Mosaic Monday - Celebrating Summer With Blooms

I was thrilled to find an upright rattan planter to match the balcony planter that my husband installed on the railing this spring.  Falling in love with this brilliant blue salvia, I planted it in the rattan planter where it adorns the landing at the front steps.  I'm debating on bringing it up by the front door but am wondering just how much partial sun a salvia can get by on and still bloom like this.  The front faces east so by 2pm it is in shade by the front door.

Thrilling update!  The Red Prince Wiegela that I had to cut back severely due to dieback, now has flower buds!!!!  Both the hydrangeas are covered in miniature ball-shaped blossoms.  I'm pretty certain  these are Annabelle hydrangeas, a super hardy variety for our area!

I moved the planter with the palm, gerbera daisies and osteospermum to the back.  I took a chance on having adequate light by the front door but once the existing blooms expired, there was an abundance of lush foliage and very few flower buds.  So off it went to the back deck where it faces west and will receive a lot of sun.  Conundrum, it's very windy back there and the palm won't be too happy about that.  The white miniature rose my son gave me for Mother's Day is blooming happily in full sun and the dahlia is bursting with blooms!  I don't usually go for a lot of colour in my gardens but since the yard is all grass in back and planted with hydrangeas and wiegelas in front, I have only planters in which to garden so I am using a lot of colour and enjoying it in the brilliant hot west sun.  (If only the rain would abate and we'd actually get some nice sunny days!)

Mary is hosting Mosaic Monday.  Won't you stop in for a visit to The Little Red House?

A Visage of Green for St. Patrick's Day

Since Sunday was St. Patrick's Day and the desire for some greenery in the way of plants fueled my passion, I decided to make today's Mosaic Monday a compilation of greenery from photos taken over the last year.  There are sweet memories here and I look back with fondness.  Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!  

Won't you pop over to The Little Red House to join her for Mosaic Monday today?  Thursday, March 14th Mary's theme was green as well.

Sharing the Yard With Wildlife

I am joining Mary at The Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.  Won't you pop in and visit the others who joined in today too?

Ten days and counting........

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree BH&G Video and Festival of Trees Collage

The Inspiration:

Collage compiled from Festival of Trees photos taken in 2010

Instruction:

http://www.bhg.com/videos/m/32071352/how-to-decorate-a-christmas-tree.htm (check out this video for step by step instructions)

Rule of thumb for stringing lights:  100 lights per vertical foot of height of your tree.  Weave the string of lights up and down the branches, not limiting yourself to just the exterior of the tree.

Follow with garland, then big ornaments, then mid-size ornaments, then small.  This video suggests putting your tree topper on before adding ornaments to avoid messing them up but I like to stick with tradition and add the topper last, as the finishing touch.

Do you add the topper last?

Incidentally, today is the last day of the Festival of Trees here in Edmonton (December 2/12) at the Shaw Conference Centre.  If you are in town, I highly recommend you attend.  Sadly, I will miss it this year.  I love to volunteer at this event which is a fundraiser for the Stollery Children's Hospital, but I missed out this year when the forms to sign up when to my old address and was picked up last month, too late to register.  I'm not attending this year either.  It's my son's birthday and we are having a family gathering here today.  I can't believe he's 25 already!!  They grow up far too fast!

Have a terrific week everyone!

Join Mary for more mosaics in her weekly meme Mosaic Monday.  

In the Mood

This mosaic contains photos of the Alberta Legislature building and grounds taken on the evening of Christmas Day 2011.  All photos were taken by myself or my daughter A.

Mary at Little Red House hosts a weekly meme "Mosaic Monday" which I am joining.  You just have to pop on over to her house, virtual that is.  She is a superb photographer!

Mosiac Monday: Fall Colour Project

We spent Canadian Thanksgiving in southern Alberta visiting family, attending a wedding reception, and soaking up the beauty of the Rocky Mountains in Waterton Lakes National Park.  It was the best Thanksgiving that I can recall, sharing the holiday with precious loved ones.  Today I am celebrating the beauty of autumn, sharing some of my favourite autumn nature photos in this mosaic, and joining Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.

The End or the Beginning: Celebrating the Garden

It is now early September and a definite nip has replaced the warmth of summer.  Evenings are markedly cooler and day light hours noticeably shorter.  Deep within, this makes me cringe.  The older I get, the more I seriously dislike winter, and fall to the extent that it is the harbinger of winter, often accented with days of snow, far too early in the season.  

I once, not too long ago, lingered on the deck in the evening, languishing in the warmth of a summer's dusk.  Now, I hide indoors, with a sweater, sighing as only a lover of summer and gardening does, knowing that the joy I hold dear is passing me by.  Readying itself for a long winter's rest, the garden begins to take on the first signs of a change of seasons.  The Pink Diamond hydrangea blossoms are turning a delicate pink on the edges, soon to be a full dusty pink, beautiful in their own right.  I spotted a few yellow leaves on the birch and promptly removed them, lest the rest of the garden should feel inclined to follow suit. Berries of the mountain ash are now a deep and beautiful orange, hanging gloriously as the accent of colour in the far corner of the yard.  Even the peony leaves are finding new shades of red to brighten their existence in my garden.  The garden seems to celebrate the end or the beginning of the season by donning its brightest colours.  

As I contemplate this change of events, from the plants' perspectives, I cannot deny them this yearly ritual for I too glory in the magic of the change of scenery.  The magnificent accents that dot the landscape or sometimes set it awash in divine brilliant colour, makes my heart leap in joy.  Yes, I love fall too.  Such a gloriously colourful season.  I imagine the crisp scent that permeates the air with the change of seasons, summer into fall, and there is something energizing in it.  It makes me long to walk in the wilderness, bundled in my favourite sweater, long jeans and comfy shoes.  Of course, what would such a walk be without my camera?  It is a frequent companion on such occasions and soon I will be posting photos of the delights that capture my senses.  Is it the end or the beginning?  Whatever it is, I too shall find joy in it!

Here are some of my favourite photos of the passing season......

I'm celebrating the garden with......

Mosaic Monday at Little Red House

Cottage Flora Thursday at Fishtail Cottage

Fertilizer Friday/Flaunt Your Flowers at Tootsie Time

Thanks for visiting, dear friends.  Have a great one!

A Garden Stroll at Dawn

I love gardens and am joining Mary at The Little Red House for Mosaic Monday,   

and Glenda at Tootsie Time for Fertilizer Friday/Flaunt Your Flowers

and Hey Harriet for  Shadow Shot Sunday.

Who Says Hostas Are Only for Shade?

Hostas seem to be synonymous with shade.  At least that's what we've been told.  A few years back I was on a garden tour and saw a profound garden.  Profound in that she, the owner/gardener, was growing hostas in full sun!  When asked how she was able to grow such healthy looking specimens in the full sun, she said "water".  Don't let the soil dry out and they'll be fine.  That was the first but not the last time I was to see this.

This year, while touring a botanical garden, I saw several varieties of hosta planted in full sun.  They were not scorched nor wilting.  So much for the theory of hostas being solely shade plants.

If you decide to try growing hostas in the sun, there are some varieties that will do better than others.  Gold leaved plants and heavily variegated specimens, more white or cream than green, can tolerate sun if the soil is moist.  REMEMBER:  ADEQUATE MOISTURE.  Some hostas, though, may still scorch, even in moist soil.

Blue leaved or solid green varieties tend to scorch, even in moist soil.

I have two hostas that are very similar in foliage, the photo above is one of them. They are planted on the east side of a fence where they receive at least six hours of direct sun every day.  This is a moist bed, the last to dry in the entire yard, which could explain why both seem so happy here.  I only wish I could remember the names of them.  They were purchased a few years ago when they were new introductions but the tags have disappeared long ago. ("fire" is part of the name)  If anyone recognizes this variety, please let me know in the comments section.

Some varieties you may consider are:

Sum and Substance

Sun Power

Gold Standard

Guacamole

Fragrant Bouquet

August Moon

Check your local garden centre for further suggestions of sun tolerant hostas.  There are some varieties like August Moon that some direct sun exposure will emphasize more yellow tones.  

If in doubt, plant in a part-shade garden, with morning sun and afternoon shade, remembering the sun is at its strongest between 11 am and 4 pm. Note:   The southern states' sun may be far too strong for any hosta in full sun. 

* I am participating in Mosaic Monday today.  Stop by for more mosaics.  Mary's blog, Little Red House, has some magnificent photography.  Take your time and browse around.  You can tell her "The Gardening Life" referred you.

Come for a Garden Stroll

I moved the forsythia (Northern Gold Forsythia) last autumn and this is the first year it has actually bloomed high up the stems.  In its previous location, where it faced south, its blooms covered only the lower 1 foot of the plant.  Now the snow cover lasts much longer as it is shaded part of the day.  I think this offered more insulation and resulted in more blooms.  Yay!  That's a good thing.

Another good thing:

This is my PJM rhododendron in full bloom.  It is such a gorgeous plant.  It gets shade here in the morning and if I had it to do over, I would plant it where it gets more sun so it would remain more compact. However, this spot near the deck is more sheltered and has a warmer microclimate which is good for its needs too.

 This view is from under the deck looking west toward the rhododendron and fountain near the stairs to the deck.  The small green mound seen here in front of the rhododendron is a columbine.  to the right are the irises.

Taken later the same day with the west sun shining on the rhododendron.  In front is a bird's nest spruce.  No signs of the clematis yet.

A view of the back yard looking south. Front right is Young's Weeping Birch; planters with lettuce, tomatoes, pepper, carrots, watermelon radishes, and parsley; mountain ash in the corner with an Alberta Spruce in front.  To the left is a seating area with a firepit and the pond with waterfall is in the far left corner.

The pond area is planted with topiaried pine, junipers, groundcover junipers, two young maples and a bridal wreath spirea

A close-up of the bridal wreath spirea.  It has been flowering for a week or so now and is now at its finest.  Here you can see it is flanked by topiaries.

The sun in the early morning caught the leaves of this summer wine ninebark, giving it a golden glow.

To the left, cedars, ahead is the ninebark, junipers, and spirea.  This was shot from the east side of the house looking south.

The delphinium, blue knight I think, has had a growth spurt lately.

In the front yard, the ferns are coming up nicely, showing off their fiddleheads.  These are ostrich ferns, otherwise known as fiddlehead ferns.

This palace purple coral bell was likely self-sown from others that share the bed with the fern.

You can't see them, but these rose glow barberries are flowering.  The flowers are small yellow balls suspended beneath the branches. The flowers are then followed by tiny red ornamental berries.  These barberries are planted with two bird's nest spruce and a schubert chokecherry tree which is flowering now, as seen below.

That's the garden summed up in a few photos.  Hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend.

I am joining Mary at Dear Little Red House for Mosaic Monday and Glenda at Tootsie Time for Fertilizer Friday/Flaunt Your Flowers.