Thou didst not know, who tottered, wandering on high,
That fate had made thee for the pleasure of the wind,
With those great careless wings,
Nor yet did I.
~ Robert Frost
There is so much blooming now. I want to record it all but not in just one posting.
A couple years ago I purchased a few small clematis at Home Depot for a ridiculously low price--something like $3.50 each. It was a whim, I wanted to try growing them on roses. Unfortunately that doesn't work well in northern Illinois. In the spring, when the super hardy clematis is up and blooming, northern roses are only about two feet tall. Not a good paring. This poor blue climber puddles at the feet of Austin rose Abe Darby. It looks well enough just winding along the ground among the other plants. Every now and then a blue patch appears at the feet of a lily or a foxglove.
A couple years ago I purchased a few small clematis at Home Depot for a ridiculously low price--something like $3.50 each. It was a whim, I wanted to try growing them on roses. Unfortunately that doesn't work well in northern Illinois. In the spring, when the super hardy clematis is up and blooming, northern roses are only about two feet tall. Not a good paring. This poor blue climber puddles at the feet of Austin rose Abe Darby. It looks well enough just winding along the ground among the other plants. Every now and then a blue patch appears at the feet of a lily or a foxglove.
I was really taken with photos of a tall bearded iris named GnusFlash. It's a black and white striped iris, very striking. Anyway I purchased Gnusflash and got this. It's lavender where the real GF is white and white where it should be black. Oh well;)
This is iris time, yellow, powder blue, lavender, pink, white and black. The view from any window features their fluttering silken petticoats.
I can't walk out of a garden center empty handed. Another whim and something I didn't need--but it was so pretty. How could anyone turn away from a silver leaved, pink flowered little charmer like this lamium Pink Pewter? (Funny, those were almost exactly the same words I used on my mother as a child when I came home with another stray dog.)
Below old faithful Superstition iris and a pink self seeded columbine. Superstition was the first iris I added to my garden almost 20-years ago when I moved here.
This is iris time, yellow, powder blue, lavender, pink, white and black. The view from any window features their fluttering silken petticoats.I can't walk out of a garden center empty handed. Another whim and something I didn't need--but it was so pretty. How could anyone turn away from a silver leaved, pink flowered little charmer like this lamium Pink Pewter? (Funny, those were almost exactly the same words I used on my mother as a child when I came home with another stray dog.)
Below old faithful Superstition iris and a pink self seeded columbine. Superstition was the first iris I added to my garden almost 20-years ago when I moved here.
Too green the springing April grass,
Too blue the silver-speckled sky,
For me to linger here, alas,
While happy winds go laughing by,
Wasting the golden hours indoors,
Washing windows and scrubbing floors.
Too wonderful the April night,
Too faintly sweet the first May flowers,
The stars too gloriously bright,
For me to spend the evening hours,
When fields are fresh and streams are leaping,
Wearied, exhausted, dully sleeping.
~ Claude McKayToo blue the silver-speckled sky,
For me to linger here, alas,
While happy winds go laughing by,
Wasting the golden hours indoors,
Washing windows and scrubbing floors.
Too wonderful the April night,
Too faintly sweet the first May flowers,
The stars too gloriously bright,
For me to spend the evening hours,
When fields are fresh and streams are leaping,
Wearied, exhausted, dully sleeping.
30 comments:
Love all the flower pics! I think we have that same blue clematis - also purchased for cheap a few years ago. We had it in container gardens on a trellis, but just transplanted it last year to climb the fence instead.
Beautiful pictures Marnie especially your pale pink iris, it is gorgeous.
Tyra
Your garden is just so beautiful! I love all the varieties of purples - they are just so gorgeous! Although the butterfly on the yellow flower is stunning!
Sorry, I can easily turn my back on any and all Lamiums I see for sale because I turned my back on Lamium in my garden and it launched a campaign of garden domination. I'm still trying to rip it all out. I know I had some that were darker pink with silver leaves. Had I known you wanted some, I would have given you a wheelbarrow full!
Have you tried growing any of the Viticella Clematises? They bloom significantly later than the early large flowered Type II hybrids. They would probably bloom with your Roses, and they grow very tall very quickly each year. Mine I cut back to 6" above the ground, and they are taller than I am now. (Granted I'm short, but I'm not that short.)
Although your mystery Iris isn't what you wanted, it's lovely, as are your other Irises. I just love this time of year.
What beautiful pictures of your flowers! I love lamium! I haven't tried to grow any here but I think I should next year! Thanks Marnie!
Beautiful blooms Marnie, I see a purple & pink trend in your garden. :)
Where is it writ that clematis shall always climb? It's perfectly all right to let it wander and looks lovely anywhere, even at the foot of something. I hope that Lamium doesn't become a nuisance for you, Marnie. It is a pretty thing, though. Loved the poetry selections alongside the butterfly and flowers.
You have a lot of flowers in bloom. I just had my first nasturtium bloom today and I think tickseed but that and honeysuckle is it for southwest Ohio where I live.
I managed to get a new blog started a few days ago. It is only about flowers.
Our Flower Pot
I've got some lamium which is spreading so slowly, it is a shame to the world of those that invade. That's OK.
Beautiful irises, Marnie; I love all the different colors. I find it hard to walk into a garden center, too, without coming home with something:) I totally agree with the McKay poem--why scrub floors or wash windows on a beautiful day like today!
It is a beautiful time in your garden Marnie...the sweet ink columbine is a winner...I like to let the clematis wander where ever it wants...and it looks lovely on the ground! gail
Marnie, your iris are spectaular! I love the mislabled Gnusflash and can't imagine anything prettier. You do indeed have a lovely assortment of iris-each one more lovely than the last. I am envious of them and tht butterfly. Haven't seen any here yet. The granddaughters are going this weekend and I got them 2 new books on butterflies and insects ao maybe they will have luck in finding some. :)
As always, beautiful! Your blog is such great eye-candy for me. And the poetry is pleasure to ponder. I am glad you take the time to select poems that go with your photos.
Clematis rambling thru roses has a real "cottagey" feel ~ too bad it didn't work out. It does look beautiful on the ground if that's consolation?? I have yet to meet a clematis I didn't like tho. I think I remember that incredible black & white iris (you posted a photo of it on your blog last year, right??) I wanted one after I saw it too. I wonder what happens to make yours so very different?? Soil?? It's certainly a beautiful time in the garden. I feel the same way you do about trying to capture all the bloom images. You did an excellent job. btw, the pink columbine is just beautiful.
Hi Marnie, I love both your pastels and more vibrant colors--I also have all sorts of colors and love them.
Hi DogGeek, I'm still moving those clematis around trying to find just the right place for them.
Hi Tyra, thanks.
BeadedTail, isn't that a pretty butterfly? They are so small sometimes you barely notice them.
Hi MMD, I have the old Lamiastrum galeobdolonin in dry shade in several places and it struggles a little to establish. It doesn't worry me that Pink Pewter might be to aggressive, I'm more concerned about battling the slugs. I haven't been able to find Viticella locally but keep looking.
Hi Sherri, some lamiums look good in pots.
Marnie
Perennial Gardener, you discovered my weakness, pastels especially pinks.
Walk2Write, the clematis is pretty growing at the foot of taller perennials but the vine always seems to be in the way when I'm gardening. I didn't realize lamium was a problem for so many gardeners. I'll watch it closely.
Hi Abe, I visited the bird and the flower blogs yesterday. I get such an inferiority complex when I view your spectacular photos;)
Wayne, that's been my experience too. My clay soil is fairly compacted and covered in several inches of mulch. Things don't spread and seed rampantly like they do in other soil types.
Hey Rose, the McKay poem says it pretty well;)
Gail, I like it when it's blooming but later the vine looks messy and is always in the way.
Beckie, I haven't seen many butterflies yet this year either. I followed that one for quite a while before I could get a photo.
Hi Rosey, some poets seem to share my feelings about nature. They certainly express those feelings better than I.
Kathleen, you have a very good memory. I think my iris was simply mislabeled. Who knows what its real name might be. I agree, there are no clematis that aren't beautiful.
Hi Monica, I love pastels but I'm stuck in a pastel rut. Trying to add some reds and whites.
Marnie
Lovely pictures Marnie! Iris time is wonderful isn't it?
Marnie, Here's a website that clearly shows how happy Prairie Smoke would be in your garden....and not mine! http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=GETRT
gail
Your choice of poetry is wonderful for spring! And your Mary Oliver inclusion shows her continued love of all things garden! Your garden is blooming up a storm! It must be fantastic to walk through your house and see various iris' throughout, as you look out the windows!
I like the idea of allowing clematis to climb over other plants or bushes. I've thought about doing it myself...just haven't done it yet. I have some morning glory seeds I still haven't planted and am considering doing something similar with them.
Have a wonderful day! It's pouring down rain and quite gloomy here.
What wonderful pairings Marnie. That pink iris with the purple looks so good! I think your mother must've been a most nice lady if she let you keep those stray dogs. Probably better now a days to bring home a stray plant versus a stray dog:)) Much easier as they don't require much feeding or walking. This sounds like a grand month for you-can't wait to see what else is blooming.
I adore the Iris. I also have some self seeded Columbine. I didn't know the name till I saw it just now! Dah!
What lovely blooms you have, Marnie. I know exactly what you mean about plants following you home. Why, I have had plants fairly leap into my cart as I innocently passed by! ;-)
You do have so many gorgeous blooms now Marnie. Isn't it a glorious time in the garden?? Love the flying bloom too. I have one of those short clematis in my garden too. I was disappointed when I realized it wasn't going to ramble along our wooden fence. It just barely peeks over the top. Ha. I have never moved it either. I like the surprise of seeing one of the sweet little blooms peeking at me.
Marnie you have some wonderful things blooming right now. I must say I love that dark, dark iris. How pretty.
I really like your garden pics. Iris and Columbine are two of my favorites.
I don't know why...but the first picture with the butterfly looks surreal.
Your photos still impress me.
lovely series of photos
the lilac pink iris has won my heart!
Wonderful photos! Hmmm, that clematis looks familiar to me, too! We had a similar one growing up our lamp post in years past.
The irises are exquisite!
What pretty flowers! I am so excited to have seen a few butterflies. Soon there will be more!
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