Friday, March 23, 2012

Update on The Family and A Few Others

Many of you know I have a family garden.  I searched for plants to have in my garden that have the same name as members of the family.  We are a family of four, Charlie, me (Janet), Rachel and Rebecca.  Soon to join the family is Alex, Rachel's fiance.  

I thought it was time for an update of
the family garden.  A few plants were bare root shipped last fall, so it is exciting to see them popping up.  Both  Paeonia 'Charlie's White' and Paeonia 'Rachel' came last fall and I crossed my fingers that they would be happy in the family garden hill.   My quest for finding 'Charlie's White' was a long one, finally found it in stock at a nursery just outside of Charlottesville, VA.  The closer you live to the place from which you order, the more likely your plant material will do well in your location.







Paeonia 'Rachel' was also purchased online, but the place was in Olympia WA.   'Rachel' is smaller than 'Charlie' right now.  Could be the variety or could be the different area of the country.  'Charlie' is a white bloom, 'Rachel' is red.

From last year, now in fullly leafed out -- Rosa 'Janet'    This afternoon Janet had some aphids on her, but since I took this picture we have had about 3/4 of an inch of rain.  Hoping that knocked off a good number of them.
 Also from last year, Clematis 'Rebecca' ...you know how they say vines sleep the first year, creep the second year, and leap the third year?  This is Rebecca's second year and she is really creeping well!  Last year she bloomed right after Rebecca left to go home after spring break.  Hope it opens for her this year.
Being the plant person that I am,  I couldn't pass up another 'Charlie'.  Found this at Park Seed last fall, really pretty lavender bloom.  Clematis 'Prince Charles' -- how perfect is that?

Additionally, I stumbled on another 'Janet' earlier this month.  OF COURSE I bought it!  It was through our locally grown farmer's market.  My buddy Julie from Garden Delights was the seller.  She is such a sweetie, she shared couple more!  Lathyrus odora 'Janet Scott', Sweet Pea.  I have 'Janet' growing next to Rebecca, so she can use the trellis as well.
So, what about Alex you ask?  Well, after searching long and hard I have found the perfect plant.  Hemerocallis 'Alexander the Great', a daylily!  There is a place up the road that sells it and they will be open soon.  I have the perfect place saved for Alexander the Great...right next to Rachel of course.

I found a Croc in the woods in the lot next to us last fall and ventured in once the colder weather came.  I also have an old pair of Crocs that I broke.  All three of these have been in the garage over the winter, waiting for me to do something with them.

Today I decided to harvest a few of the various sedum and other succulents I have in the garden.  We have an old tree stump along the edge of the garden in the backyard...perfect spot for the lone Croc.

I will have to get some other succulents for the pair of Crocs and figure out where to place them.  One step at a time!
Another 'person' in the garden I wanted to share is Admiral Semmes, one of my native azaleas.  Rhododendron 'Admiral Semmes' is blooming now and seems to be very happy with his planting location.  Bold color and fragrance as well, can't beat it!



Fragrance in the front yard with Admiral Semmes.  Fragrance in the backyard with Fothergilla 'Mt. Airy'.  If you don't have Fothergilla in your garden, you are missing out.  This honey scented bloom is outstanding in the spring and the fall color is out of this world.

As I was working in the backyard before the rain, I couldn't figure out what fragrance I was smelling, the Edgeworthia are about done, so it wasn't them.  This bloom is really a sweet one to have.  Buy it, buy it now!!
So, once Alexander the Great is added to the garden I will do another update.  Are YOU planning a family garden?



©Copyright 2012 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.

41 comments:

  1. Your family garden is coming along nicely Janet. :) I love the repurposing you did with that found Croc as a planter.

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    1. Thanks Racquel, can't say the Croc idea was original, but glad I have a few to play with.

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  2. Every once in a while I think about doing a family garden, given that my entire family is across the country in Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. I do google searches not just for plants with family names, but also for hobbies. For instance, I have a hardy geranium called 'Ballerina.' Finding my own name is usually difficult. In my old garden, the closest I got to it was Alyssum. My husband's name is Nigel, so I used to plant Alyssum and Nigella together.

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    1. Alison, I think those plants are perfect for your family garden!! Love the 'Ballerina' too.

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  3. Dear Janet,
    you are lucky to have found so many plants with family names! It is a great idea. In my garden I had the beautiful rose "Graf Lennart Bernadotte" - our son is called Lennart - and I was very worried when we moved to Hamburg (there the same rose grows as compensation in Planten&Bloomen :-).

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    1. Britta, I have been looking all over for these plants, very happy to have found some! Nice to have a rose named like your son. Moving always complicated our garden plans.

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  4. I saw a picture recently of a privacy fence that had about a dozen crocs hanging from it, all planted with trailing things.

    No family garden here, just associations with particular people.

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    1. Hi Les, you and I saw the same privacy fence croc photo. I am not claiming original thought!
      Your garden is special..with many great plants.

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  5. Janet,
    Can't wait to see those peonies and clematises in bloom. Love that Rhododendron 'Admiral Semmes'.

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    1. Randy, I can't wait too! The Clematises are about to bloom. Admiral Semmes just keeps glowing in the woodline.

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  6. What a great "theme" for a garden! that native azalea is fabulous! I once saw a photo in a magazine of that azalea underplanted with a columbine that bloomed at the same time. I don't know if that kind of timing can be accomplished in our zones or not.

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    1. Freda, I am enjoying the theme garden --- kind of fun. My Columbine are not blooming yet, so not sure about timing. That would be a nice combo.

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  7. Janet, I love your family garden--what a fabulous idea (that I am now stealing, thank you!) I love native azaleas, and your Admiral Semmes is spectacular. You have such beautiful blooms in your garden. Hope you have a lovely weekend! (And--thank you so much for the Garden Delights mention. Thank was incredibly nice of you.)

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    1. Julie, Steal away!! Very pleased with the Admiral!! Happy to mention your website. :-)

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  8. Dear Janet, I love your family name garden. I have a Susan magnolia and I'm looking for an Elizabeth magnolia that I can afford because my granddaughter is Elizabeth. I was glad to see your Fothergilla 'Mt. Airy', I bought mine last year at Park Seed flower day. I thought it must be dead and, lo and behold, this week it has a bloom!Rhododendron 'Admiral Semmes' is very beautiful. I had not seen it before and I love yellow blooms. I may have to be on the lookout for one. Susan

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    1. Susan, I had an Elizabeth magnolia from Park Seed, it didn't fare well. I think it was in a really dry area. I think there is a Rose named Elizabeth as well, maybe you could use that.

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  9. Your family garden is coming right along. I love peonies and only wish the blooms lasted longer. I love the frilly blooms on your Mt. Airy. Just lovely Janet.The yellow blooms on your Rhododendron are so bright and pretty. Have a wonderful weekend.

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    1. Lona, Yes the family is getting well rooted. I agree with you about the length of bloom on the peonies...oh well, enjoy them quickly.

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  10. I love the family garden...I too have planted some plants by name or by fav of the family member...beautiful azalea and those are cute crocs for planters! Love my crocs....

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    1. Donna, It is fun to have an area in the garden that honors the members of the family.

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  11. Janet,
    I loved reading this journal! What a wonderful idea. I hadn't thought of looking for plants with the proper names. We do refer to Dianthus as Sarah flowers though, as she brought me a decorated milk carton planted with one for Mother's Day when she was a little girl. She's all grown up now. Getting married April 28th. Family is the sweetest blessing!
    The bluebonnets are blooming here in Central Texas. They're enjoying our plentiful recent rains after a terrible drought last summer. Nancy B

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    1. Dear Nancy, thanks so much for commenting. I think having the Dianthus for Sarah is perfect!! How quickly they grow up! I remember when she was born...just yesterday. Love the bluebonnets.

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  12. Janet, I thought of you this morning while driving over to the dog park. I was driving along, minding my business, when I did a double take as I passed this tree with these incredible flower buds. I have no idea what it was and found myself wondering if you would know its name. Maybe I'll go back and take a picture tomorrow ( the dogs are always up for a trip to the dog park, so I 'm sure I won't get any grief from them about heading back that way!)
    I am glad that you reminded us again about your idea for a family garden. I think it is a great idea, although my husband's name might be a challenge (Harold). Love that yellow azalea! And I checked online for hardiness of the Fothergilla 'Mt. Airy' and found another gardener in Hamilton with one, so it's going on my wish list. The other gardener blogger had a picture of it in fall and its gorgeous!

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    1. Jennifer, Looking forward to seeing what flowering tree you saw.
      As for your family garden, does your husband go by a nickname... Harry or Hal? Maybe you can find a plant by that name?
      By all means get a fothergilla, nice nice plant.

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  13. I just love your family garden. I think it would be fun to do, I've never really even looked to see if there were any plants with our names. A couple of years ago I bought some tulip bulbs that had the same name as my sister "Maureen" and gave them to my mom since that sister isn't really into gardening.

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    1. Catherine, Just keep your eyes open, you never know what plants you might find. I imagine your mom enjoyed having 'Maureen'.

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  14. Hello Janet,
    What a great idea - a family garden!
    Lovely photos!
    Have a blessed Sunday!
    Lea
    Lea's menagerie

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  15. Love those beautiful yellow azaleas. My goodness they have long 'tongues' on them. I never would have thought it but those crocs make a pretty good container with all those holes for drainage. Great idea to plant that up.

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    1. Marguerite, They do have long 'tongues' ;-) It was fun to find the lone croc in the woods.

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  16. What a lovely idea, Janet. I don't have a "family" garden, but I did add some 'Rosalie' tiarellas last year. Your azaleas are beautiful! I added a fothergilla last year after doing some research on shrubs to add, and the book I had recommended it, saying it was one of the best under-used shrubs around. I'm going to go out right now and check its fragrance...

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    1. Rose, You are on your way with the Tiarella! I hope you like the fothergilla as much as I do.

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  18. I too love your idea of a family garden. At first, I thought they were plants passed down through the family, such a common kind of family garden. Then I saw how it is in the plant's names. Great idea.

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    1. Donna, thanks!! Passed down plants would be nice too. Hoping to get some of my grandmother's hostas from my mom this spring.

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  19. i think we've kind of subconsciously added a few family name plants to our garden...my husband brought home an azalea with his mother's name even without reading the tag! and i have a niece and a daughter growing out there. it would be fun to actually go after a plant for each person! i love how you put alex and rachel together...sweet. :) and, i'm a big fan of fothergilla, too. everyone should have it!

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    1. Daricia, Well then, you are on your way!! Agree with you on fothergilla!

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  20. Lovely use of the crocs. So glad the 'family' is doing well! Those clematis are surely creeping! I used to have 'Mt. Airy' fothergilla in my garden and loved it, unfortunately the voles loved it more and ate it. I've decided to forgo it for now. I do so miss it.

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    1. Tina, yes the 'family' is doing well! sorry the voles got your fothergilla.

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  21. Fothergilla has been on my want list for ages. No themed gardens here although I have likewise thought about that for ages. A family garden is a great idea.

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    1. sweetbay, I would buy more Fothergilla if I found a good price! I like my family garden, it is really shaping up.

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