Grass Festuca Select Blue

I received this as part of the grab bag that I ordered from Spring Hill Nursery. I never would have ordered ornamental grass, but it should look interesting in the garden come winter. I have planted it in front of our 'Sarah Bernhardt' Peony.

Botanical Name: Festuca glauca 'Select'

Height: 8-10"
Space: 10-12"
Sun Exposure: Full Sun

http://springhillnursery.com/select-blue-festuca-/p/68580/

Josee Reblooming Lilac

When I received four Josee Reblooming Lilacs in a grab bag from Spring Hill Nursery, my first thought was, "Oh, I really like these!" My second thought was, "Where can we plant these? I have no place for them."

My husband and children suggested that I plant one on the front corner of the house where my blueberry plant was located. Thus I dug up the blueberry and replanted it in a temporary location. The lilac was then planted as suggested and seems to like its new location. One down, three to go.


Removing the grass

Next, I rallied my children and we started making a new garden bed, removing grass from in front of the left side of our fence in the front yard. When we found that the grass removal was harder than I had expected, we convinced "Daddy" to come and help us. all of the lilacs are now planted and look like they are thriving in their new locations.

Newly planted little reblooming lilacs (Click on photo to enlarge)

Religious Name: Ascension Flower

Botanical Name: Syringa Josee 'Josee'

Height: 4-6'
Space: 4-5'
Sun Exposure: Full Sun

Thank you, Spring Hill Nursery

Two weeks ago, we ordered a couple of grab bags from Spring Hill Nursery. The first grab bag arrived today and I am very pleased with it. The grab bag included the following healthy looking plants: 

1 Blue Festuca
1 Dicentra Burning Hearts
1 Mammoth Mum Bronze Daisy
3 Red Freedom Hedge Roses
4 Arizona Sun Gaillardias
4 Josee Reblooming Lilacs

We still need to decide where we will plant the roses, the mum, and the lilacs, but everything else has been planted to help make our garden beautiful.

The children are anxious to receive the Shade Perennials Grab Bag that we ordered. Theresa is hoping that it will include another Dicentra Burning Hearts.

Fragrant Sunshine Wallflower (Erysimum Walfrasun)

Last year, we added Erysismum Walfrasun to one of our garden beds after purchasing it on clearance at Fred Meyer for $2.50. I thought that I had found a great location for it. However, when I saw the leaves remain green all winter and how large it was getting, I decided that I had a better location for the Wallflower. I decided that it would look better where everyone can see it. I really like the bright yellow flowers, as they contrast nicely with the red azaleas and roses, and the green grass. I also like the delicious scent of the flowers.

I would like to keep this plant in this location, but I think that, come fall or winter, I might need to plant it back in the ground or move the pot closer to the house. I have read that Fragrant Sunshine Wallflower does not like cold wet winters. Our winters aren't always cold, but they are usually wet.

Marian Name: Mary's flower

Bluegold Blueberry

I have decided to be a little unconventional and plant a blueberry in our front yard. We purchased a Bluegold Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum 'Bluegold'). The following information was included with the plant:

Description: Large clusters of sky blue berries are very easy to pick. Bright orange and scarlet leaves fall leaves with distinctive yellow winter wood. Its compact habit makes a great landscaping selection. Deciduous.

Exposure: Full sun to partial sun

Average Size: 3-5' tall x 3-5' wide

Cold Hardiness: Zone 4/ -30 to -20 F

Bloom Time: Spring

Planting Care: Water regularly as needed. Water thoroughly in times of drought. Remove faded flowers and tattered foliage as they occur. Fertilize in spring just before blooming.

Update: We moved the blueberry to the backyard and planted a Josee reblooming lilac where we had originally planted the blueberry.

Bleeding Hearts

I have always liked our bleeding hearts ("Mary's Heart"), but Patrick and Theresa's conversation made me like them even more.

Pink Blossoms

Now that I have shared our newly planted flowers, it is time for me to share some of our well-established plants and flowers.  I always enjoy seeing this plant blossom.  I have wondered what this plant with its soft pink flowers is for several years.  Thanks to Caroline on 4Real, I learned that it is a pink flowering almond.  It is one of my favorite springtime plants.

Easter Gardening

After hearing Theresa tell Patrick about bleeding hearts, I decided that I better prepare our garden for Easter.  I usually start my plants from seed in February, but this year we had too much happening to do so.  My father-in-law visited on Friday of Passion Week and gave us a little money, giving me an opportunity to buy some flowers and seeds that were on sale.  I enjoyed visiting the gardening center at Fred Meyer (twice) with my children, looking at all of the flowers and choosing some perennials and a couple of annuals to bring beauty to our yard.  It felt good to be outside digging in the dirt with the children again.

What did we plant?

Angel Daisy Leucanthemum

I have always liked daisies, so I was delighted when my children chose these pretty flowers.

Description: One of the least demanding most satisfying perennials in the garden.  An elegant, long-season display of showy blooms.  Ideal choice for beds, borders, and cutting gardens.  Perfect for all kinds of containers.  Excellent cut flowers.

Care: Best in fertile, well-drained soil. Water freely in dry weather. Remove faded flowers for best display.

More information

English Daisy Habanera Bellis Perennis (Mary-Loves)
As I stated above, I like daisies.
Description: Profuse flowers carpet the spring garden. Great in borders or rock gardens. Prefers cool, moist soil.
How to Grow: Plant in sun or part sun 6 inches apart. Grows to 6 inches.

More information

Fragrant Sunshine Wallflower (Erysimum Walfrasun)

I bought these to plant by the angel daisies, but then I decided to plant them in a different flower border.
Light: Full sun
Water: Semi-moist
Flowers: Spring to fall
Height: 15-18"
Width: 18-24"

Lithodora diffusa

We purchased three of these plants for one of our flower beds.

Bloom Time: Late spring to summer

Light: Sun to part shade

Height: 3-8"

Space: 18-24"

Water: Allow soil to dry between thorough waterings

Description: Vivid blue flowers bloom in spring on spreading evergreen perennial.  Good in edgings, rock gardens, and as a small scale ground cover.

More information

Pink Princess Escallonia

I have been looking for something to replace an old rhododendron that died in our garden a couple of years ago.  This shrub definitely has promise.  The tag reads, "Profuse pink to rose colored flowers bloom almost year round. Compact evergreen shrub with glossy green foliage.  Excellent color source in coastal climates.  Quick hedge or screen."  I am looking forward to seeing how it grows and hoping that it does well.

Sun Exposure: Best growth and flower production in full sun.  Needs partial sun in hot areas.

Average Height: 5'-6' tall and wide

Type: Evergreen

Water: Keep soil moist until established.  Drought tolerant when established.

Fertilizing: Fertilize in spring just before new growth begins.

Pruning: Pinch growth tips to keep compact and increase floral display.

More information
Update (4/26/11): Pink Princess Escallonia was a disappointment. It was not an evergreen as stated, at least not in my yard. Both plants currently look very spindly. I will be replacing at least one of them with a true evergreen shrub.

Strawberry Pretty in Pink (PPAF Strawberry)

We planted three of these around the base of our daisies.  Patrick has claimed them as his and promises to take care of them.  Hopefully, he shares any fruit that they produce.

Light: Full sun

Water: Medium

Height: 4-8"

Width: 10-12"

Description: Everbearing variety produces pretty pink flowers and flavorful deep red berries.  Good in flower beds, planters, and window boxes.

More information

In addition to planting the above flowers, we also planted a few other things.  We found some bulbs, minus the packaging, in the garage. We are excited to see what flowers the bulbs produce; some of them are already starting to grow.  We discovered a small lupine (St. Mark's Plant) that had sprouted from an old seed in what is now our daisy bed and transplanted it in a new location.  Finnian scattered his snapdragon seeds (Infant Jesus' Shoes) in some of the beds. We also purchased lupine, sunflower, larkspur, and hollyhock seeds.  We will most likely sow them directly outside and hope that they grow.


*Some photo credits go to my eldest son.
**Religious Flower names found at Mary's Gardens.