Peonies & Baptisia

Photo of Peony Bouquet
Peonies and Baptisia make a wonderful combination.

I have a goal to bring something from my garden indoors all year round. We’re at the end of the Peonies and Baptisia right now, so I got one more bouquet out of them (looks like I didn’t quite dust the mulch off some of them!). I love this combination. I used some variegated Red-Twig Dogwood leaves but they’re a bit limp to be on their own.

We’re on the verge of summer flowers now. I see the Coneflowers close to blooming, and the Black-Eyed Susans are starting. I’ve got some Dahlia tubers coming this week, too, to get started for fall. Better late than never!

Rock Spring Park

Several times a week I jog through Rock Spring Park, one of our wonderful green spaces here in Arlington. There’s always something to stop and admire, whether it be blooms, new green growth, ducks in the water, or someone’s adorable canine pal out for a walk. In addition to Arlington Parks & Rec, a lot of volunteers make sure the park stays healthy, and I appreciate them every time I go through. And if you have part-shade in your garden, you can be sure that anything thriving here in deer territory will do well at your house, too.

Please Touch the Plants

Photos of plantsWalking though your garden can be a wonderful tactile experience.

Like a cashmere sweater or a fuzzy fleece in a clothing store, it’s almost impossible for me to walk past these plants without touching them. Even prickly things, like the center of a coneflower, make me want to connect. (“Let me see if I can touch it so softly that it doesn’t hurt!”)

We’re always focused on how a garden looks, especially when we’re perusing beautiful photos, but when we’re in the physical space, the smells, sounds, textures and even tastes elevate our experience to another level.

It’s Fall Planting Time!

Photo of daffodils
Colorblends daffodils

It’s fall planting time, and the garden centers are bursting with wonderful trees and shrubs. On top of that, I just received my Colorblends catalog in the mail yesterday. Colorblends is my favorite place to order bulbs, and I’ve had great success with all of the items I’ve ordered from them. They will ship to you at the appropriate planting time, so you don’t have to worry about putting them in the ground too early. Important note- they do sell out of the most popular items, so if you see something you really love, don’t hesitate to get your order in!

Susanna Farm Nursery Visit

Photo of landscape

If you’re looking for specimen trees, Susanna Farm Nursery is a great destination. It feels more like an arboretum than a trade nursery, and you can easily spend an hour or two strolling through the grounds. I was looking for some good-sized maples to use as accents in a client’s back garden, but I also came across some wonderful willow standards for another project. Well worth the trip for the beauty and inspiration and just a relaxing afternoon out.

American Wisteria is the Best Choice

Photo of Wisteria frutescens
American Wisteria won’t pull your porch down.

We planted this Wisteria frutescens at the corner of my neighbor’s porch about 5 years ago. It is such a gorgeous and reliable bloomer. If the idea of Wisteria makes you nervous, just be sure to select the American variety. It doesn’t get nearly as big as the Asian varieties and won’t end up pulling down your structures over time.

New Yellow Rhodies in My Garden

Photo of yellow rhododendrons

I’m so excited that these new yellow rhododendrons are opening up in my garden. They’re supposed to be a “compact” variety, which I hope means I won’t need to prune them back much. I don’t normally plant rhodies or azaleas in small gardens because I don’t really like their form over time, but the pale yellow of these felt like daffodils so I thought I’d give them a try. So far, so good, but if they get big and leggy, they’re moving to the back garden!