There isn't much blooming in the bed of fire colors right now. Some irises are in bud, and some orange poppies I planted there last year, as well as a couple of red peonies that are new. The color from this heuchera and euphorbia is most welcomed right now.

Good color.

Green Eyed Lady, one of the last daffodils.

Yesterday I did the stupidest thing, had uploaded 21 photos, and had another window open reading other threads while doing so. Got pulled from the puter and closed both windows before hitting "finished"! Let's try this again...

During this lull in colorful blooms, the lush tapestry of foliage has been captivating to me.

I'll just load no more than 9 per post, so I don't make anymore goofs of that magnitude...

I have better luck with those cheap little 1 gallon azaleas from box stores than others for some reason. This is the 2nd year for this one.


I keep taking pics of this area- the developing rose and columbines are making me so happy!


Spanish bluebells and a happy clump of comfrey.


Its about to get really colorful- big, fat buds arising from irises all over!

Hesperis is considered invasive in some regions, but I've never had trouble with it here. It does self seed liberally, but it is so nice having something that will tolerate the root competition from this thirsty silver maple.


Variegated Iris pseudacorus, and cute little 'Stitch Witch'

Just a couple of hints of color to come soon in the bed of fire colors. I need to find some things that bloom now in red, orange and gold! Hmmmm....

I like the textures in the foliage photographs.

Be interested to know what you find in those colors.

Thanks Deb! Those colors are tough right now. I'm considering Allium moly to sprinkle through that bed, and I definitely need to add some single late tulips. Oh, and of course I must acquire some intermediate bearded irises in those colors!

Neal, you have a wonderful collection of plants.

Lestv said: Poor you to have to suffer through such a lovely "lull" in growing!

Too funny and how true!
I am so glad you are letting go with the pictures this year Neal--I fail to see what's not ready to grace the glossy pages of this magazine and I am really enjoying the show. What a lovely "lull" you must suffer through indeed

Slow Fireworks--that's what we call it--
While I do manage to have *something* doing something interesting everywhere/somewhere all the time (even thru the winter in my indoor jungle)--I cannot seem to manage the color coordination of my chaos
I come up with some of the worst combinations possible--and I am always playing plant tetris, trying to fix one mistake and inevitably creating another You have inspired me to keep trying

Meanwhile, have you considered Helianthemum?
it makes a nice evergreen sub-shrub for me--mine are coming on now

(I think that one is ben ledi--from a few nights ago. It is full of blooms today and I've got to go get some better pics as the sun comes up) Anyhow--there are a variety of fire colors available and they bloom their heads off late spring thru early summer


I just love Jan's garden
Can I interest you in some pinky-purple perennial, creeping verbena?

This stuff comes on early and just rocks all summer till it freezes--that's from last week--the thing in the center that really doesn't look good with the sandstone that has taken on a very red-orange tone obscuring the pink swirly stripes...oh well...
last year, late august, bad lighting but you get the idea...

Thanks Margaret!

Thanks, dirtdorpins, I love the term "slow fireworks"- so true and accurately descriptive! Helianthemum is something I have been looking at for a couple of years, they are beautiful! I've never seen them growing before, but you've convinced me I must try some. Yours are stunning, and love the primary color combo with the red ones. Did you get yours from Bluestone? Knowing they bloom at the time I'm needing some salsa colors makes them a must.

I love those Verbena too. Those I've tried haven't returned the 2nd year, but yours looks somewhat different. I think Homestead Purple is the only one I've tried.

Oh yes, certainly keep trying. Lord knows even when we get it right, something is going to outgrow something else, some new plant will bloom the wrong color, or any number of things that require digging something back out and trying it somewhere else, then finding something just right to fit the spot. It's all part of the fun of gardening.

Oh yes--it is all part of the fun of gardening!
What I was thinking, but didn't exactly say, is that I am inspired by your evident success with the results (and others' on this site, for sure, as well) to make more of an effort to actually think about it more first, instead of randomly cramming stuff together and then acting like I'm surprised!

My Helianthemum is all locally purchased--it is pretty much an ideal plant for this area and wildly popular with some of us although under-used in the main.
The pinky-purple verbena I got from Wrightman's Alpines in Canada. It is different.
I also have Homestead Purple--which survives winter just fine for me in gravel in the rock garden, but not in soil.

Ah yes, sort of a garden of random successes- I have totally done that, LOL.

Homestead Purple must dislike winter moisture. While the soil here is well drained, it does have a high clay content (a clay-loam) and holds moisture- I bet that's the problem. The pinky purple one is unlike any I've seen- it survives in soil for you?

How tall and wide to Helianthemums grow for you?

My biggest is about a 6yo pink one with silver or grey-green foliage

It gets about 12-16" tall and is about 3and1/2' long by about 10" wide--because it is hindered by rocks on one side and the lawn mower on the other side
the red and orange are about 8" tall and about 18" diameter currently, and then I have another couple youngins that I put in last year that are still quite small.

I've not tried the pinky-purple verbena in soil on purpose, but it does root runners into my positively evil clay soil and survives winters as isolated new plants in my lawn so I'd have to say that it probably could. I've successfully transplanted a few--and killed a few more--trying to relocate them back to the scree in the spring.

Well that settles it, I must have Helianthemums! Loads of the prettiest little blooms- my kinda plant. They look like little single roses to me.

Yesterday the weather was perfection- warm, sunny, just a light breeze, and I stayed outside all day. The section of "sky garden" closest to the porch has been a challenge I've been dealing with for years. Last year it remained under black nylon in an attempt to kill off bind weed and other nasties that had taken over the area, and this year I have started planting it. 3 new roses now live there, Golden Fairy tale, Lion's Fairy tale, and Sunsprite. I moved 3 self seeded Centaurea montana and a couple of white penstemons there, and a couple of perennial candytuft and a Lithodora from Lowe's. Yesterday I finally got the area weeded and mulched- happy dance!

standing on the porch looking down at the spot.


looking from the lawn/garden path


And the happy roses, each has received a 5 gallon bucket of cow manure and been fertilized (they'll get alfalfa meal this week too).

Wonderful combination, eager to see the area as it progresses.



I have two new roses being delivered tomorrow for which I have to make room:
Black Forest


Charmant (miniature)


Both are Kordes. I love Kordes roses.

Looking good Neal, nice selection of plants you got going, look forward to progress photos.

Debra, Kordes are my best roses, and Palatine the best mail order for them!