in the garden - just flowers and more

Ahhh - a welcome to summer and all that it brings.

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Florida Sunflowers

grown by my good friend Janet! 

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more of those amazing Sunflowers!

You are a sunflower, my friend!

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Iris and Peonies from my garden.

Finally the sun came out and the iris and the peonies were the first to show up! 

Both are so fleeting in their bloom that I always cut a lot of them to have in the house to enjoy.

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Pink Peonies

Had an amazing crop of peonies this season - both deep pink and a very pale pink. 

For 3 weeks straight I had vases in every room filled with them.

They are so beautiful and their scent is sweet and filled with summer.

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Blue Hydrangea

Nothing says New England, and Cape Cod, more than a hydrangea to me. 

I planted this one last year after we moved in and it is coming along beautifully. I added 2 more this spring and hope for 

more blooms next year. 

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White Speedwell

These are so delicate and pretty and, along with the purple Salvia, they are magnets for bees!

I think next year I am going to put some of these in right next to the vegetables .......

a little extra help with pollination would not be a bad thing!

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White Hydrangea

I inherited a large one of these with the house last year and I divided it into 3 - all of which have almost doubled in size.

I also added another late in the summer. Hydrangeas are so continually prolific adding color and texture to the garden all summer long. 

And I still have some of last years' blooms dried and sitting in a vase on top of the refrigerator.

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The lilies - both the Daylily and Lilium varieties - have just begun to bloom along with the Shasta Daisies, Cone Flowers, and Astilbe. 

All of these will continue blooming throughout the season.

By July they should all be joined by the rest of the players; the flowering Hostas, Lianthus, Sedum, Coreopsis, Butterfly Bush, and Rose of Sharon.

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And lest we forget the veggies!

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Cipollini  Onions

This is my first time with onions and I am trying both Cipollini and one called South Carolina Sweets.

So far... so good.

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Pumpkins to be

Yes, ever since my "accidental" pumpkin patch (in Columbus, OH) I have been a fan and wanting to try it again.

So here we go...... Dried the seeds from my Halloween pumpkins last year and we currently have @ 10 healthy plants and lots of blossoms (hoping those bees find those blossoms)! I also planted Long Pie Pumpkin (also from seeds I had dried) which are currently looking just as good. 

I may have another urban pumpkin patch on my hands.

If so - we luckily have lots of children in the neighborhood and they can come pick their own Jack-O-Lantern.

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Also growing well in the garden is patty pan squash, cucumbers, tomatoes (in pots on the deck), Japanese eggplant, 

and lots of herbs.

and, of course, the gardener.

Providence, RI

June, 2014

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