Everyone is posting such nice pictures of their gardens, I just had to get in on the act too. I hope you all enjoy them. --Ginny
Here's one of my hardy cactus - bought unnamed, but survives just fine in zone 5b.
Some pics of my gardens
Here's a closeup of its flower.
Pacific Giant Delphinium and Hollyhocks about 5 or 6 weeks ago.
Actually, that was probably more like 2 months ago. So is this one of my vegetable and herb gardens.
Same time period...mixed garden at back of house.
Ginny, nice to see a flower on a cactus, and the hollyhocks are beautiful. Did you wait for the squirrel to enter the yard before you took the picture? LOL
3/4 done brightening a dark corner 2 months ago. Have since added black mulch to soften lines of dry streambed, and of course the plants have gotten much bigger.
Actually, I never even noticed the squirrel in the picture before, but I'll bet I know who she is. Our "momma" squirrel, who had 3 little black younguns and is tame enough to take peanuts out of our hands.
Next pic, taken this morning, at the back of our garage.
All the rest of these pics are from this morning. Sunflowers reaching for the sky.
Sunflower closeup..#1
#2, complete with bee.
#3 - the colours are not faded old blooms, these are really the colours.
#4 - lots of lemon yellow sunflowers, and more bees.
Silver Cup Lavatera (and another sunflower).
Another mixed garden at the back of the house.
An unknown "Hot Pepper" in my vegetable garden. Can anyone tell me what it is?
Okra still yielding up its goods as strong as ever.
Dahlia closeup.
Last one. Here's what grows under the sunflowers this year.
Thank you very much. You should see that cactus when the snow melts in the spring. It's all withered and flopped over - it looks like a balloon someone has let all the air out of. Each year I'm sure that this time it's really dead, and then gradually it starts to plump up and sit up straighter until finally it's just as good as new! Until I (finally) went on a trip to Point Pelee about 3 years ago I would have laughed at anyone who tried to tell me that we have a native cactus in southwestern ontario. I saw them for myself growing wild though, so I couldn't do anything but get a hardy cactus for myself of course LOL. I don't know if mine is exactly the same kind, and I suspect I'm really pushing its zone, but so far so good. --Ginny
Ginny
I love your sunflowers they look like one big group of smiles!
It amazes me how cheerful flowers can brighten your day. I thought the close up of the yellow sunflower could be put on a card or poster.
The cactus would be great here too. Someone has said there are some native to my zone now that I have seen yours I will hunt a bit harder for mine.
Ann
Thanks Ann. Wow - a cactus native to zone 3? I sure hope you find it! --Ginny
Great pics, Ginny. Thanks for sharing them. I also was intrigued by the hardy cactus and its bloom.
Ann in Ottawa
Thanks Ann. It actually had three blooms on it this year, and grew four new pads as well. It must like its new home :-) --Ginny
I love your sunflowers Ginny. The closeup pictures are beautiful. I also really like the cactus. I bought a native cactus several years ago but it hasn't done very well at all.
Sandy
Just thought I would let everyone know. The "unknown hot pepper" has been identified by zarcanat in the identification forum as Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed). I believe, based on flower colour, that it is the 'Ice Ballet' cultivar. This is definitely my plant and, far from being edible, is actually poisonous if eaten. Now I know why we suddenly had so many Monarch butterflies on our property this year! Still a keeper, even if I can't eat it.
--Ginny
echoes
Sep 12, 2005
Very nice yard Ginny. Love the hollyhocks and delphs too. You have a great variety of plants. One of my neighbors had been growing hardy cactus here for years.
I'll have some Asclepias incarnata 'Soulmate' seeds soon if you or anyone wants the pink ones.
I would love to have some of the pink Asclepias incarnata 'Soulmate'. If you'll clue me in as to how and when I should collect the seeds from my 'Ice Ballet' I would be more than willing to trade. Or, if you don't want any of those I can do a SASE. Just let me know! Thank you very much for the offer. --Ginny
Ginny great pictures!! I saw a passiflora putting out buds but noooooooooo squirrel! Nooooooo not a finding game again.....lol! This year my cactus didn't bloom it got to shaded by some plants.
Christine if you want a piece of a hardy cactus, DGmail me.
:) Donna
echoes
Sep 13, 2005
Just dmail me your address Ginny. I have Ice Ballet too.
Sandy, if you look at the picture of my cactus you'll notice that I actually have it planted in a planter that is sitting on the dirt and has mulch up the sides for about 1 1/2 inches. Yeah, I know the bottom of the planter is probably rusting out, but that's okay. I don't ever plan to move it. What it does do for my perky little guy is give it perfect drainage and prevents any buildup of moisture in the top inch of soil at all, no matter how much rain we get or how often I have to water all the other plants in that garden during a drought. Maybe a similar setup might help your cactus.
Donna, you did indeed see a passiflora with tons of buds on it. This plant has done phenomenally well for me. It was a gift to me this year that came by way of someone doing missionary work in Mexico. Unfortunately, I don't think it's the hardy one, but....my SIL's parents own a nursery, and when I offered to give it to her at the end of the season so the poor thing won't die she said she would give it to her parents to put in the greenhouse and just make sure I got a new one back next year. Sounds like a win-win situation to me :-)
Here's a squirrel hint: It's black, it's actually in my neighbour's backyard and the picture was taken a couple of months ago LOL. --Ginny
I see it now, Ginny.....lol!!!
:) Donna
echoes, I've dmailed my info to you. Since you already have Ice Ballet, maybe I can gather some other kinds of seed that you (or anyone else here) might be interested in. Some I can think of off the top of my head:
o some of those sunflowers in different colours (unknown if they will come true)
o echinacea purpurea
o bee balm (don't know the latin, the plant was a gift last fall)
o Lavatera 'Silver Cup'
o 'Black Watchman' Hollyhock (I think the seed pods are still intact)
Unfortunately, I never thought to gather seed from my delphinium or the ruffled edge hollyhocks growing next to them. I wasn't thinking about trading anything when I cut them back this year. I promise I'll do better next season :-)
Disclaimer: I will send any of these that I can gather to anyone who wants them, but unless you want to wait for me to perform a germination test I can't say for sure that they will sprout for you.
--Ginny
echoes
Sep 14, 2005
Good disclaimer Ginny. I wouldn't worry. I have some darker Lavatera that would contrast nicely with that Silver Cup. Other than that my seed box is pretty full and needs a good cleaning out. Most of the seeds I'm collecting are just in case someone wants them. Can't stand to see them all wasted. Plus I never got around to cutting back when I should have. I'll have seed from most of the annuals I grew this year, as well as last years leftovers. There may be several you would like to try. I would like some of your Silver Cup please. dmail coming your way.
Here is Ruby Regis, behind the Cosmos
Ginny, I like your 'faded' sunflower. What's her name. Sure would like to try this one.
Nice collection of pictures.
Joan
I have no idea what her name is Joan. She came in a pkg simply labelled "Mixed". Want me to put you down for some of the seeds from this one when I harvest? This is the first year I've grown this one so I don't know if they'll come true from collected seed.
Thanks Ginny, that would be nice.
Much appreciated . . .
Joan
LOL.......was just reading the conversation regarding the prickly devils that grow in zone 3. They are a very hardy and nasty bunch (coming from a peep that has landed on them at least once or twice;).
Wonderful flower pics Ginny and I esp love the sunny dahlias growing beside your garage. Ü