FF Last Week of August

August 26, 2011

We are officially in the last week of August.  Where did the summer go?  The nights are getting cooler and the days are getting shorter.  The garden still looks nice, although a recent all-night rain has the phlox looking a little ragged.  

The rudbekia below is in it's prime this week.  I'm not sure of the name of this one, as I got it from my friend, Rita.  It's such a happy little plant and I love the way the buds look when they unfurl.  

Rudbekia coneflower,
but I call them Brown-Eyed  Susans

I wasn't sure what this one was called.  It was given to me by a friend.  Thanks to Alison at Bonney Lassie, it has now been identified to me as Malva sylvestris or Mallow! 

Malva sylvestris

Below is a lovely 'Perennial Lobelia'.  Rita gave me two, this white one, and a pretty blue one (not shown).  I was surprized and delighted to see that the white one has all kinds of little seedling plants growing up beside it.  At first I thought they might be weeds, so I'm really glad that my inner voice told me to let them be.  I have enough to give a few to my garden club's plant sale next spring.

Perennial Lobelia with pink phlox

The 'Stargazer' lily.  No explanation of this plant required.  It's just plain beautiful and smells wonderful.  My husband says to leave them on the outside of the house though.  ;)

Lilium 'Stargazer'

Check out some really great garden blogs at Fertilizer Friday.   I'll leave you with a look at my backyard border.  This picture was taken last week, before the rain hit.  It's the same garden shown in my last post 'Wordless Wednesday', but taken from the opposite end. 

Happy Fertilizer Friday and Happy Gardening!

Wordless Wednesday

August 16, 2011

August Back Border

Kew Gardens, London, England

Today, I'm doing something new. I don't usually post about anything other than my own garden, but my blogging friend, Beth, is doing a fun travel theme party called Travels Near and Far, at her blog Beyond the Garden Gate. 

In 2008, my best friend and I went to England.  We had a wonderful time wandering around the streets of London, visiting historic places, browsing through fancy stores and museums. And gardens, of course!

For today's post I thought I'd show some photos from Kew Gardens, the Royal Botanical Gardens in London.

The Nosegay Garden
I could never explain what a nosegay garden is as well as
the following sign.  I hope it's not too small to read.

the Formal Garden
As I understand it, these very structured gardens
were meant to look especially lovely, when viewed
from an upper window.

a pretty water feature

the Rose Arbour
I loved it here.

a better look at the roses climbing
on the arbour



Below is a photo of a lovely cottage which is on the Kew Gardens grounds.  It was built for the royal family, in the 1700s.   It was used for the family of Queen Charlotte for things like picnics.  You can't go into the inside, but there are pictures and more information on the website here:  Cottage. 

I was really sorry to have just missed English Bluebell season - I could see the spent blooms just positively everywhere around this beautiful cottage. 



Queen Charlotte's Cottage

 Check out Beth's post Travels Near and Far out when you have a chance.  She has wonderful pictures of a trip to New York City in today's post. 

Happy Gardening, everyone. 

Fertilizer Friday 'Flox'

August 12, 2011

Happy Friday, everyone: 

I'm a little busy today, but I wanted to  post and link up toTootsie's Blog for Fertilizer Friday . 

Today I'll just post some quick shots of the perennial phlox that's blooming right now.  The phlox is really the 'mainstay' of my August border.  I look forward to them all summer long.

Of the below photos, I only know the official name for the first two, 'Blue Paradise' and 'Bright Eyes'. 

Have a great weekend of very happy gardening!

Glorious Colour Time in Zone 4

August 5, 2011

back border with pink and red perennial phlox
in the foreground

First of all, Happy Birthday to my Mom (Muriel) and my niece (Shannon)!

Early August is a lovely time in my garden. The daylilies are still going strong and in a few short days, all the perennial phlox will be blooming at once.

Thanks to my dear friend, Rita, I have many different colours of phlox, from white to dark purple, and all the pinks in between!

Check out Tootsie's blog for links to many other beautiful garden blogs at
Fertilizer Friday.

double rudbekia, double shasta daisies, and 'Blue Paradise'
perennial phlox

white coneflower with rudbekia

'Bright Eyes' perennial phlox coming along

echinacea white coneflowers

hemerocallis red daylilies with 'Annabelle' hydrangea

liatris purple gayfeather

Hudson flirting from under the
red perennial phlox

I'll post more pictures of the perennial phlox in a few days. They are just about to be at their peak.

Happy Gardening and Happy Fertilizer Friday, everyone!