Things have been quiet on the garden front over the past week or so. It almost feels like the “calm before the blooming storm” as many of the perennials (coneflowers, daylillies, russian sage, phlox) are about to put on their show but they’re not quite there yet.
Still, the garden is always developing and there are new surprises even if it they aren’t obvious to the naked eye. This includes all of the new visitors to and fro; some wanted and others … not so much. Here’s what’s been going down in my garden ‘hood of late:
One shrub I have virtually ignored since planting it about three years ago is Hydrangea ‘Lady in Red’. I’ve never witnessed the supposed red fall foliage and haven’t had more than 2 blooms total to date. In fact, it has been difficult to tell the difference between it and ‘Endless Summer’. Well, this year it has shown some serious promise with multiple blooms and a more interesting foliage color:
Every time I am outside with the camera, I snap off at least one photo of my Hypericum ‘Albury Purple’. I can’t get enough of the foliage color along with the small yellow flowers. It is now loaded with berries so it stands out like no other shrub in my front bed:
Speaking of berries, my Viburnum ‘Shoshoni’ is also loaded with berries and the birds swarm to them like mad. I’d love to say that I successfully planted another Viburnum cultivar nearby in order to get these berries, but truth is, I have no idea why they have formed now after having nothing the first few years:
A bird photographer I am not. But I don’t let that stop me. I stalk them whenever I can and then try to figure out what I am actually taking photos of. My wife bought me a new book on New Jersey birds so watch out, a new obsession is in it’s infant stage:
I want you to know I thoroughly enjoy your posts. Your photography is great – birds are fun, but they are a much different subject than that nice still, cooperative flower.
I have a hydrangea, in the same situation as yours. It sat and looked stupid for two years, two meager blooms last summer, but it is just load with flower buds this year (good dose of bonemeal, just at thawing this spring on the recommendation of a garden center).
Keep up the fine writing, glad I found your blog.
I enjoyed your post today. You always have so many beautiful photos. And what a extra bonus by reading The Musical Gardeners comment on the hydrangea. Next year upon early Spring I’m dosing my pitiful hydrangeas with bonemeal!
I love the blogging world of all you great gardeners out there!
house finches. 🙂 and you can send the f’n bunny here if you like! it might end up coyote fodder, but it won’t have a garden to disturb!
Controlled chaos works for me too! 🙂
Love all your photos – especially the bee pic.
Ruta
Hello! I may not regularly comment on your posts but I always visit each new post you are making. I really enjoy your blog! 🙂
I moved 4 hydrangeas in the fall and though they survived, boy do they look lousy this year. I’m glad I read about the bone meal in your comments. I’m going to have to give it a try. Thanks!
Lisa
http://mynjgarden.com
yeah, the bunny is your opposite number in the garden wars!
Aloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
><}}(°>
> < } } ( ° >
< ° ) } } > <
I love all your posts of the garden and your thoughts behind what you do. I think being compulsive in the yard is a good thing. I guess rabbits have to eat too, right?
Such beautiful flowers photos…. the birds, I’m holding my opinion on those. Just kidding. Birds are very difficult to capture and I admire anyone who can. I am one of those who can not.
I’m ALWAYS on the lookout for a shrub that the birds like–and I think your Viburnum might be just the ticket.
You don’t love bunny?? But, he’s so cute. He isn’t the one eating your stuff. No. It’s that other guy. You just missed him…..
😀
what a wonderful collection of photo’s. your plants and flowers are all so healthy.
i love your male house finch, he’s a cutie!!
What a gorgeous hydrangea! But do the deer like it too? I have two that I have to keep sprayed with liquid fence to keep them away.
The birds are adorable. We have a variety of birds that visit. Some of them are like alarm clocks; woke us up @ 3:00 AM this week. 🙂
Great Pics!! I bought the purple coneflowers yesterday. I luv em! I can’t keep up with the different types of hydrangeas! Ah, The joy of learning gardening…
Very nice hydrangea! I think bunnies are cute. They don’t eat all that much in the garden.
The Coreopsis ‘Star Cluster’ is stunning, as are all the plants in your flower garden. The bird photos are quite beautiful…keep it up, would love to see more!
I’m not big on the bunnies eating the garden, either, but watching the kids get excited about them makes up for it. 😉
Wow, that hydrangea is wonderful and I also like the ‘star cluster’ Coreopsis. I wouldn’t love bunnies either if they were eating my gardens.
What a treat to see your bird pictures. You’ll soon be hooked on trying to capture them in pics to share with us all. Birds are such happy creatures.
Have a great holiday ~ FlowerLady
P.S. Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving your kind comment.
I can spend hours watching bees, they’re so cute.
HAPPY 4th JULY
“Controlled chaos.” Perfect description of my garden also. At least it’s what I attempt.
Lady in Red looks like it will be a real stunner.
We don’t have rabbits in our area (knock on wood) but I think I’d hate them if we did.
I am loving the Lady in Red Hydrangea!! So glad you gave it the opportunity to come into its own!
Hi, I just wanted to thank you for the beautiful pictures… i love flowers and I got a huge garden, so this post makes me feel like I’m in there.