Cloud Pruning, Who Knew?

Yesterday's post about those ancient plantings at Powis Castle opened up a whole new world of CLOUD PRUNING. I have often been drawn to unworldly-looking images of clipped evergreens but never knew the name of the technique called cloud pruning. There are 12 beautiful examples in this article about Jake Hobson who trained in Japan. He's not just any old topiarist but an expert in niwaki, or ‘cloud pruning’, the highly esteemed art of neatly clipping trees into a series of soft cloud-like shapes. The photo above is my favorite. It's #5 in the 12-photo slideshow. Read the fabulous article here. xo

Pumpkins and Gourds

Plant some seeds next year and grow your own fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving decorations. Those small sugar pumpkins make the best pies. photo source

Lavender in Wicker Baskets

I always stop to look at beautifully planted wicker baskets. These two full of lavender are gorgeous. I see a boxwood in the background planted in a basket with handles. This looks like a gorgeous dwelling too. Wish we could see more. Photo found here.

I have been busy working outside. I literally washed the outside front of my cottage today and it looks and smells sparkling clean and rid of all the road dirt and mildew. I have a long telescoping pole with a bar at the end that is wrapped with lambswool-like material only it's cotton. It wasn't hard and I actually enjoyed it. It's much kinder than power washing and doesn't knock the paint off.

My Friend's Beautiful Dahlias

I took these photos at a friend's house late this afternoon and once again fell in love with dahlias. I have never tried growing them and every year I admire them and wish I had them too. Next year for sure! I know you have to dig up the tubers and store them somehow to be replanted the next spring. I love that they are so tall and straight proudly flaunting their beauty. I love that they are late bloomers providing such beauty in the fall. xo

Gardening Tips for September

Several weeks ago after my Lacecap Hydrangea blooms were on their way out, I cut them all off and tidied up the overgrowth and now I am pleased to say there is a lot of new growth. If you wait until spring to do this you will have no flowers because this confusing plant blooms on last year's growth. I much prefer plantings that bloom on THIS year's growth as the Limelight Hydrangeas do. But you do what you have to do. 

I found this handy list of things to do in the garden in September. Happy Labor Day. xo

New England Style Gardens

Photo by Sean Papich Landscape Architecture

Photo by Ike Kligerman Barkley

Photo by JuliaGarden Design Ltd. 

Found on HOUZZ

Inspiring Country Garden

via 

This wonderful country garden is certainly maximizing the space with only a little lawn for a path between the raised beds. The teepee trellis made from branches is wonderful too. Have a happy gardening weekend and I'll see you later. xo

Never Too Old to Garden

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This wonderful gardener's outfit reminds me of my mother in so many ways. She always wore jumpers and she never lost her love of digging in the garden. I take after her in many ways, preferring to do things myself rather than hire someone. My two-day mowing marathon this week is a good example. I honestly thought I had waited too long between mowings and wouldn't be able to handle the growth with my walk-behind mulching mower. I considered calling someone for help but decided to try a couple of rows myself first and found it to be pretty easy and the rest is history. I'm looking forward to a lazy day today as my reward with some Acorn TV. It has already spritzed rain several times and the sky is gloomy but I am cheerful. Cheers! [Update: I wrote the text for this post this morning and after lunch the sun came out and I was able to work outside on some weeding projects.] xo

Coreopsis grandiflora 'SunKiss'

This clump of coreopsis or tickseed survived its first winter because it was planted in the ground. I lost several that were planted in outdoor containers. I transplanted it from the front to the back very early in the spring and it has taken off.

Here is a wider view of my 4 poppies that bloomed yesterday and there were no additional blooms this morning.

I have tons of buds and am looking forward to seeing them open. I have done some research about the seeds I planted and have learned I did everything wrong. I had already transplanted daffodils and covered the newly dug patch with wood chips before I got the idea to plant my poppy seeds. It was a very laborious process pulling away the wood chips with a chopstick and dropping in a pinch of the tiny seeds and covering them up. I repeated this process over and over to cover the entire area. Now mind you, the daffodils were going to emerge first leaving the seeds under the foliage of the bulbs. You are supposed to plant the seeds and barely cover with almost no soil so they can get sunlight in order to germinate. They also need cold for germination and I did that part correctly. Was this beginner's luck or is there more than one way to plant these annual seeds that will reseed and keep coming back? I can't imagine doing it any other way and I didn't thin them either. I will let some of the pods go to seeds and save them for next year. xo

Garden Update at My Cottage

The Giant Mullein is living up to its name.

Here it is shortly after I first transplanted it where it had self-seeded next to the foundation of my cottage.

The tangle of poppies haven't bloomed yet but they should be opening soon. The clouds are pretty today.

I haven't missed a day deadheading the gazanias (African daisies) and it has paid off. I am glad they are planted in containers so I don't have to get down on my knees to do the clipping/pinching.

The past several days have been so cool, breezy and pleasant for working outside. xo

Red Gazania Unfurling Sunday Morning

In case you are tired of Peonies, I will share another African Daisy that was showing off in my front garden this morning. I love watching the petals as they unfurl. They are such fun flowers! Have a great Sunday. xo

Peony Love at My Cottage

This white single peony is always the first to bloom. Photographed yesterday with an insect as a bonus. When these whites bloom, they are always faintly pink in the opening stage.

The pink mop head peonies will be opening soon.

The red ones are singles too and are about ready to pop.

I don't know if you remember this mystery plant from last year that planted itself in my garden. I have no idea how it got there and I am on the fence about liking it but don't have the heart to dig it up. It has already spread quite a bit. It's called Spider Wort and the leaves are an electric yellow and bright green. The purple flowers grow in clustered pods and bloom once before another pod opens up with a new flower. 

I found this photo on Instagram @eyesasbigasplates and couldn't resist making a screenshot to show you the largest giant red rhubarb I have ever seen. What is it about Norway that makes it grow so large? One stalk would be enough for a pie. I hope these girls were able to share this crop with friends.

It has been raining for the past several days and I have been catching up with paperwork in my attic office. See you later. xo

My Peonies in the Bud Stage

I was standing outside my brick wall to take this photo to show the true height of these giant peony plants. My peonies are tall and healthy this year and the three varieties have probably spread so much they are too close together. In the fall, I plan to try dividing them. 

The buds get larger every day but I don't think they are going to be opening quite yet. They get more sun in the afternoon than they do in the morning but that's fine with me. Once they start blooming they don't last nearly long enough, do they? 

Yesterday Morning's Photos

I never tire of photographing lady's mantle in the early morning with the dew collecting on all the fringed leaves.

A portrait mode photo of the African Daisies that aren't awake yet.

The brilliance of this scarlet geranium that is next to my front door is amazing. I have overwintered this plant for years and years and years. It was a rescue plant from a friend who was going to throw it out. Free plants are my favorite.

Favorite Vintage Watering Can

The marks on my favorite vintage watering can shown in next photo. It was made in Germany, marked Schneiderkanne. I found a similar one online with the same maker’s mark, only in a larger size, that sold for $160. I found mine at an estate sale along with a lot of other gardening items for not much money. If I had paid a lot, I would have remembered. 

Watering can mentioned above. The urn is filled with lovely African daisies now. 

I can see this urn filled with Gazanias or African Daisies. I can see this particular urn from the window in this photo. The desk in my pantry fits perfectly under this window and is my favorite looking-out spot.

Container Gardening at My Cottage

I bought some plants on Sunday at the local farm market that sells farm fresh food items too. I pick up groceries there every week. I grabbed these African Daisies thinking they were Gerbera Daisies. After I planted them in three containers (only two shown here) I read the tag and learned they are called GAZANIA, Strawberry Shortcake Mix. They are perennials down south in zones 9-11 but I will enjoy and love them as annuals.

Here, I am looking down on the third container. So far, the blooms are closing up late in the day. I don't know if this will continue when the weather gets really hot. They are supposed to spread and bloom continually from spring until frost. Doesn't that sound wonderful? They are supposed to be great in rock gardens and border fronts and make a great ground cover. I probably shouldn't have planted them in containers but I can thin them as they get crowed and replant elsewhere. I guess it pays to read before planting. Anyway, I love them up high where I can see them from inside the house.

My potted geraniums survived the winter indoors and look nice flanking my front door.

The third white concrete urn near the rooster is planted with basil, curly parsley, and broad leaf parsley. It is close to the front door and near the kitchen for clipping while cooking. There is another large basket-weave terra cotta planter to the left filled with the same herb plants.

My peonies are tall and filled with buds that get larger every day. They are swaying to and fro in the fierce winds we are having today. That's about it for today. See you another day. xo

Sunday Morning Cottage Photos

My favorite Watering Can.

First wisteria blossoms after many others were killed TWICE in May when overnight temperatures dipped below freezing. I spent the day yesterday hacking down a huge clump of my weeds by hand and will finish today with no motor sounds to intrude on Sunday silence. Enjoy your Sunday whatever you do. xo

So Many Shades of Green

There are so many different shades of green in my perennials photographed this morning.

I have such a good crop of wild raspberry bushes on my property this year. I love them and think they taste so much better than the cultivated ones in the markets.

This is my Astilbe and it has a feathery white flower that will be blooming later. This is a shade lover and I think the leaves are beautiful.

I took this photo of my Lady's Mantle this morning in a soft rain. I added a dark vignette around the edges with the iPhone photo editing that comes with the phone.

My Little Wren + More Planted Baskets

My little wrens are back putting new twigs in this tin birdhouse on my balcony. They have been busy throwing out the top layer and replacing with new twigs. I love hearing them sing their hearts out on my balcony railing. 

I follow this account on Instagram @gncgarden and thought you would like to see more planted baskets in an amazing garden in Denmark. I can appreciate all the work involved in the perfection of Gina's garden but no longer feel compelled to attempt coming anywhere close at my cottage. I know my limitations and am happy with what I achieve with no outside help. 

Happy Friday. xo

Tasha Tudor House and Gardens

Tasha Tudor's son built the house by hand without the aid of power tools. She loved Corgis, painting, gardening, and an old-fashioned life. via

Can you imagine in your wildest dreams having a row of pink peonies like this? Sigh. xo