Thursday, June 28, 2018

A Patriotic Table for the Fourth

Are you ready to celebrate the Fourth of July next week? I've set the table indoors, but it can easily be taken outside if the weather permits.


Monday, June 25, 2018

Early Summer Flowers

Welcome to the garden! Come with me to see the early summer flowers.

First up is a cultivar of milkweed native to eastern North America, beloved of butterflies. It's commonly known as butterfly weed.

Asclepias tuberosa 'Hello Yellow'



I am amazed at the number of blooms there have been on my hydrangeas. Planted 15 years ago, they are now shadowed by two Cryptomeria japonica that have grown out of bounds.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Endless Summer'

I really should move these!


Blooming their heads off are two varieties of calla lilies. I don't remember which cultivars these are, but I have pink and deep purple, almost black, ones as well as white ones.

Zantedeschia aethiopica

They're commonly seen in floral arrangements or as houseplants, but these have been in the ground for at least 10 years in my North Georgia garden. They spread with abandon, and I regularly discard some each year.


Another proven butterfly magnet are the deciduous spirea shrubs in the front island. They're especially happy since we removed a dying cherry tree two years ago.

Spiraea japonica

The spirea are backed by lime green Nandina domestica. While lovely, Nandinas are considered invasive plants that may displace native species.  See their current distribution by state at The University of Georgia - Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
 

A lone daylily, variety unknown, blooms in front of a purple Loropetalum chinense.


Since the deer find my daylilies particularly tasty, I may never see another!



Thanks for visiting my early summer garden!

  

  

  



Wednesday, June 13, 2018

An Everyday Table

I totally enjoy designing tablescapes for holidays and special occasions, but of course we don't celebrate special occasions every day. That doesn't mean we can't put a little thought into the settings we have from day to day.