Clouds and Cones

It has been hot here, about 10 - 15 degrees above the norm for this time of year.  Hot and humid conditions can produce thunderstorms most every afternoon into the evening hours.  We would welcome the rain, but so far we have been just getting dark clouds and a lot of noise.  These clouds are from last night, producing nothing.  The only outcome from this storm was to put a certain dog I know in the shower stall to hide.

 On our way to dinner we had some magnificent skies.

 We are about 8 inches behind in our rainfall totals. 

Maybe some of the dark clouds rolling in today will bring some much needed rainfall.

In the garden I have a couple different kinds of Echinacea purpurea.  One is 'Magnus' and not sure what the other one is, but it is shorter and a bit darker blooms. 

I love how the petals start off almost pale yellow as they are opening.  I leave the spent flower heads on for the Goldfinches.  They love the seeds.

The smaller ones are a nice backdrop for the tall blooms of 'Magnus'.

What a beauty.  Slowly but surely my newly planted gardens are filling with color. 

©Copyright 2011 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.

The Kindness of Those in Garden Blogger Land

Earlier in the spring, when all the forsythia was blooming, I made a comment on how I loved Flowering Almond shrubs.  One sweet lady, who I only know through the garden blogging world, emailed me and offered a piece of her Flowering Almond.  This lovely lady is Lola, you may have had her comment on your blog as well.  Lola said as soon as her shrub was done blooming she would dig some up and send it to me.  What a sweetheart! 

Friday I got a package from Lola.....with lots of goodies, not just some Flowering Almond!

Included in the box was ----

• a small  fern (not sure how this one will do, looks a bit sad today)
• a bunch of stems of a forsythia
• Flowering Almond, Prunus glandulosa
• about 5 stems of an azalea
• 5 or 6 bulbs, Snowflake, Leucojum
• A Pine Cone Lily, Zingiber zerumbet 
• A Mother-in-Law's tongue, Sansevieria trifasciata
• an asparagus

After giving them a good drink and letting them rest in the shade,  I planted the lot on Saturday morning.

Tiny fern frond, cross your fingers for this one.

With kneeling pad in hand, soil knife and plants, I planted Lola's plants.

Azaleas near the ferns in Fern Gully.

Another azalea planted in the water side of the garden.

Asparagus by the wall.

Pine Cone Lily looking a  little limp...come on baby, perk up!

Forsythias in the dappled sunlight.

And the Flowering Almond on the other side of the bed, also in dappled sunlight.

The Mother-in-Law's tongue is in a container up by the house with a couple Elephant Ears, kind of a tropical look.

Many many thanks to Lola for such a generous offering of plants.  I appreciate it so much!

If you are having trouble leaving a comment you can either go to the Facebook page of this blog or email me.  I have visited a number of blogs this morning ---unable to leave a comment, while other blogs I had no problem.  What is Blogger up to?


©Copyright 2011 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.

The Many Faces of Janet

The rose 'Janet' that is~~~

In our family garden bed, my namesake plant has been blooming for the last week or so.  It is a David Austin rose.   Listed as a climber, it can be pruned to shrub form, which is how I prefer to keep it.  So, without further ado I present 'Janet'---

Sure glad to have this beauty in my garden.

©Copyright 2011 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.