Shakkai's Garden

2010-05-26T07:12:00.000-07:00

Two more tree peonies have started to flower. This one, above, is my favourite, as it has the 'wild' irregular look that I find so appealing.

The other, below, is pure white, and such a HUGE flower. At least 9 inches or more across! Alas, this one isn't as reliable and doesn't flower every year. I guess producing such large flowers takes a lot of energy for the plant.

I love this border, as it seems to work quite well through the seasons. Now, the peonies are the stars of the show and the other perennials are still in leaf, so nothing is competing with these magnificent blooms. Though, nearby, the flowers of the magnolia trees (white, pink, and deep purple) provide a perfect backdrop for the bold tree peony flowers. Later in summer when the daylilies in this bed start to flower, the tree peony foliage provides a nice contrast for those flowers.

2010-05-19T23:46:00.001-07:00

Its feels so good to be back out in the garden in earnest again. Last year was a difficult one due to recurring back problems and the garden, sadly, was neglected. Getting back on top of everything is a lot of work this year, but there is something so satisfying to see each bed in turn revamped, weeded out, and looking good again.

2010-05-19T23:40:00.000-07:00

The very dark tulips are looking very good against the new foliage of Cynara cardunculus.

2010-05-19T06:29:00.000-07:00

The first of the tree peony to open this year. Simply sumptuous! I love these plants, and even though their display of flowers is sometimes short lived, their distinctive foliage is an asset to the border all through summer and the leaf colour in autumn is just as spectacular as the blooms.

2008-05-19T03:44:00.000-07:00

Some things blooming in the garden now... everywhere I look there are pinks and purples!!

An Aquilegia self-seeded seedling.

There are literally hundreds of different self seeded Aquilegia that pop up in nearly every bed and border around the garden. I leave the ones that I like and cut off the flowers of the ones I don't so that they don't get a chance to pollinate or set seed. In this way, each year I get a slightly different, and slightly 'better' set of flowers.

I especially like the double flowered ones like this one, and the 'clematis-flowered' ones. I have been selecting those and now have quite a lot of them in different colours.

Clematis montana

I think the cultivar name for this one is 'Maureen' - however, it was an existing plant in the garden when we moved in, so I don't have a definite record of the variety.

This plant twines over a pergola with honeysuckle on one side, Clematis cirrhosa on another side, and one side left open. They are all equally vigorous, so that none overpowers the other, and the resulting tangle of blooms (the honeysuckle is in flower now too...) is very pleasing.

The advantage of climbers, and the splashes of colour that they bring above head height, is not to be underestimated!

Papaver oriental

This poppy is one of my favourites! I look forward to it every year. The flowers are huge - if opened out flat, they would be about 8 inches in diameter. This pink one is much earlier in flowering than the other red and orange ones in the garden.

2008-05-11T23:15:00.000-07:00

Loads of flowers on the little azalea this year!

The colour is a very 'in your face' light red. It definitely acts as a focal point at the bottom of the path where it is planted.

Some years are better than others for this one. It seems to be flowering its head off this year!

With its nice thick trunk and good form, I am temped to dig this one up and train it as a bonsai. I have a nice dark Phormium which could replace it as focal point ... something to think about this autumn. The colour of the phormium would probably work better for that area. However, because there are lots of daylilies in this area as well, I don't want to overdose on the spiky, upright, fan of foliage.

So much to do, so many decisions to make... isn't gardening wonderful!!

2008-04-30T23:12:00.000-07:00

Spring brings some wonderful colour combinations. The garden is looking very cheerful, and the warm, sunny weather we've had the last few days has brought out lots of blooms!

A striped tulip in front of Epimedium.

And a beautiful Euphorbia 'Dixter' growing amongst native bluebells.

2008-01-29T12:13:00.000-08:00

Well, if I thought things were early last year - I'm even more suprised with this year. Mid-January saw snowdrops and crocus in flower, and now, Hellebores are in full swing and Camellias are also starting to open!!

2008-01-19T12:02:00.000-08:00

Unbelievably, crocus and snowdrops are in flower in the garden already. (I've also seen daffodils elsewhere starting to open!!)

2007-12-31T10:26:00.000-08:00

December was a mixed bag of wintry weather, with frost - no snow as yet:

Along with some fine days - great for walks along the river!

2007-04-15T10:42:00.000-07:00

By mid-April everything was bursting! All the trees were covered in blossom like frosting on cake!

My favourite woodland plants were making a nice show: Epimedium and Bluebells.

And even late tulips were opening their beautiful flowers to the warm sun!

2007-04-12T10:35:00.000-07:00

Strong colour is always a welcome site in Spring. April was a record setting month for high temperatures, and that really brought on the bulbs fast and early.

2007-03-07T09:47:00.000-08:00

Signs of Spring are here!

I don't remember my daffodils being in flower at this time last year. Looking back through my photos, it was mostly crocus at this time. Well, this year, the crocus are all nearly finished now, and I'm sure I'll have tulips in flower before the end of March. Looks like we're going to have things early this year. The birds started nesting some time ago, and we've seen some fledglings already.

On the other hand, the magnolias are still dormant in their fuzzy buds - thank goodness! Hopefully, they will remain that way for a bit longer. It is so sad when they flower early and the blooms get destroyed by any late frosts!

2007-02-28T14:33:00.000-08:00

Weather Summary for February

	Max	Average	Min
Max Temperature	53 °F / 11 °C	49 °F / 9 °C	39 °F / 3 °C
Mean Temperature	50 °F / 10 °C	44°F / 6 °C	31 °F / 0 °C
Min Temperature	48 °F / 8 °C	39 °F / 4°C	23 °F / -5°C

2007-01-28T04:44:00.000-08:00

Weather Summary for January 2007
( from Weather Underground)

	Max	Average	Min
Max Temperature	57 °F / 13 °C	49 °F / 9 °C	37 °F / 2 °C
Mean Temperature	54 °F / 12 °C	46 °F / 7 °C	34 °F / 1 °C
Min Temperature	51 °F / 10 °C	43 °F / 6 °C	28 °F / -2 °C

2007-01-28T03:57:00.000-08:00

Helleborus orientalis

More information can be found at Farmyard Nurseries

2007-01-28T03:56:00.000-08:00

2007-01-28T03:55:00.000-08:00

2007-01-28T03:41:00.000-08:00

Eranthis hyemalis.
Sometimes called Winter wolf’s bane.

Winter aconites have been grown since the sixteenth century in English Gardens and extend the flowering season of perennials by adding a splashes of colour from January to March, often pushing through the snows of winter.Their name comes from the Greek “er” meaning spring and “anthos” meaning flower and hyemalis which means flowering in the spring.

2007-01-28T03:40:00.000-08:00

Galanthus nivalis
Snowdrops

2007-01-28T03:37:00.001-08:00

I've seen more snowdrops in my garden this year than ever before. I'm not sure if that is because they normally flower a bit later and are competing with the crocus, or if they have finally multiplied enough to make nice sized clumps! Either way, I am enjoying them!

2007-01-28T03:15:00.000-08:00

Hamamelis 'Diane'
Witch Hazel

2007-01-28T02:07:00.000-08:00

Clematis cirrhosa

2007-01-28T02:06:00.000-08:00

Clematis napaulensis

2006-11-23T14:27:00.000-08:00

Other new additions:

'Fascination'
http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=2126

'Rooguchi'
http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=962

Wish list to add next year:
PRETTY IN BLUE 'Zopre'
http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=2087

I AM® STANISLAUS 'Stanislaus'
http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=3109

2006-11-23T08:27:00.000-08:00

Just planted up my order from Harvey's Garden Plants today.

The new additions include:

Epimedium versicolor

Epimedium leptorrhizum

More Epimediums can be found at Desirable Plants

Actea simplex atropurpurea

Libertia peregrinans
Photo from Plant Safari

2006-10-12T10:23:00.000-07:00

This is Nerine bowdenii just coming into flower in the garden now. I look forward to them every year. Though next year, I will pay more attention to companion planting. Currently there are some Anemone also in flower in this border which are a purple-ish colour - not the best foil to show off this vibrant pink! I'm thinking dark leaved Heuchera? What do you think?

2006-10-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

The project for this Winter (and Autumn tidy up isn't yet complete!) is to work on the design and cohesion of the garden. I'm getting some help from friends at this forum, Landspro.com.

We've got a thread there to help me see 'the forest through the trees', as it were. Once you see the first photo, maybe I should say 'forest through the shrubs'!

2006-08-04T21:52:00.000-07:00

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2006-07-28T12:01:00.000-07:00

Flowers on Hosta 'Devon Green'

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