Perennial garden by the vegetable garden

Garden Report

The front yard is the most beautiful this time of year with the lilacs in bloom, all the moss phlox in full bloom with the grape hyacinths and the golden spring leaves of the Goldflame spirea. 

In back there are moss phlox in bloom, candy tuft and bleeding heart.   The red bud tree is fading but has been spectacular.

Tasks Completed

Today we purchased a new rain gauge and two more perennials.  

We also planted the Ninebark, the Ajuga, the Dianthus Fruit punch cranberry cocktail, the Snow in Summer in the perennial garden, the three new Anabelle hydrangeas by the deck stairs, the Coral Bells Paris behind the Correopsis, the Althea Peppermint Smoothie by the garage.   We did it all in between rain storms.  We were cold and miserable but it got done. 

New Purchase Perennials

We purchase these two at Lowes.

Paris Coral Bells
Perennial
By the Correopsis on the hill





Black Scallop Ajuga
Perennial Ground Cover
In front of the fancy Iris in the perennial garden

New Shrub and Perennial Purchase

We went to Plymouth Nursery on Wednesday and picked up some shrubs and flowers.

For the Perennial garden:
Snow In Summer:  1 gallon tub
    Cerastium tomentosum

 Dianthus Fruit Punch Cranberry Cocktail  1 gallon tub

South Side by garage:
Shrub Althea Peppermint Smoothie

 

NE property line:
Ninebark Coppertina

Deck Steps:
Hydrangea Annabelle--three large plants


LET'S HOPE THEY GROW.

Garden Report

In the front yard the white moss phlox are spectacular

The grape hyacinths contrast against the moss phlox are lovely.

Candy tuft in the back yard has a life of it's own.   It just gets bigger every year.

We were concerned about the bleeding heart.  They were hard hit the year of the bad winter, but seem to be coming back again.

Other news in the back yard:  The red bud tree is gorgeous as are the moss phlox on the waterfall.  It's a lovely time to be outside.

Yesterday we put in all the fertilizer stakes.  It was a huge job, but it's done.   Now to get the weeding caught up and the water fall in operation.

Front Yard Garden Report

Wayne thatched the front lawn with the new thatcher.  It worked well and was easy to use.

In front the moss phlox are in bloom--both the white and the fuchsia.  It's amazing at how big that arborvitae has grown--the phlox under it are rather shrimpy now, but still blooming.

The grape hyacinth are also blooming.  The daffodils we planted are pretty much a no show now, but these are still growing despite the moss phlox growing around them.

The goldflame spirea have great spring foliage on them.  However, the two to the north of the porch are not doing very well.  We'll prune out the dead wood, but we probably need to replace them next year.

Garden Report

It has been too wet and cold to get outside to do anything.  

There are lots of things that are starting to bloom--red bud tree, crab apple tree, moss phlox. 

The orange tulips are fading.  This is an especially lovely time of year.

We have lots of weeding to do. 

Task Completed

We pruned all the round arborvitae in back and the big one on the south and the one by the garage.

We mulched around the arborvitae on the south, the wisteria vines, the crab tree and the roses.

Garden Rreport

The pear trees are in full bloom.   In the back the moss phlox are starting to bloom.  

Most everything has come up except the big hostas, the hydrangea's transplanted to the south side and the shrub althea by the ne corner of the house.

We goofed when we moved moss phlox to the front and didn't get a white bunch.  There is still some on the south side so we need to move those later in the year. 

All 6 of the hen and chicks survived winter.   Let's hope they start growing.

We have lost the columbine by the bleeding heart.   It turned wild last year and has stopped growing.  I had many years of growth out of it.  Since the candy tuft is so huge I'll probably not purchase another one.

Purchases

12 new solar lights for the back yard at Lowes.  They were $3 each.  We will put them on the s side of the yard.  Move the older good ones to the north side.

LED low voltage deck lights. These are for the lower deck from Lowes--2 12 ft strands

15 more building blocks to finish the redo for the shrub althea on the south side of the garage.

Preen.  We're going to try it on the hill side and see if it won't get rid of the weed problem.

All the fertilizer stakes needed for the year.

Spring Rain

It's raining today.  Everything is so green.

Garden Report

Yesterday we went outside to do weeding and work on the south planting area by the garage.  It was 80 degrees and we worked until 8pm.

Today the pear trees are in bloom.   They are really beautiful in our yard and all around town.  Those are such hopefully signs that soon we will have many other things blooming.

Garden Report

We thought we would have an early spring but it turned cold.  Today was great.  The forsythia are in bloom but that's about it.  They are really scruffy looking and have never really recovered from the beating they took two winters ago.  It's great having some blossoms, but if they don't do better, we need to replace them.

This past winter we lost the Shrub Althea on the south side.  It was big but started to die last year and then fell over in the winter.  Wayne dug it up.  We need to make the planting spot larger and then replace it.

We uncovered the four rose bushes and they all have some green on them.   There is lots of weeding to be done, but the weather is really warm and wonderful--about 70 degrees today.