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?

Fall Arrangements

Yesterday the sun was out so pretty so I thought I
would take advantage of it and roam about the hills
to take some pictures.
I went to several spots that I enjoy but ended up back
at an old favorite at Conkle's Hollow.
I was there at the beginning of Fall when all of the
Autumn flowers were at their peak and the butterflies
were everywhere, the sound of the bees and birds
filled the air.

But Friday the butterflies and bees were very
much absent.





The flowers were all done with their blooms
of bright yellow on goldenrod.





All that remained were the golden brown heads
of the blooms.





The ironweed with its brilliant purple blooms
were all but blown away.






Beautiful heads of grass that remained blown about
by the cold breeze looked golden in the sun.





Even the grasses growing on a patch of ground in
middle of the stream were now dormant from the
cold freezes and frost.
Ice was even now forming along the edges of the
creek and in places there was a small coating of it
forming upon the water.



The only color than stood out was the red of the
berries from briers that grew along the stream.




Further up in the hollow that is ringed on all
sides by rock cliffs the air was much colder and there
only the mosses and ferns were green.





Even the ferns seemed almost lonely and
forlorn amongst the layer of leaves.




I was the only one visiting Friday and the quiet was
so striking as I ventured up into the hollow.
Even the birds were silent up in the cold hollow.
I finally got froze out and started back out looking
for signs of birds that were so absent in the hollow.
As I got back out across the bridge and into the
sunlight again I heard a Nuthatch but could not
seem to get a sight of it. I did spy two Chickadees
fussing and making a racked in a water birch tree.






Its peeling bark looked so pretty in the sunlight.
Then a heard a noise up above me in the sky
and there was beauty in wings spread wide against
the blue sky. It is times like this one when I covet a
better camera lens.





Frozen to the bone and shivering I started walking
to the car. I felt so refreshed and alive though to have
spent the alone time amongst all of these beautiful things.

Happy Gardening Everyone and
Have a Wonderful Weekend!

Fertilizer Friday Flowers

This week has flown by not to mention that the month
is gone.
The old saying "the older you get the faster time flies "
is really true.
It is Fertilizer Friday and time to flaunt those flowers
again. Everyone go on over to Tootsie's over at
"Tootsie Time" and join in in 'Flaunting your Flowers'.
After the stormy night and morning we have had
there will be no watering of plants. In fact I had to go
out this morning and dump water out of containers
and pick a few up off of the ground.
My shepherds hook was on the ground along with the
two hanging baskets it held. The flowers are all dropping
in the beds from water logged blooms.
While others in states are in drought and heat waves
we are still cooler and wetter for this time of the year.
Some of the flowers are experiencing mildew from
the damp cool nights.Too bad we can not spread it all
around so everyone could be comfortable.
Here are some flowers that are blooming now in the
garden. Some of them that were cut back are getting
their second round of blooms. My pansies finally had
to be cut off this week but they were will worth their money
and bloomed for a long time.




The poor verbena in this basket is suffering from mildew
and is yellowing.



The Flowering Shamrocks are blooming. The bulbs were
free with an order of flowers and it has been fun watching
these since they were new to my garden.



The 'Lavender Simplicity' rose is blooming. Poor baby,
I moved it twice this year and it is lucky to be alive.







The 'Crimson Bouquet' rose never lets me down
and is getting a new flush of blooms. It will continue
until frost. It is one of the best roses with a heavenly
fragrance.



The monarda ' Petite Pink' is still blooming and
spreading as it is dead headed.



White 'David' phlox is now in full bloom. I love the white
to brighten up the beds, but it is not as fragrant as other
phlox that I have.



" Nora Leigh' variegated is blooming wonderfully
for her first year and will fill out in a few years. I
have decided to plant some 'Nicky' purple phlox
behind her this fall to make it stand out.




Also 'Blue Bird' delphinium is blooming again after
being dead headed but the blooms are not as thick now.



Helitrope 'Marine' smells like vanilla. For some reason
this is the first year I have grown it from seed and I like
it so well it will be back.



This is a new baby lavender phlox and it has one bloom.
The 'Moonbeam' coreopsis is about done and is in need of
a shearing.







This Japanese 'Painted' fern just gets bigger and prettier
each year. The ferns are liking the wet feet.



While the ferns in the shade beds get prettier the hosta
is getting smaller.It gets fertilized too so I do not know what
the problem is. Anyone got any ideas to perk it up?



The Latana and Verbena are going strong. At least the ones
that are not touched with mildew. I do not remember my
verbena getting mildew before, but the ' St. Geroge'
red is new to me and because of it may not have a return
visit to my garden.





Happy Gardening Everyone! Have a wonderful weekend
and flaunt those flowers. All to soon now they will be gone
and replaced with fall flowers.