Showing posts with label lilies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lilies. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Midwest Gardening 2024: What's Blooming Late July Between the Raindrops!

Ad-Free Blog

Yesterday between the raindrops, as I was trying to get to the car, I took a few shots...of our ABADANZA growing things...All the rain has made everything explode.  I had to up the exposure a bit, but the colors are....


Are just as they are....so vivid... color recipe must be water and clouds for great color in Midwest Gardens. Here the statement is the Baby Tears....crazy...they have been wintering over and I've been sticking bits in my pots.


I think we need to build a platform for the birdbath, everything is HUGE this year...the Giant Sedum is blossoming early and the second year Phlox is really a gorgeous hot pink in color.


Here you can see the nest of Baby Tears along the walkway...the Hostas are all blooming big, thick stems of fragrant flowers. 


I had to dash across the grass...Hubby is replacing our composite decking stairway because of wash out and warpage. He is going to pour concrete. We have to use too much salt in the winter and a rougher surface  will be better and safer, the composite is extremely slick.


On the mound the birdbath is equally hidden. The Tiger Lilies are almost done, they were huge blossoms and also tall. This pot has escaped the bunnies, full of Marigolds, Balsam, and Zinnias all grown from seed in the greenhouse.


Normally this Phlox ( 20 years old at least) is washed out looking, but it is also very vibrant this year. It's in the crappiest dirt corner of this flower bed...so I'm happy it exists.


This is the second pot out on the mound with Marigolds, Zinnias and Balsam. These are thick insulated pots I bought ages ago...and are still holding up. I remember I got them for $6.00 each on deep discount at the end of the season.


You can see the Giant Sedum peeking out at the bottom of the bed, the white Phlox are second year, I'm really going to have to get in there and trim 
some of the excess out.


A few years back...quite awhile actually they replaced our telephone pole and tore out all the Joe Pye Weed around it. I nursed a few sprouts and I now that it has taken at least 10 years to re-mature to blooming status. This is an favorite plant of Monarchs and other butterflies. I'm so happy it has regenerated to this point. 
Sadly in 2027 the entire front easement will be torn up for a very much needed turning lane into our complex. Next year I may attempt to  get some of this moved to the back yard. I know it won't survive the next wave of construction, as the pole will probably be redone again.

We have over  600 households in our community and only three entrances and exits, add  rush hour, add schoolbuses and it's a jam out there. I never make Doctor appointments before 10:00 in the morning, because you might not get out in time.


Lilies were magnificent....but lasted only a day or so with the repeated rains we have had. After years of drought to severe drought in our area...this is a welcome relief, bugs and weeds, love it too. 


My focal points in the planter are supposed to be two spider plants on the end and the Spike in the middle. None of the red Salvia had done a thing and the Spider plants are exactly the same size as 8 weeks ago.
The purple Petunias, are eh...eh..eh...! Thank goodness the Marigolds are bonkers. It is hot and windy here, so I keep trying to find the magic combination. 

Upside with the rain, I haven't had to drag the 80 feet of hose too often, that has been really nice!


Right before I jumped in the car...this is the pot along the driveway...Balsam, Tall Marigolds, and short ones...and an ornamental grass. The Tree Rose of Sharon is starting and everything seems really happy here.

I'm Off to do errands, and dodge between the raindrops! 

HOW ARE YOUR FLOWERS FLOATING?

If you enjoyed this post please follow this blog by Blogger or FOLLOW IT which you will find in the upper right hand corner of this page. 

Thanks always for visiting. 
I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

I will be sharing at these fine Parties!

I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown. 

Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog 
without my permission. 
Thank you for your cooperation, 

Sandi



 




Saturday, August 1, 2020

Poorman's Bouquet and Vintage Haeger Pot

AD-Free Blog

IS IT SATURDAY? ? !

Well, another week almost gone...the only way I know what day of the week is by looking in my pill box. 
I HAVE to take a thyroid pill every morning, or I am back asleep by noon, so after 40 years or so...
it's totally a habit.
YES, pill boxes. I've reached the age and quantity of pills and use three weekly pill boxes. Granted most are doctor recommended supplements, which keep everything moving (inside and out), and hopefully my few prescriptions keep me functioning for a long time in the future. 

Anyway, 
WE HAVE HAD A BREAK IN THE WEATHER!!!
Cooler finally---and open-the-windows
 kind of temperatures! 
After record breaking 90's in June and JULY...
it's a lovely balmy 80 something.
HALLELUJAH!    

ON to my FIND!

oldnewgreenredo

Friday,
Bathed in sanitizer and masked, I made a quick trip to our local thrift store. 
LOOK what I snagged,
this Haeger vase in an Arts & Crafts style, 
in a perfect matte green. I could tell by the weight, it was a contemporary piece, but the shape and glaze screamed Art Pottery. Plus it's 12" tall x 9"wide.
 Deliciously big as vases go.

COLOR ME HAPPY!

A few words about Haeger and Royal Haeger originally located here in Dundee, Illinois. Haeger pottery began on the clay rich banks of the Fox River in 1871, the same year as the Great Chicago Fire. This company produced pottery through four generations and developed ceramic art wares and everyday pieces by expert craftsman through 2014.

As a potter myself, I always enjoyed visiting: the factory, their displays, and envied their glazes in the 70's to late 90's. As a buyer/floral designer for a north shore craft chain store, I was allowed to choose and buy Royal Haeger extensively through the 1990's. The figural and sculptural pieces popular then are quite collectible now. As a USA company competing with imports and the economic aftermath of 9/11, this wonderful company closed in 2014 after 143 years in operation. What a loss! 

Anyway my Haeger find is from the early 2000's in a lotus pattern reminiscent of the art pottery of the 
1920-30's in this delicious matte green.  
Perfect for a large Poorman's Bouquet! 


oldnewgreenredo

The garden was so hot the last two weeks, but flowers flourished while our vegetables struggled to hang on. Our Caladiums are insanely happy in the shade with lots of watering and hot temperatures, I  don't mind clipping a few leaves here and there for arrangements.

oldnewgreenredo

Not wanting to fill the entire vase with water (to avoid sweating), I inserted an upside down plastic container and a tall pickle jar to hold the flowers in the center. 
It's hard to take photos with the sunlight streaming in.
 I had to place my Poorman's Bouquet in our living room, where the green pot matches my walls!

 I've added some different flowers in this arrangement.  First, I bundled with tape some tall lemon grass
 for the center.

oldnewgreenredo

From this side, with my butt on the buffet, you can see the colors and the vase clearly.
I used 3 Caladium leaves, 3 large fronds of unopened Giant Sedum which echoed the matte green of the vase,  Added some damaged lilies, bent over zinnias and I cut a branch of my first year Blackeyed-Susans which immediately wilted, and three bright magenta Phlox stems.

oldnewgreenredo

I had added a spray of bleach to the water and a bit of sugar, I'm out of florist preservative. 

oldnewgreenredo

The phlox are already dropping...
but I'm sure this will hold for a week with such a large container of water.  

Nothing is better than picking from your own flowers from the garden on a lovely day.

Hugs and have a great weekend! 


What's SURVIVING in your FLOWER GARDEN?