Tag Archives: Spring garden

Fiery Garden Flowers

12 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by in Flora and Fauna, Flowers, Home and Garden, iPhoneography, Nature, Summer

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It’s been raining here for two days, providing lots of water for my just-planted garden perennials. I am a little bummed because just before the rain, some of my roses were about to burst open. Now, the partially opened buds, especially those of gorgeous and dramatic “Pink Traviata” rose, are heavy and rain-sodden. I’ll have to wait for the next round of buds to see gorgeous flowers in full-bloom.

Rose Pink Traviata (color pushed to red). © 2012 Eddins Images

And, this is the second wave of nearly-open buds to get drenched this season. Sad as this is for my flower-greedy eyes, my new plants and their roots will have a marvelously moist season, with lots of sun in-between, so that they may become well-established.

With that in mind, I can wait a little longer for my pretty flowers to show themselves in full boom.

Meanwhile, I snapped some photos the other day when the sun was bright and temperatures were really, really, high.

Bright as the sun, fiery Gallardia. © 2012 EddinsImages

With temperatures close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it was sweltering HOT in the garden… and the flowers didn’t seem to mind a bit.

Sunny, orange daylily. © 2012 EddinsImages

Focusing on the bright colors of my garden offerings, these vivid red, pink, orange and yellow flowers reflected the sun’s sweltering early-June heat.

Screaming pink and yellow “Pink Traviata” rose. © 2012 EddinsImages

Still early in the season, and with summer not yet officially here, I can only imagine what July’s searing summer temperatures will bring!

Even in shade, this lily puts-out striking green, yellow and russet heat. © 2012 EddinsImages

So, while I wait for the rain to subside, I’ll quench my desire for more sunny days with these photos of hot flowers waiting for me in the garden.

Beautiful cala lily “Captain Melrose” loves part-sun. © 2012 EddinsImages

Even in shade, their bold and intense colors, like those in cala lily “Captain Melorse” are striking and exciting to the eye.

Who doesn’t love popular golden-yellow hemerocalis or daylily “Stella de Oro?” © 2012 EddinsImages

When the rain finally subsides, one again my brilliant garden beauties will be bursting with dramatic, fiery colors. Best of all, they will be even bigger, bolder and better than before.

All photos taken in natural light with an iPhone 4. Photos © 2012 EddinsImages

Springtime Clematis Blooms

12 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by in Flora and Fauna, Flowers, Home and Garden, iPhoneography, Nature, Spring

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Clematis Nelly Moser announces Spring’s arrival in central Virginia. © 2012 EddinsImages

I have a love-hate relationship with Spring. After frigid temperatures and months of nothing but dull landscapes of brown and grey, April’s warm weather – along with peeps of fresh green outside – are always welcome. Yet, it seems that I always get excited too soon. You see, invariably, an early thaw leads to a few warm days.

Yea!

Then, it gets cold again.

Wah!

Worst of all, many plants that dare to bloom during the early thaw, ultimately, wither and die. (I’d share photos of my husband’s tomato plants, but, it is too depressing). I hate that.

Nevertheless, I’ve learned that my clematis are better timekeepers than I. They seem to get it just right, year after year. And, when clematis variety “Nelly Moser” finally opens her petals, I know that Spring weather is here to stay. My striped, candy-pink Nelly, above, is just a newbie. Planted last fall, she is actually the smallest of all my clematis plants (there’s not much more to her than what’s shown in the photo), and yet, she is still the first to bloom, along with another couple of my youngsters, white clematis “Henrii.” My Henrii group are a bit less protected than the single Nelly Moser, and they got whipped in the wind during the last few days. My first-to-appear Henrii bloom looks a little shabby. I didn’t take his photo.

Now that I think of it, the Nelly Moser is just sitting in clay soil (not good for her) and, still,  she is first to bloom! Note to self: amend soil or move Nelly…

Regardless, both Nelly Moser and Henrii are fairly common varieties and are regarded as excellent repeat bloomers, each with a relatively long flowering season. Although, I remember not being overly impressed with either variety when I was first familiar with clematis, (candy cane pink = too cute; white = boring), I’ve come around over the years. Because of their easy maintenance, excellent hardiness, great repeat blooming, potential for sizable blooms (Nelly Moser, up to 9 inches; Henrii up to 7 inches ) as well as prolific blooming – I’ve had these varieties absolutely smothered with flowers, even when I’ve totally neglected them –  each has grown to become an all-time favorite of mine. Best of all, I adore roses, and clematis make perfect rose companions.

Hummm… now that Spring has arrived, my rose buds will open soon.

I just love Spring!

Photo taken with an iPhone 4. © 2012 EddinsImages