Garden Progress

Let's take a look at the garden and see what is going on, shall we? I am trying something new this year. I have done a few things like this before, but this year I am going to use everything I have in my sheds and decorate with vintage items. I have a good deal of these items, and I am really excited to see how it all turns out. Here, I took inventory of all my transferware this past weekend, and some of it got the boot and went to the garden.

The cottage pinks have never bloomed this much. They are really loaded and so lovely for a rather humble flower.

A new geranium in another hot pink color.

The bearded iris my grandmother gave me years ago. 

This area of the garden had to be redesigned this year. A neighbor's tree fell on this area, and we lost our crabapple. I hadn't replaced it and had been contemplating what to do here for over a year. This year it hit me. A climbing rose here for a focal point. The rose I chose is the lavender crush rose. I am so excited about this. This rose was from Walmart, and it was only $10. My Zephirine Drouhin rose came from Walmart years ago, and it has outpreformed every rose I had put in the garden. So, I am really happy I found this heirloom rose and that it likes partial shade. 

A vintage mill from my grandfather was the perfect addition here in this redesigned garden.

One man's trash is another man's treasure.

In Victory,

Sherry

Floating Flowers & Candles

Using the book The Herbal Yearbook, I have been doing something new each month out of this book. This month, I chose to float flowers and candles. 

 

Here is the book open to the page, showing the ways to use the herbs for May. I don't think of roses as herbs, but they can be considered herbal plants. They were the one thing I had blooming that would float, so I used them.

Twlight in the garden with this display is very peaceful. I am thinking I will try more flowers this way.

Have you ever tried this? It is really pretty! 

In Victory,

Sherry

Life of the Party Rose

The rose outside my backdoor has an interesting name. It isn't shy at all and brightens up any landscape.

When it blooms, it starts out with a delicate yellow blossom. It has the most intoxicating fruity scent. 

Here in the evening, the yellow blossoms now take on an apricot glow that is stunning at dusk.

The next morning, the petals are edged in a rosy pink, and they will deepen to that color as the bloom fades. The rose earns its' name-the life of the party.

In Victory,

Sherry

The Peony

I have had this peony for years, and every year it just gets prettier. I believe it is a Karl Rosenfield peony. 

It has this double bloom that is a real showstopper.

I am not one to plan my garden out a lot. I just stick things where they will thrive. Shorter stuff in the front, the right amount of sun, etc. This planning was very accidental, but the colors going on in this garden bed this year all get along really well. 

This peony makes a spectacular cut flower too!

In Victory,

Sherry

The Lilac

This lilac has bloomed, and when it begins to bloom, it looks like it is going to be lavender, but then it turns all white.

I had never taken a picture of this shrub before, and this year was the perfect year to do that because it was really loaded with blossoms.

The purple bearded iris always blooms at the same time, and I often make a bouquet of the two flowers together.

The fragrance from this lilac is amazing. It always scents the whole garden for around a week when it is in bloom.

In Victory,

Sherry

Lily of the Valley

 
The lily of the valley has bloomed, and it is gorgeous! I have always wanted to grow this, and I finally got some established in my yard. I was gifted it by my aunt; thank you!

I have had this lily of the valley teacup for years, but I haven't pulled it out in awhile.

The lilies smell so good too! Do you have a favorite plant you have finally grown that you are happy about? Share the details!

In Victory,

Sherry