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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lovely garden.. A perfect area to relax and unwind. Stunning blooms!
WOW, that ‘Hold Your Horses’ daylily is a stunner!
You must stay busy. I did a little shopping at TLC the other day, purchased a Amsonia and Lavender. Looks like they changed a few things around, I understand they have new ownership. Do you know of anyone that sells Agaves and Yuccas in OKC. Enjoy.
Wonderful to hear your drought is over–you certainly deserve some respite from the awful weather you have had! Your garden is looking so lush and lovely. I am going to check out those Flemish poppies–beautiful!
So glad you’ve been getting all that moisture, even if it can be feast or famine! I totally agree about Lilies…and think you’ll love ‘Black Beauty’, it was my first Lily, and I love it more and more every year!
I’m a big fan of June, too! And it’s incredibly encouraging to see the drought lift from so many states. I know you were dealing with it for a long time, but last summer we had a pretty awful taste of drought’s wrath. Even a cold, wet, extended spring is much better than a horrible drought. Your garden is wondrous!
Dee, your garden looks fabulous! You must really be enjoying this year compared to past years. I may take your advice about lilies. Gotta figure out where though (the age-old problem!).
I’m totally enamored of your back garden! so peaceful and serene…and gorgeous!
Lilies are my all time faves, and I like your “hold your horses” variety. great color combo! Can I ask where you buy your lily bulbs? mail order or local?
Great blog all around,Dee…I’m so glad you commented on my recent post because it brought me ’round here to follow you!
So glad you are getting the rain that you need.
Beautiful blooms, especially the Lilies!
Have a wonderful week!
Lea
Lea’s Menagerie
I’m so glad for you Dee, that you’re getting (more than!) enough rain. I completely understand the gratitude. I’m feeling it here too, in spite of our storm last week. I will never complain about rain again, after last year’s drought. Your gardens look glorious. I didn’t realize your veggie garden was so big. Reminds me of my mom’s. Wishing you a beautiful, wet-enough summer and a bountiful harvest.
I am happy for you that the rains have returned, and hope they might come in more gentle forms from now on. I love that Lionheart lily! I am often accused of liking those dark murky colors, and that would fit right in.
Gentle rains in Oklahoma Les? Surely you jest. I found ‘Lionheart’ at B&D Lilies, my favorite store. I got to see their booth at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show, and it was one of those moments when I felt like crying for joy.
So good to see the lushness back in your garden after all the trials we’ve been through. I have a good friend who’s a rancher so I hope the pastures are coming back and we keep getting the rain. Springfield, MO had 9″ in two hours on Saturday. Ouch. Keep up the good work, babe.
Wow, Patrick, that’s a whole lotta rain. Goodness. Some of central Oklahoma had ten inches while we were out of town. I got 2.5. I’ll take that instead. Thank you for your kind words.
I too love your poppies. I may try to find some seed for next year. I started a few things from seed this time. I also didn’t notice your “eyesore” because I was looking at the beautiful roses..
Sue Ellen, they come in a multitude of colors, those poppies. I bought them from One Stoppe Poppy Shop early this spring. I have better luck with the annual poppies than the perennial ones because of the normal heat. Plus, they don’t take up much room.~~Dee
Your garden looks great and I’m glad to hear that you are no longer in drought mode. It took me several tries to grow Mutabalis – it does require a sheltered site.
Thank you for saying that Phillip. It makes me feel better.
Glad to hear you got some rain, although I laughed at your motto “everything in extremes”! 🙂 Sorry to hear your power was out too. Oklahoma has had a hard time lately. Beautiful blooms. I especially think your Annabelle hydrangeas look lovely flanking that gorgeous arbor gate. And I read with amazement at your trials and tribulations with Mutabilis. Mine is over 10 ft tall now – it’s become a monster!
I know Holley. It’s just me. Mutabilis just didn’t like it here until now. Go figure. I’ve heard it can be quite a monster.
Our weather has been cool and rainy for the most part as well. As I noted in my newsletter last week though, the daylilies will show their appreciation in a few weeks, even if the tomatoes don’t. It is beautiful there right now – thanks for sharing!
I’m looking forward to the daylily parade myself.
Dee everything is looking gorgeous. Almost 8 inches here in June so far but not hot weather yet. I love that daylily…just beautiful and that back garden is so colorful
Thank you Donna. That daylily reminds me so much of ‘So Many Stars’ too. They are very similar in color and pattern. However, the growth habit is different. I’m only saying this in case you find one or the other. They are both good.~~Dee
Just lovely Dee! And while the rain has been accompanied by too much wind I am still glad for you that the drought is being held at bay.
Me too. Leslie, me too.
Nothing so lush as a well-watered garden! I love ‘Hold Your Horses’ and the pink poppies.
Yes, it’s so lush, I can barely keep things apart. So different from the last two years.
I was so busy looking at all your flowers I didn’t even notice the antennae before I read what you wrote about it. We all have utility items in the garden that we don’t necessarily like to look at. But hey, life would be more complicated without them. Happy GBBD.
Lisa, LOL! That’s funny. I really noticed the tower when I took this one. I’m surprised you could miss it. Happy Bloom Day!
Dee, Your garden makes me happy and I want to dance with the flowers. That lily closeup is dazzling and I’ll take a dozen of those peony poppies! Sorry about the wind damage, but I am so happy you’ve had enough rain to make every flower happy. gail
Gail, if only the peony poppies were all that sublime color. They’ve been all over the place. Thanks so much. You know how much I love my flowers and color.
A happy garden makes for a happy gardener! Your garden makes me happy, too, dear Dee, and thanks for the linkage. May your lilies bloom in abundance for many years to come. I lust after that Lionheart! Like Nell Jean, the orienpets are much better here than the coolth loving orientals. And stakes are always at hand, you never know when someone is going to need a little help. The dahlias have bloomed early last year and again this year. I like seeing them and they will keep going until frost. Happy times!
Of course Frances. You were the impetus to me buying lilies in the first place. I do find that Orienpets and Asiatics are easiest. I’m liking this Easter/Asiatic too. We’ll see how it does in the future. I’m glad to hear your dahlias are blooming earlier too. It feels like a warm British day out there.
Beautiful Dee. My garden isn’t in full bloom yet…yours looks wonderful! Enjoy our cooler and rainy weather for a change!
Miss Bloomers
Sonia, it’s been quite a spring. I’m so grateful I don’t know how to act.
Wow, I love that ‘Lionheart’. I also have a bunch of Asiatic lilies, they are very easy and have great color, but are not fragrant sadly. I used to have some Oriental Liliies, but they succumbed to our long, wet winter. Trying to decide if I will plant some more Orientals, or go with some other kind of lily. I really want something fragrant.
Jason, Easter/Asiatic hybrids and Orienpets do better in my home than the standard orientals. I wish I could grow all of them, but alas, I can’t grow everything. I do try though.~~Dee
Dee, your garden is absolutely DIVINE! Everything is so beautiful. And I’m glad you posted the antenna, as I was not aware you were quite so far out as you must be. Good to know and appreciate. Your own beautiful world, so much of which you have created. Your family must be so grateful. We are!
Hi Kathryn, thank you. This year is easy compared to the last two. I just keep propping things up and ferreting others out. So much growth. You are so sweet to say so. My kids mostly think I work out there too much.
The Peony Poppy is stunning! I’ve never grown those. I imagine they are stunning with the delphiniums. I hope your weather calms down – you folks are really getting hammered this year.
Thank you Nancy. They were easy to grow. Lots of different colors from white to coral.
Beautiful!
Thank you Linda.
Interesting how weather changes things.
In my part of the south — hot and humid Southwest Georgia along the Florida border — Longiflorum Asiatics perform best and Orienpets outdo regular Orientals. Maybe I made lucky choices among the many.
Nell Jean, I think you’re right. I have better luck with the asiatics and Orienpets, along with the Easter/Asiatics than I do straight Orientals. Still, I try to grow them all.~~Dee