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?

The Rose of Sharon

I have saw so many beautiful Rose of Sharon
bushes or trees lately. There are so many varieties
now and many more colors.
Mine were grown from seeds taken from my
Grandmother's bushes so I am a little sentimental
about the ones I have growing.They also bring back
memories of when my cousins and I were little and
grandma would give us toothpicks and we would
make little dolls from them. Farm kids found simple
and cheap ways to keep occupied --way-- back then ;-)



Since I wrote a posting on it last year I won't bore
anyone now with repeating it.




They were later this season because of the cool
summer and I was hoping that the Japanese beetles
wouldn't find them but they did so they have a few
riddled leaves on them.




At one time I had a line of them in front of my porch
that was kept trimmed as a hedge. Like all gardeners
I got bored at looking at that and cut them down to make
room for, of course more flowers.




Rose of Sharon Hibiscus Syriacus is a very easy shrub
to grow. It does well in zones 5 to 10 and is evergreen
in warm climates. Here in the north the leaves turn
yellow and fall off after a frost so the fall foliage on
them is not a pretty sight.



The Rose Of Sharon loves full sun but I have some spindly
ones blooming down near the woods where trimmings were
dumped. They have seed pods with many seeds in them.
They can be considered a little invasive because of so many
seeds. I have to pull them from flower beds and from around
bushes every spring.
I trim mine back heavily in the fall to keep it a smaller
compact shrub. They can also be limbed up into a tree.



The new double blooming 'Blue Chiffon' looks to be
a pretty variety, but I would like to hear from gardeners
who have one to see if it is blue or more
purple in color before purchasing one.
Other than the invasive character of the shrub, the blooms
are gorgeous for a late summer show and the Hummingbirds
love them.




Remember Balisha @ Never Enough Time
in your thoughts and prayers.

Happy Gardening Everyone!

Lord Baltimore Hibiscus

I have had this Lord Baltimore Rose Mallow Hibiscus for
several years now and it never ceases to amaze me when
it starts blooming. The bright red blooms are just huge!



Hibiscus Malvaceae moscheutos Lord Baltimore

The poor bush has been moved three times because
I have never been satisfied where I stick it. This spring
I moved it again to a spot at the corner of the garage
and I have promised it that I will not move it again.
I may have lied if it does not do well there ;-)




A herbaceous shrub that can grow from 4 feet to 6 feet
tall and 3 to 4 feet or more in width. It has blooms from 6
to 10 inches . My blooms in this old clay are still an impressive
7 inches.
It is not a pink either but a bright red.



On one of the limbs yesterday there was one bloom and
two buds. This morning the two buds had opened and
the previous bloom was spent.



It grows in zones from 5 to 9, in sun to partial shade.
It requires consistently moist soil, thus the reason she
has been moved so much around my yard, and should not
be allowed to dry out. It does better in full sun with rich soil
but it does pretty well in my clay soil.



Blooms from late summer to fall.
You can collect the seed pods and dry them and
then break the pods open to get the seeds.I have never
tried to grow any from seed but I think I will give it a try
this winter.

Propagation Methods Are:
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; stratify if sowing indoors
Direct sow as soon as the ground can be worked
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
From seed; direct sow after last frost
From seed; germinate in a damp paper towel
From seed; germinate in vitro in gelatin, agar or other medium
Scarify seed before sowing.

The bush is cut back in the fall to 3 to 4 inches.



Happy Gardening Everyone!