The entire garden is dancing a spring jig for the rains have come again to much of Oklahoma. Because it is Oklahoma, we are getting too much of course–everything in extremes is our motto–but for most of us, the water is still a blessing. All but the most western edges of the state are no longer in drought, and the central part of the state already exceeded its yearly total. The large pond behind my house beyond the lower pasture is full again. It was very low the last two years.
The back garden in June 2013.
Last night, another storm hit with a mighty wind. Most of my sunflowers that line the vegetable garden are down, but I over-planted on purpose. A lot of creatures like to eat sunflowers, so I always do a staggered planting. I’m glad they weren’t blooming, or I would have mourned their loss more. I had to also prop up the cannas, and that’s never happened. Keep around various staking materials. You never know when you’ll need them. Also, since the ground is so wet, go ahead and pull up all over the overachievers–those plants that want to make their garden only theirs. They come up easily when the ground is soaked.
Sad little sunflowers blown over by the storm last night.
Everything is growing in abundance especially the weeds and small saplings near the pond’s edge. We will need to pull those out as soon as possible. Because spring was so cold, the roses are just now finishing up their first bloom cycle. No, I’m not complaining. It’s nice to see them bloom so long and with such intense color.
Rosa ‘Mutabilis’ is having a very good year.
I spent several years trying to make ‘Mutabilis’ happy here, and I couldn’t understand why she suffered so. She grew like a monster for other gardeners, but she wearied of our cold winters. She nearly died three times in my garden. I finally found a place where she is sheltered between a dwarf crapemyrtle and another tough shrub rose, ‘Cliffs of Dover.’ Here, she has thrived, but never grows over-large.
Rosa ‘About Face’ and ‘Carefree Sunshine’ and a view of the garage garden.
I displayed the photo, above, for a couple of reasons. I wanted you to see the garage border from below so you can view how it relates to the tiered borders beneath it. See how my garden is on an incline. Also, look at the antennae on top of the garage. That’s how I’m able to read your posts and share mine. Kind of an eyesore, so I usually keep it out of photos. I am very grateful for it though. There was a time I had no Internet out here. This morning, after the storm, I revisited that time. We lost our connection, and I understand, many in the central part of the state also lost power. Sheesh . . . what a spring it’s been.
This is my belated garden bloggers bloom post so on to some closeups of new things.
Hemerocallis ‘Hold Your Horses’ (Trimmer 2004) is new to the garden. R. ‘Cliffs of Dover’ is behind.
At Fairegarden’s suggestion, I added a lot of lilies to my garden this year. I started with the lovely Orienpet Hybrid ‘Black Beauty’ and have now added a lot of other Orienpet, Oriental hybrids, Easter-Asiatics hybrids and a few Asiatics. If you want to grow lilies in the south, it’s a good idea to stick with Asiatics. They are the easiest, but if you’re daring, try some of the others too. Make sure they have plenty of drainage and for any other than the stubby Asiatics, you’ll need to stake them. Dahlias are the same way. Just place the stakes when you plant the bulbs unless you don’t want to see them sticking up out of the ground. Mine are painted dark green so they don’t show so much. Brown would work too.
Asiatic lily ‘Lionheart’
Try the North American Lily Society for more information about lily classification and culture. You might even want to join. Garden clubs are some of the best resources we have for particular plants. We should join them.
One of the Flemish Antique Peony Poppies I sowed seeds for in February. Check out that white edge.
The annual Flemish antique poppies and delphiniums are having a good run this spring too. Sometimes, it’s so hot that they quickly fade, but this year, we are unseasonably cool except for last week. I’ve enjoyed their soft and tender beauty awhile longer, and I am glad. I threw down seeds in mid-February and watched for the gray green foliage of each. I then moved the delphiniums where I wanted them, and I thinned many of the poppies. So many came up everywhere. They are just now blooming. Oddly, one of the dahlias has started blooming too. Poppies are normally mid-spring here, with dahlias much later. Everything is jumbled into one glorious mess this year, you don’t hear any complaints from me.
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ surrounding the newly painted arbor. We still have a bit to paint so the yellow ladder is behind it.
The garden is so happy I can’t show you everything. It’s all a jumble, but I love June. Happy Bloom Day my friends. I’ll see some of you soon at the Garden Bloggers Fling. I also want to thank Carol from May Dreams Gardens for sponsoring Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day.
