In The Search Of Sunshine Or Rainbows

What do gardeners do when it is looks like the
day is going to be a total loss and there is not even
a hint of some sunshine? The day started out foggy
and only got worse with a steady rain falling out
side. With not even being able to sneak out and
check the flowers beds for some more sign of life
I had to find my sunshine from the picture files
to brighten the day a little.
Looking through the picture files one thing became
apparent, my garden is lacking in the color sunshine yellow.
Then I remembered Rebecca @ " In The Garden"
had posted a Rainbow Invitation so thinking this
would be a fun project I went on a search for
Roy G. Biv





Now red was easy to find with the help of
my 'Crimson Bouquet' roses. They are what
are pictured in the header collage.





And if that is not red enough I can always count
on the huge blooms of the 'Lord Baltimore' hibiscus.
I have the red amaryllis also but I know everyone
must be tired of seeing them.




This is my orange find. Alright it is not really
orange but I am not fond of the color orange as many
of my blogger friends know. So this 'Pardon Me' Lily
will have to do.





Oh, I almost forgot about the orange mums
that were grown from seed. Well that do for orange?




Now to the absent color of yellow in my garden.
'Moombeam Coreopsis is one that never fails to
please. The one wished change I would have for
this flower is that it had sturdier stems but on
the other hand it will grow in any type of soil.
It has dainty cream yellow blooms.




On the other hand 'Stella de Oro' lilies are very yellow.



The 'Japanese Painted Fern' will is green but leaning
toward the silver and burgundy area so may not count.




But the woodland ferns that were moved into my
front shade bed is a lovely green.




'Sentimental Blue' campanula is a true blue.
Correction it is Blue Chips not Sentimental Blue!





But not as brilliant color of blue as the 'Bluebird' Delphinium.





' Laura' is shorter than the other phlox but its
indigo color is lovely and its fragrance devine.






This indigo delphinium needs a name.





This Purple Clustered Bellflower will be the violet
color in the garden.






And 'Blue Hill' salvia is more violet than its blue
name.

Sadly the only picture I have of an actual rainbow was
this one I caught as it was almost faded away last
summer.




Do You Have A Rainbow in Your Garden?

New Additions to the Garden

Well after I stop kicking my self in the backside
I will get to some new additions to the garden.
I have been suffering a slow down in my computer
and was practically ready to call the satellite provider
and give them a piece of what mind I have left.
Then upon getting the idea that it just might be
my fault (who would have guessed) and that I should
reboot my computer first, I proceeded to do it. Well
needless to say she is running like a whiz now.
My computer shuts down after it is idle for a while
so I never shut it down. I guess it was tired and needed
restarted. Do I feel dumb? Oh well it goes with the territory.
Now onto the good stuff!

Like many of you I have been scrutinizing my flower
beds and making changes. Moving things and adding in
some new plants to extend the growing season.
Some of my flower beds just made no sense at all.
Plants that I loved and just stuck in that upon really
looking at, just did not work. Also I tended to have more
pinks, blues and purples and not enough of other
colors. So I have been working the flower beds into
sections and getting some colors to flow together.
You would think that Burgundy Gaillardia would go
with Red Roses but when they start getting more yellow
in them over the years they tend to clash a little, alright
they clash a lot.



So I moved and divided the big beauty and some
other plants from the garage bank and moved in
some more roses I had scattered around to make
this into more of a Rose bed. Next Spring I want to
add in some different color of rose bushes and hope
that they do not turn into all red roses like the Irish Gold
did this year.



I have been working more on the long bed that
runs along the woods. This bed runs from sun
(due to a dying tree) and into shade.
After seeing so many beautiful lilies this summer
and having planted some last fall and falling in love
with them, I went on this lily kick of planting this fall.
I have planted over sixty lilies in different sections
along with the transplanted irises, and sowed some Foxglove
seeds in the mix that one of you generous blog friends
sent to me, which will no doubt feed the deers for years.
Most of the lilies were a cheaper assorted bunch
which will be surprises when they bloom. They will be
future moves most likely ;-)
Along with them were planted some known lilies
such as:

Pink Elodie, Brings Joy,Ceres, Daring Deception,
Fata Morganna, Siloam Double Classic,Spinx ,
Strawberry Candy, Wineberry Candy, Windsor
Castle, and:



Siloam Merle Kent and Purple d' Oro



White Stargazer 'Snow Princess' and pink Stargazer lilies.

In the pink section of the sunny part were added:



Peony ' Celebration'

And Achillea 'Summerwine'. I had here also Echinacea
purprea and sedums. Flowing from the pinks into a
new yellow section has been added:



Achillea 'Sunshine' and a ' Goblin' Gaillardia.



Echinacea's 'Harvestmoon' and 'Sunrise'



And stuck in the middle of the yellows is 'Maynight' Salvia
to add the pop.

A new section of blue flowers flows from the yellow
in which I added a new Sea Holly Erngium 'Sapphire Blue'
and a new Agastache ' Blue Fortune'. I am hoping that these
will go well with the new blue re-blooming Irises.
Like all gardeners I will probably have to tweak and
change some things here if the blues clash.



After stripping a little bed of all of the old fashioned
purple irises that were divided and moved I added an
all new color for me. Yes, I have really made myself go
out on a limb here and added orange and rust to my flowers.
If you knew me you would know how big this step is ;-)



Achillea 'Apricot Delight' and red Helenium and some
Apricot ' Windsor Castle' lilies with Coreposis 'Burnt
Sienna'.



After I see the color of the blooms next summer I may
add in some of the old Burgundy Gaillardia. I was thinking
about adding the two 'Becky Towne' variegated phlox to this
mix but I have never saw the blooms of the Becky Towne
so I am unsure if it will clash or blend in. Of those of you who
have this flower is the blooms more pink, apricot or red?
Will it clash with the rusts and apricots? I really need advise
from you before I receive and plant them this fall.
If you all think they will clash then they
will have to go to another bed.

To the shady beds new anemones were added.
So you see I have really been busy this Fall in the
garden. When they all get grown in, the redone
flower beds should flow together better, or not.
In my mind and on paper it flows anyway but I
will have to wait until next summer to see the fruit
of my labors.

Happy Gardening Everyone!