May 20, 2007
Gratuitous Domestic Posting (TM) - Outdoor Division
Okay, Jen, so you say you want some peony posting? Here we go.
Much more below the fold.....
For whatever reason, peonies do wonderfully around here. They're practically maintenance-free AND the deer aren't the slightest bit interested. I got all of these from Nicholls Gardens, a local hippy-ish nursery. (Last time I called, their answering machine said something like, "Hi! We're all out loving our little plant friends right now, but if you'll leave your name....") For all their quirks, they certainly have a good product:
On the whole, I prefer the singles to the more pompom-like doubles, but I think it's nice to have a mix. Also, I think that the creamy-white petals are my favorite. (I have some dark reds and some other pinks that haven't opened yet, as well.)
Aaaaand, how about some roses, too? These came from my parents' place in Maine. I transplanted them on arriving home in the dead of August two years ago, yet they don't seem to have minded at all.
I believe this one is a variety known as "Winter Sunset". This is just about my very favorite rose color:
I forget what this one is called, but it's also quite nice:
I've a deeper red that hasn't opened yet. But speaking of red roses, check out what Mr. Improved Blaze is doing on the front of the house:
I'm proud of this not because it's reached its potential, but because a year ago it was only a straggling, four foot tall, deer-ravaged cripple. Now that it's got itself established, I expect each succeeding year to be so much better than the last. (For a really excellent mature climber, you should check out regular-reader Babs'. The thing is a monster.)
What else? Well, here's some more columbine:
And one of the clematis has started blooming, too:
Finally, here's another shot of our friend the rhododenron before it starts fading:
Well, there you have it. Up next are the rest of the peonies and roses, the big blue clem by the garage and the foxglove (my personal favorites).
Beautiful pictures Robert. Thanks so much for sharing. I would say that we are about 3 weeks behind you in bloom time, maybe 2 if it ever warms up around here. I still have tulips going strong and the azaleas are just now reaching peak...
It has been an insane spring on Long Island. Yesterday it was so cold we had to put the heat on in the house.
Wonderful pictures! Our peonies are just starting up, and the wild roses will be blooming soon!
Perhaps you could e-mail me a list of plants the deer won't eat, as we seem to have misplaced ours. The wee fiends ate our rhodi as soon as we planted it!
Posted by: GroovyVic at May 20, 2007 04:09 PMGorgeous! My peonies are just starting to open, I should go and take a picture tomorrow if I remember.
Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: beth at May 20, 2007 07:48 PMThankee, Ladies!
Babs - yeah, it's been a bit weird. My fear is that, at least around here, coolish early and mid-springs sometimes lead to over-compensation in late spring with highs suddenly rocketing up into the mid-90's.
Vic - the only sure anti-deer remedy I know is a Remington .243. They've left my peonies alone all these years but go after just about everything else. (I took some pains not to show the fact that the roses are all encased in wire mesh. And the garden proper looks like Fort Apache: Orgle Manor.) I do know that they won't mess with foxglove, since it's poisonous, but other than that, I think they'll eat almost anything if they take a fancy to it.
Beth - Can't wait! I remember your gardening pics from last year. Yip! Yip!
Posted by: Robbo the LB at May 20, 2007 08:37 PMThank you! Just beautiful. *sigh*
I love the Winter Sunset variety, as well.
Posted by: jen at May 21, 2007 08:53 AMI would like to recommend to everyone the book "The $64 Tomato".
http://www.amazon.com/64-Tomato-Fortune-Endured-Existential/dp/1565125576/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-2003501-9637752?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179759817&sr=8-1
A doctor wife and a businessman husband move to their dream home in the Hudson Valley...
The part about the Dr. wife giving a patient advice about deer is absolutely priceless.
Anyone that is into gardening can relate to this book!
Posted by: babs at May 21, 2007 10:05 AMGorgeous!! Thanks for sharing. I love the single peonies also. I don't have any yet though. *sigh* I guess I'll have to put it on the list. I have a clematis that has huge pink blooms on it also. I think it's called Vino. I just posted some pics at my place. The garden is just starting to pop. I'm doing a makeover is a couple areas. I've heard that a "true" gardener always moves things around. Someday, I'll have things where I want them. HA!
Posted by: Mary at May 23, 2007 11:28 AM
Image courtesy of the lovely and talented 