Wednesday, June 12, 2013

A Few More Favorite Things....

I've been running around like the proverbial chicken... trying to get all my containers and gardens ready for a Garden Conservancy Open Days Tour in July and have been spending way too much time looking at and trying to fix problem areas. It seems I don't ever pay attention to the things I like and forget to enjoy the gardens. Why oh why do I do this much work if instead of enjoying the process I'm frantic to keep things perfect all the time? I promised myself that this year I'd spend more time enjoying and less time obsessing. So to that end I spent a morning walking around the gardens  again with camera in hand. Taking pictures is one of my favorite things to do so taking pictures of my favorite things in the gardens seemed an appropriate way to take a deep breath, relax and enjoy the gardens.

  Love roses in June, this Knockout and Carefree Delight live up to their  names.

 Some of the succulent collection. The Jade plant is thirty years old. The fabulous leaf casting was done for me by one of my great garden friends and is one of my garden treasures.

 Love the wonderful bromeliad Neoregelia 'Big Mac'. It takes full sun and grows at a fantastic rate. This is a pup from the original plant I bought a couple years ago. 

Another view of the N. 'Big Mac' amongst its summer companions.


One of the succulent troughs I made over the winter when working in the greenhouse. Those echeverias are huge!


And yet more succulents, I might have gotten a bit carried away with these as they have to be wintered indoors.

I found this baker's rack on sale quite a few years ago now and have some of my cement rabbit collection displayed in the garden room on top of my hill. 

This giant Sword Fern is three years old now and just continues to grow and look great.

 
Aechmea blanchetiana

 
A living wall of ferns and Tillandsias
 
The view of the shade garden from the top of the hill
 
And now I must run and get to an appointment then I can spend some time finishing up the rest of the containers this afternoon.  Maybe I'll go plant shopping and find a few more favorite things?

15 comments:

  1. We love your garden and planters Deanne, and your garden looks pristine!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love your succulent collection, Deanne. Do you have to bring them in under lamps during the winter? You really should invest in a beautiful conservatory! What fun you would have in the winter tending to your indoor garden, and what fun I would have living vicariously through you:) I've always loved your shade garden and know you've mentioned it before, but I can't remember...what is the variegated plant you see towards the middle of the garden, it looks to be in front of the obelisk? Does it bloom or just have pretty foliage? I'm looking forward to seeing your terraced garden when it comes in to it's prime in July.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Leslie, yes I have to bring all those succulents indoors for the winter. Unfortunately, I don't have room on my property for a conservatory. I did rent greenhouse space last winter and that was great. The variegated plant in the shade garden is an Ivory Halo Dogwood. Beautiful plant!

      Delete
  3. Love it all Deanne, and your succulents are fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kathy, I'm having so much fun with the succulents. Hoping I can get greenhouse space again this winter or I'll have to dismantle them all.

      Delete
  4. Oh how I wish that I could visit your garden for the open days...that would be fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  5. How very brave of you to have your garden on an Open Days tour! I know you will get lots of visitors who will ooh and aaah (because I would). I love your succulent troughs, and that living wall of ferns and Tillandsias. That is a fabulous baker's rack! I've been thinking lately of getting one for the garden, too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. your caontainers are to die for!! so lush....my knockouts are full of black spot...I pick and I spray...sigh!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh how I wish that I could visit your garden that would be awesome!, I love your succulent collection..

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your garden is always spectacular! I'm sure that your visitors will be blown away!

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is the type of garden I've been waiting to see.. Wish I could visit it.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Do you know the maker of the bakers rack

    ReplyDelete