What's in Bloom This Month - June

7 Jun '06 12:47 pm

Hiyah,

This month the second wave of flowers are beginning to open now that the early spring ones are beginning to disappear, although some are still blooming their little hearts out. I am becomming more excited by the day, and I am at last beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel, in terms of cleaning the various patches, beds. I am really curious to see what the garden will develop into this year.
This month we are beginning to see the roses opening, as well as Loniceras, Geraniums, Geums,Havikskruid and Irises.

7 Jun '06 10:08 pm

I just don't know how to include your diary in my "In Love" one, because I'm in love with all your plants in your beautiful photos!

Talk to me about your beautiful Astrantia and the plant protected in Holland . What are their likes and dislikes? Are they easy growing babies?

I loved your blue Geranium ! I know it is not a Johnson Blue. Do you know , if it is Geranium Magnificum? And your beautiful magenta Geranium with the black eye -- if it is a tall one (60-80cm) --- it is either Patricia or Psilostemon, who look like twins, only the one of them has lighter green leaves.

Your Clematis is the lovely Ville de Lyon! Mine is just starting to bloom, too. She is planted with Nelly Moser. Nelly starts blooming, followed by Ville de Lyon! She is a tough, healthy plant, and exuberant bloomer!

Thank you for the enchantment, Sjoerd!

8 Jun '06 10:17 pm

Hello Liza,
So, you're having trouble with your "In Love" Diary"? chuckle...You are a romantic, aren't you. chuckle. Lovely.
Now about the Astrantias ( or as we call them here,Zeeuwsknoopje, - The one featured (twice by mistake..I'll correct that when I have a piccy of the other, darker and smaller one)is a largish one that looks a bit like a cross-breed. I believe it seeds -out easily because there are countless "babies"at it's foot which I have not schoffeled away. I'm going to let them grow and perhaps replant them and give some away.
Likes/dislikes: I think that Astrantias do best in partial shade, although mine are in the full sun. My soil is veengrond with a pH of 6. I find them a very easy plant because I never have to do anything at all for them.
One dislike that my Astrantias have is transplanting. They make it, but they struggle and go all yellow the first year...but after that, if I keep them watered, they are fine. I have moved several with sucess around the garden.
I have the dark red ones and the more common white ones, which are lovely as well.

Havikskruid(Orange Hawkweed - Hieracium aurantiacum)- This is a very easy plant to grow...in fact it is a little TOO easy, for it spreads very easily and is quite hardy (in my garden, at least). In fact, I can't imagine why it's endangered. I have to give-away loads of the new plants every year.
Some folks use it as a dried flower. They grow to a height of about 90cm. I find that they look best in a "clump", but they look nice growing in between other flowers as well.

I just can't find the little name pins that I placed in the ground near the geraniums. So I can't say with certainty what it's name is. The magenta one with the black eye is indeed "tallish".

Thanks for naming the Clematis...it's been there so long that the name tag has disintigrated. It'sd doing quite well this year. I have it and the Niobe on the same rack as the Montana. BTW Liza, do you know of a hardy Montana sort that is fragrant?

Thank you again for your knowledge and nice comments.

8 Jun '06 11:31 pm

Thank you really Sjoerd! Yes, I am romantic and sensitive--haven't changed since childhood, unfortunately.

Thank YOU for your knowledge!! And knowledge is for sharing and not for showing off, that's why it is so precious in this Forum!! And , by the way, can you write the flowers' names you wrote in Dutch, in latin pronounciation, like Lisa=Liza , knowledge= nowlege?? I would like to start getting closer to this beautiful but difficult (for me) language. Especially concerning the plant life and this language. Flemish and Dutch people are expert gardeners and professionals, and so nice people!

9 Jun '06 1:38 am

I would be delighted to transliterate dutch words for you...if that's what you mean. It will be impossible to "anglisize" a few of the sounds though, as they don't exist in English.
Havikskruid = "Hafikx crrowd" ( a rolled 'R'). But here, the 'ui' sound simply doesn't exist in english, 'ow' comes a little close.
Anyway... I'll try and remember to do that for you in the future; however, if I am remiss just let me know and I will immediately comply.
I can tell that you are sensitive and a romantic. These are qualities that you should not even try to change, as I believe they are good ones that should be nurtured and cherished. I have noticed that folks with these qualities often have insights in life that others miss.

10 Jun '06 12:16 pm

In this group there are two more different sorts of red Astrantias, a Lonicera with an unusual flower, a nice aquilegia and another geranium. These flowers are beginning to give the garden colour at last, andf with the forcast of "Tropical Weather" on the telly...it's looking good.

13 Jun '06 12:46 am

Dear Sjoerd, I'm so sorry I'm late in answering your post about transliteration from Dutch! Thank you! I just loved it, but I had to fly urgently to Athens for the weekend. Right now it's about 32C in the garden, and although I'm perfectly dressed in my summer gardening suit, I really can't stand working out there.. I have to wait , better after 4pm.

I so much loved your new stunning plants, all of them! And this Geranium is really gorgeous! Your Lonicera , Astrantias, and Aquilegias! Exceptional creatures! It is a long time I want to ask you where you order/buy your Aquilegias! Because you have some I find nowhere, like your double stunning sky-blues and adorable pink ones!

And , if you love so much the Jasminum Officinale, yes, it is frost hardy! And don't think it is the same with its sensitive cousin, Jasminum Polyanthum (sold in the S. Markets sometimes), surviving only in the living rooms and verandas in our European neighbourhood . But it definitely needs a warm, sunny, protected spot. Any reasonable garden soil wil do. And in our neighbourhood becomes really beautiful and healthy, and not so huge!

And, do you know what is the ....tree that expresses my personality and character?? The Fig Tree! And I am very much so! I was astounded! And , even more, I am very good in cooking....fig marmelade! It was once, my daughter was collecting with her bike delicious figs fallen down around our neighbourhood at the time (in Greece), in order to prepare marmelade!

13 Jun '06 11:28 am

Welcome back, Liza. I'm sorry to hear of your emergency trip to Greece. I hope that it wasn't anything too serious. Glad you're back.
Now...the Aquilegias: they are mostly blow-ins except for the yellow one and the red and white ones (Cardinal, I believe. I have also a smaller one theat doesn't get very tall that is lavender and white--a gorgeous little thing. I bought these in the countryside around Hoorn.

Oh, I certainally do love the Jas. officinale, Sadly, I can't find one here. I keep looking, though.

What a nice story about your daughter colecting figs for your to make marmalade. I liked your recent piccy of the Budl. and the butterfly. Was that a Tiger Swallowtail?

p.s. It is quite warm here too- 30°C. I work in the early morning and afternoon, sometimes staying until 11 o'clock in the evening. I love being in the garden the best in the very late afternoon and early evening. It is quiet, there are special smells and sounds and there is insect and animal life to behold. I'm going tomorrow evening.

13 Jun '06 3:55 pm

Wow, Sjoerd! You really have some unique flowers blooming in your garden. I have never seen anything like them before. Sometime, when I have the time, I would like to look them up and see where they come from and the stories behind them.

Most unusual and beautiful.

Christopher

13 Jun '06 9:12 pm

Thanks Christopher,
You know, the primary focus in a garden is doing with it what the gardner him(her)self finds best....but if another finds your work nice--well, that's just the best possible bonus. Thanks for your nice words.

What's in Bloom This Month - June

What's in Bloom This Month - June

Dear Sjoerd!

Thank you!

A Few More

Thank you!

Such Unusual Blooms