What's Blooming: June 2012

It's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day! Here's what's growing and blooming in my new garden this month:

The Hydrangeas are in full bloom now. I didn't know what color these were going to be, but I just love this hot pink.

The front garden, under the Japanese Maple tree is blooming nicely. Lychnis, Impatiens, Shasta Daisy and soon-to-bloom Russian Sage are looking good.

The path to the backyard is lined with all kinds of different Hostas. Some are shooting out flower spikes (like the one below).

The garden by the front sidewalk is also in full bloom with Gaura, Achillea, Shasta Daisy and a few remaining Salvia.

These Tradescantia are a nice pale blue and I can just see one Black-eyed Susan starting to bloom around the midsection.

In the backyard, the Astilbe are blooming and enjoying their shady spot. 

And a beautiful blue lace-cap Hydrangea is blooming along the back patio.

Does anyone know if this is a weed? My gut says yes, but since I don't know what has been planted here, I can't really tell for sure. 

As always, any thanks to Carol over at May Dreams Gardens for hosting the monthly Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.  

Weeds Are My Friends

It's been raining here all week. I can't remember the last time it has rained five consecutive days in a row. And not just a little drizzle, I'm talking about full fledged downpours!
So needless to say, by yesterday, I was feeling down in the dumps. The weather certainly has a big impact on my mood and state of mind.

In between showers, I passed these Poppy buds in a neighbor's yard. I love the fuzziness of the stem and bud, but also how their heads droop downward. Their "droopy" state was sort of symbolic to how I was feeling. I couldn't help but smile when I passed them. Hopefully, in a few days, the sun will come out, the Poppy's bright orange flower will be on display and I will be in a much better mood!

The other thing that helped me feel better yesterday was weeding. The soil was so wet, it was very easy to weed the vegetable garden. The repetitive nature of the weeding, coupled with the rich smell of the wet earth was simply meditative and healing for me. I had only 30 minutes before I needed to rush off to do something else, but those 30 minutes were pure bliss for me. So yes, weeds may not be wanted in the garden, but at the end of the day, they sometimes can be like good friends, helping me through a tough day.

When is a weed not a weed?

When it is something you enjoy in your garden.

The dictionary definition of a weed is: a plant considered undesirable, unattractive, or troublesome, especially one growing where it is not wanted, as in a garden.

So, in essence, a weed is something you don't want. And technically speaking, Queen Anne's Lace is considered among many social circles to be a weed. But look at it! The flower is actually quite beautiful and truly resembles a bit of lace. I've seen it as a companion plant in cottage style gardens or a wildflower setting  where it fits in quite well. The wispy foliage, tall slender stems and white flower heads that sway in the breeze are charming in the right place.

Another common weed is Chicory with its blue flowers on slender stems. You can normally find this along the roadside, in parking lots or any deserted area.

It is actually has a beautiful blue flower and looks quite pretty on its own. In fact, I just happened to drive by a house in the neighborhood that had a Chicory "shrub" growing next to the driveway as if it were an ornamental plant:

And the thistle. Scotland's national flower. Prickly and scary looking, but somehow handsome and strong with the spiky green foliage and purple-pink flower head.

When I took this photo, the owner of the garden was watering it and looked at me sheepishly. "I know this is a weed," he said, "but just look at it! It is so magnificent!"

Indeed it is. A weed is something you don't want. A weed is something that makes you cringe.  But if it makes you smile, well then, its just another flower in your garden.