An—ti—cipation (channeling Carly Simon)


Since I wrote this, the roses have started to explode, and I have much more color. More on that later.

Even gardeners around here in what some of you may still regard as the frozen tundra of Western New York are surprised when I tell them my garden is still almost exclusively green in early June. They have peonies, irises, poppies, and all those other plants that bloom in late spring.

Whereas I don’t even have a columbine to show yet, though they’re close. There are also impressive candelabra of rose buds, showing thick pink and yellow seams. Oh yeah, the rhodie on the side of the house is in full, and the ones in front are beginning to show a bit of color. Otherwise, it’s a green, green, green world here at GWI.

I love the green, though. Especially the ferns and the emerging foliage plants. The pond perimeter is filling in nicely with frosty lamium, creeping Jenny, painted fern, dicentra (which has been blooming its head off since late April and will continue to do so all summer), columbine, low campanula, and other stuff—very little of it flowering at this point, except the dicentra.

In the sunny bed I have 1 (one) clematis bloom and one (1) Louise Odier. But it’s nice in a way. All is fresh. The real show happens in mid-summer with the lilies and other summer bulbs and annuals, such as elepahnt ear and (hopefully) dahlia.

Comments

This rose bud does make one yearn to see more. Happy Spring to you EAL.
Anonymous said…
We're so sweltering here that it's amazing to think of your garden just moving into spring. Or do you still call it summer? At any rate, it explains why Buffalo's garden tour is held in mid-summer.
Anonymous said…
It is the calm of green before the chaos of color! I know what you mean about the green. It is to revel in after long winters.
Cerulean said…
I love this photo.... it is a perfect image of hope.
I really love growing roses. I have a Blue Moon and a Just Joey in the border that separates the mid and back yards. I make cordial from some of the petals, or sprinkle them on top a salad or pizza, when the flowers are 'over'.
R said…
Col blog..really useful..keep up the good work!
Anonymous said…
Lovely blog, and LoL at the title. I'll also look forward to a Carly Simon sequel perhaps - "You're so vain" (my 2-year old loves that song :)
Anonymous said…
Hi
Stumbled upon your blog this morning. My garden in Toronto is now in bloom and a visiting rabbit is munching on my lawn.
Unknown said…
Roses in my garden here in sunny Boca Raton still have huge unopened buds.... it IS hot but my flowers bloom all year round, I love the lavender blue plumbago combined with white, pink & red pintos and multi colored lantanna's... cool blog BTW
kim said…
I just noticed our first rose buds this morning. Lovely space you have there. http://gardenfieldguide.blogspot.com/
What a charmingly plebeian garden you maintain! 'Tis a shame that societal conventions prohibit you and I from conversing as equals on the subject of greenery and horticulture. Still, I wish you all the best.
EAL said…
"What a charmingly plebeian garden you maintain!"

Why, thank you!
Anonymous said…
Rose lovers unite. I just wish I could remember the names of my roses! I always buy the romantic ones, and I have one that bloomed beautifully this spring. Intoxicating frangrance, and very annoying to my husband who drove over it while parking every night.

We are lucky here that we still have many beautiful old homes and wonderfully neglected gardens with plants past.

I tend to like the ever blooming hybrids for their looks, but nothing beats the fragrance. Ah well, out to "dead head" up to water and hope for a second bloom!

Hints on black spot always welcome -- tried a little dish soap this year and heavy pruning with pruner dipped in bleach water. Seems to be working so far.

Jealous of your dahlias always wanted them never could grow them.

Lill
Plainfield NJ
Anonymous said…
Elizabeth, did you check out Katharina van Seethinbottom's profile page and blog? It's not meant to be taken seriously, which explains the seemingly rude comment she left you. I've never come across this before, have you?
EAL said…
Thanks Pam, I just did check it out. Excellent. I am sure there are many such creative/fictional/ironic blogs. Blogger has a big tent. As I am finding.
Paris Tarts said…
I believe it is not often when fashion (man made) and gardening (earth made) find a median...but I think I'v kinda found the middle ground of how to love both the same...

I'v read your blog for a while now and finally decided to post. I love the pictures of your flowers...and I hope you will check mine out also.

Much love for your blog,
Tart
EAL said…
Pam, I go along with the traditional definition of summer as starting on June 20. So that's why I say late spring no matter what the actual weather is.
Anonymous said…
Thats a beautiful rose!
US Bocce guy said…
Amazing to think that someone is having a later spring than Northeatern PA. Last frost was about May 20th. and, yes, our columbine's are finishing first bloom.

Just opened the 'lasagna garden'. about half what I expected but a fun project. details at http://flipshouses.blogspot.com

Enjoy the day and keep up the beautiful pictures! Jeff
Anonymous said…
A new rose bush can provide decades of beauty and enjoyment if properly planted and tended. The planting requirements for a new rose are both simple and important.

------
marvin

Your Social Media Marketing Turnkey Solution! http://www.widecircles.com
Anonymous said…
I am in western NY as well..... Where abouts are you?
Captain Mary said…
Beautiful, beautiful, can't grow anything but palm trees here

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