I got the bug - the growin' bug

 I am absolutely hooked on growing new plants to fill in my garden beds. I have been looking around the yard to see what else I could possible start. I am planning next fall to gather seed heads from the rudbeckia daisies, lusting after anything that needs to be pinched and will provide me more starts.

Recycled boost drink bottles are small enough to hold water and provide a stable base for the plants. This Blue Salvia was in the water for two weeks at the most. I am hooked!

New Rose Bed in the Water Garden

I have had cardboard and newspaper shielding and creating this new bed all winter. The junk you see in the grass is the rotting remains of the all the paper, plus some magnolia leaves as it is the time of the year that the magnolias loose all their old leaves, it is a mess. Top soil was added. Beds were churned and softened up, placement was checked. The final shot shows the new bed completed and tucked in with fresh pine straw. 

The new roses are a floribunda rose Burgundy Iceberg from Wayside Gardens. They start out white and quickly change to a dark maroon burgundy shade. If you are lucky they will go so deep they become purple. I am hopeful. Click on the link to their website below to see the image that sold me on trying this rose.

Burgundy Iceberg Floribunda Rose

Merry Christmas from Pinewood Cottage - 1966 Aluminum Christmas Tree

     My daughter is excited that all total we have 9 trees up and lit this year. I am excited about this little tree. It is my tree from 1966. It is a 6 foot aluminum tree that I received when I was one and half. I saved the tree this Summer from my mom's attic, as we have been cleaning out her house to sell. The box was in really bad shape, but the tree branches were still in their protective sleeves so the tree is great shape. To answer the question that I know everyone might be thinking - no we did not have the rotating light to change the color of the tree. 

     I have always dreamed of "Martha Stewart-izing" this tree. I chose a silver and white theme, and I think it looks great. Thank You Home Depot. My children have never seen this tree so they have been interested and have helped me decorate it this year which pleases me greatly. Don't know why the camera thinks it's 2008? 

Below is my picture in about 1969. I have other photos from earlier years displayed under the tree in the photo above. This aluminum tree was "my" tree. A child of the 60's I had this tree. I remember getting robots and my favorite toy of ALL time... my GI Joe and his silver astronaut suit. Apparently the late 60's were the metallic years.  

I hope everyone has a Shiny Bright Christmas this year. 

Merry Christmas from Pinewood Cottage. 

Today in the Garden

Today was my day to air layer the pink perfection camellia. I spent an hour or two and got 30 potential new camellias started. I will not clip them until much cooler weather in late October or even in November. When the weather cools down they root. Air Layering takes patience. For my tutorial on how I air layer click here.

Last week I tried to strike some cuttings of dogwood, gardenia, tulip tree, and hydrangea. Sad to say that the dogwood and tulip tree cuttings rotted away. The gardenia all took and have healthy roots and no leaf damage at all.

About half of the hydrangeas took, which is better than zero. I am amazed.

Does anyone else try to fill in the holes in the garden by propagating plants you already have?

Visiting the Biltmore House Gardens in June

 Up the road to Asheville we went

 The Biltmore House is the nearest thing to the Grand Estates we have here in the South

 Imagine that this is your front yard

 and this is your back yard

 here is one side yard

 Italian Garden with ponds

 looking back at the house from the ponds

 After a quick walk through specimen trees here is the entrance gate into the walled garden

 Huge border of coleus of various colors

 I am not a big red fan. In our heat red just makes you hotter, but this little rose was pretty here in its spot

 tiny teacup magnolia

 white clematis climbing the wall

 well done low pot

 whatever this plant is it was everywhere and I loved it

 This is the bottom of the walled garden with a patio leading into the conservatory

 what contrast

 One whole side of the walled garden was a White Border so you know I was Oooing and Ahhhing

 hydrangea limelight

 never did figure out what this plant was but I want some - does anybody out there know what this plant is?

 white astillbe

 Oak leaf hydrangea

finally at the end of all that hot walking we were able to enjoy the shade of the wisteria as we walked to the Stables Cafe for a lovely lunch. Bleu cheese on a burger and Chicken salad croissant. One Christmas ornament and several bottles of lovely wine and we were off.

 

On our way home we stopped at the Carl Sandburg House National Historic Site in Flat Rock NC. Got several books for my classroom and some lesson plans and trip information from the nicest park rangers ever. All in all it was a great day trip - hot as the devil - but a great trip.