Driveway Border

 Here's what's blooming in the Driveway Border right now.

 "Turk's Cap" lily - about 5 feet tall - leaning gracefully.

 Echinops Ritro near the top of the driveway - I think it wants more sunlight.

Urns leading down into the driveway yard - White petunias, chartreuse sweet potato vine, vinca, and dracaena Spikey Plant.  

I have big plans for this yard. Sky pencil hollies have been planted to hide the AC units and the dogwood tree and large clump of aspidistra Cast Iron plant (to left behind wall) are to be replaced with a living wall of sky pencil holly. I have about 20 cuttings rooted, ready and waiting for cooler raining days this fall to get into the ground.

Baptisia 'Blue Towers'

Baptisia can also be rooted from stem cuttings. Cuttings are genetically identical to the plant that provided them, which ensures the preservation of desirable characteristics such as unusual stem or flower color. Be aware that many new Baptisia cultivars are patented and cannot be legally grown from cuttings or other clonal propagation methods.

Most baptisias root easily in spring when the growth is still relatively soft, but the success rate drops as the stems harden. Good cutting material can generally be found in late April to early May. Cuttings should be taken so that at least one set of leaf buds can be inserted below the potting mix surface. Dip cutting in a rooting hormone and insert into a mix of 3 parts composted bark to 1 part peat. Keep humidity around cuttings high with a supported plastic tent. Cuttings should root in about 8 weeks.

Division or transplanting of Baptisia is difficult because of their deep woody root system and should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

http://www.plantdelights.com/Baptisia-Blue-Towers-for-sale/Buy-Blue-Towers-Baptisia/ 

Happy Friday from Pinewood Cottage

Peony - Karl Lagerfeld

The White Garden in Spring

 From the front sidewalk you can see the entrance to the White Garden. There are glimpses of it, but it is a secret little place tucked away from most of those who pass by in a hurry.

 A closer view from the yard.

 Climatis Henryii has really come into its own this year. Cannot get that pillar to stand tall.

 Here is the view from inside the White Garden looking back across the yard and sidewalk into the park across the street.

 Beside the clematis are the first blooms of the white peony and behind that is the white camellia japonica "man size" which did not bloom this past year.

 Clematis Henryii

 Clematis Henryii - a close up

 white peony

 Several close ups

Driveway bed in bloom

 Sunny Knock-Out roses are beginning to bloom and brighten up the dreary driveway area.

 Various shades of lemon yellow fading to lemon ice and then white.

 Fresh young yellow bud.

 Guara is just getting started too. Close up below.

 Wife's grandfather's rose blooming near wall.

 Planters are loaded and ready to begin the summer cascade.

Another blurry shot showing the wall and the driveway behind it.

From pickle jars to Pinterest

Field Day pickle sales yield loads of pickle jars. Spray painted lids, electric candles, several press on letters and we have a special interest area for the front porch.

Blue Salvia

Echinops Ritro - four feet tall and ready to bloom!

Planted near the top of the driveway border, this plant is Echinops Ritro. It promised to be a four feet tall plant with dark blue or purple globe shaped flowers. Last year this plant grew six inches tall and didn't do anything. This year... well, the catalog didn't lie. It has shot upwards and is loaded with buds. Exciting.

This was one of several hard to find plants that I treated myself with last year. If you are interested here is the link to Bluestone Perennials.

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