Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - "On Time!"

Okay.

It's raining outside (not a downpour),
and I decided to head outdoors to take a couple more photos!

I can take little credit for the success of the gardens this year.
We have enjoyed a wonderful growing season.
Everything was provided as needed...
(it was critical to water only a couple of times).
For that I am both grateful and humbled, as that's not the case everywhere.

This is what is blooming right now, as we speak! :-)

Japanese Anemone, Anemone japonica 'September Charms'?

Tricyrtis hirta, variety unknown
(discount purchase)
The flower pot on the right is supposed to be a toad house. ;-)

A last look at the front beds - photo 1

photo 2

"Stella Supreme" is such a great re-bloomer!
Notice there still buds forthcoming!

And I know this fellow is trying to tell me something.
Let's lean in... oh, yeah... I hear it!
"Come on, already. I want to go in. It's getting chilly out here!"

I understand completely.

I'll see if I can help him out later.
For the moment... I'm headed indoors!
(brrr!)
Shady G.

P.S. This is Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. See Carol about Joining.

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day, a day or so early.

I returned home tonight after visiting my daughter, son-in-law and their family in Omaha over the weekend. I went alone, as my husband had work commitments today. Anyway, these photos (except for the last one) were taken last week. It's just fun to see what's blooming these days. Especially now that we're deep in the midst of October.

I assume I'll begin raking in earnest tomorrow. It's the 'season,' and I don't want to get behind before I've begun!

Tricyrtis hirta 'Variegata'
This is as tall as this plant has ever gotten. It's 4 - 5 years old,
started from bare-root... and as far as I can remember,
the first time it's bloomed! :-)
close-up!

This next photo was also taken in the backyard.
You can see 'Praying Hands' hosta behind
'Heronswood Mist' tiarella which is one of my favorite plants,
due to its delicately colored foliage!
Of course, there's an impatien blooming here.

This is right in front of the garage,
looking past my miniature water feature towards the front of the house.
I over-wintered the palm last year. Perhaps I can divide it, as
it's grown quite large this summer.

And (Surprise!)
my non-Christmas cactus, ready to bloom!!!
(kitchen window)

Th next photo was taken tonight. The cactus is beginning to bloom!
I am amazed! :-)
(I moved it into the living room while I was gone.)

I've now begun to think about my November 2008 Inspiration post... hope you'll join me! ;-) (See my upper right side bar.)
SG

To participate in Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens. Create your post on the 15th of any month and leave a note at her site. :-)

Visiting IVG - 2008 Summer Inspiration - Post #2

How many of you enjoy visiting with
and receiving a visit from IVG? :-)

This is one lively, conversational garden-fellow,
who, with with his cohort and photographer "Ferny Moss,"
have created an enjoyable spot to visit at their Urban Oasis.

And yes, I was able to make a stop in nearby Des Moines August 28!
IVG greeted me at the door,
and we spent the next several minutes poking around
in their surrounding gardens.

Can you imagine the effort spent in creating this fantastic rock wall??

Taking photographs of their garden was a little intimidating,
as Fernymoss' photos are wonderful!

I did feel this photo might give an idea
of the great combinations of color,
texture, and depth of the gardens of Urban Oasis.

I was on my way home from visiting my parents and aunt
in north central Iowa, and I was on my way
to my mother-in-law's home to spend the night.
All that is to say, I didn't have as much time
as I'd have certainly Liked to spend with IVG.

This is a little rue that he shared.
It's growing in a sunny corner bed
with some creeping sedum and columbine.
(Yes, I see there are a couple of clover leaves that won't last long!) ha.

He also sent me home with some Monarda plants!
This little plant, "Jacob Cline," in the center is one I purchased this summer.
IVG's plants flank this little fellow. :-)

Look! New growth!
Next summer this part of the bed will be full of Monarda.
I'll keep you "posted!" ;-)

My past experience with Monarda tells me that it often is subject to mildew. But, IVG's hint about planting chives, onion, and/or allium nearby will help alleviate this problem. I plan to plant a few allium bulbs in this bed next week. :-)

Thanks, IVG, for your hospitality and generosity. I hope I can do you credit by your plant-gifts!

Have a great Fall!
SG

My Visit with Iowa Boy

This is a first of my two October posts under

"2008 Summer Inspiration!"
(I have to do two of them, because I visited two special blogger-gardeners!)

On July 19, 2008, I was cordially welcomed into the gardens of Don (Iowa Boy) and his wife, Liz.

I was a little nervous... after all this is Iowa Boy of 'An Iowa Garden!'

"Be still my beating heart," I said to myself
as I turned into their driveway.
"I'm really here!"

I met two very gracious, generous people! We wound our way around, through shaded pathways, past so many of the plants we see on posts at An Iowa Garden!

Yes, I am always admiring (aren't we all)
and appreciating the vast variety
of plants and information Iowa Boy provides.

So, without further ado, here are some photos I took, albeit without much in the way of identification and/or explanation. Sorry.

1. Click on this photo... we're looking at the TINY plant!

2. Helleborus (variety?)

3.
4.
5.
6.
7. Pinellia tripartita "Golden Dragon ??
8.
9.
10. Orienpet lilies
11.
12.
13.14.
15.16.17.

18.

19.
What a wonderfully restful, shady garden. This was my first introduction to a fellow garden-blogger. I continue to be amazed by the vast numbers of plants and information there is in this world. In fact, about midway through the tour, I began feeling a bit overwhelmed. (If he noticed, Don was too polite to say anything!) ;-)

But his graciousness did not outweigh his generosity. Take a peek below to see a few of the items he sent home with me! I am so excited!! I placed links for plant information... the best information for the pinellia tripartita plants was posted by Don, himself.

Photo 21: Top Left: Pinellia tripartita "Golden Dragon," Top Right: "A violet," Bottom Left: arisaema sikokianum Japanese Jack-in-the-Pulpit or "Snow Rice-Cake Plant, and two others that are not in this photo: hemerocallis, daylily, "Total Look ," and Pinellia tripartita atropurpurea.

Heading home to Shady's Garden!

Here's the little violet in its new home.

Pinellia tripartita "Golden Dragon," up close
Pinellia tripartita "Golden Dragon," in its new home
Pinellia tripartita purpurea, up close
Pinellia tripartita purpurea, in its new home
arisaema sikokianum, Japanese Jack-in-the-Pulpit
(not a clear photo, but here's where he's residing!)
Here's hemerocallis "Total Look" in her new home.
She's grown! :-)
(I think Iowa Boy mentioned his plant had 60+ buds this year!)

Had I not begun blogging a year or so ago, I'd never have "met" so many people on-line. And I'd never have had the pleasure of reading and meeting Iowa Boy from An Iowa Garden!

Now I hope my plants grow!! :-)
Shady G.

October!

Where did you find Inspiration during the Spring/Summer of 2008?

This is your opportunity to share!
My right side-bar has the information.

Your October post will be about meeting a gardener (blogger or not) who has especially been inspiring! An alternative post idea is to write about an inspiring garden you visited! In order to not be terribly confusing, you might limit one garden/er to a post... however, you could post more than once during the month! ;-)

Once you post, return to the sidebar and click on the link.
Leave your name and "comment's up" on my October post there.
If you want to see who else has posted, visit there from time-to-time to find out!

Have fun with your account, and
WE will have fun reading it!

Now, if you'll excuse me... I'm going to begin composing. ;-)
Shady G.

Let Us Go Gladly Into October

May we remember

with gladdened hearts,
moments of beauty -
awe and/or mirth.


In anticipation
with respectful pause,
moments ahead seem
open and gracious.


May we be ready
with confident glances,
moments away are
beckoning welcome.


In acceptance
and graceful movement,
a season enters
beautifully timed.

'tis now
October.


by me - Shady G.
October 1, 2008

(this last photo was taken in October 2007)

Let us go gladly into this season.

Garden Blogger's Muse Day was conceived and is promoted by Carolyn Gail at Sweet Home and Garden Chicago . You, too, can participate!