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Peony in Nan Chase's garden
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What a whirlwind, wonderful trip I had to the 5th Annual Garden Bloggers Fling. This one was in Asheville, NC (which I fell in love with) and was my 4th fling. Each fling is fabulous and they get even better because of the people - old friends and new ones to make. I hope I have time to blog about each garden we visited separately, but in case I don't I've put together some snapshots to give you an idea of the diversity.
Before I delve into that, let me be sure to thank the esteemed team of bloggers who brought this to fruition: Christopher of Outside Clyde, Frances of Fairegarden, Lisa of Natural Gardening, Helen of Gardening with Confidence, Nan Chase, Ani, and if I missed you, just know you were appreciated!
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Christopher Mello's tonka trunk garden, West Asheville
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'Blue Pearl' poppy that Christopher Mello is developing
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Shady spot at the Burton Street Community Peace Garden
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Sunny Point Cafe kitchen garden
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The compost bin I lusted after at Sunny Point Cafe
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Tim Spira, author of Wildflowers & Plant Communities of the Southern Appalachian Mountains & Piedmont and Lisa Wagner's husband, identifying some galls while on a native plant walk at the NC Arboretum
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There was a whole lotta love at Wamboldtopia in West Asheville
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Christopher pointing out the metal tub surround at Wamboldtopia
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Peter and Jasmine Gentling's garden was so peaceful. Here Cindy, Andrea and Kelly relax amongst the tall trees.
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Gail studies the sun's path in the Gentling garden
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Another invitation to stroll at the Gentling's garden
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Moss walk at Gentling
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Hydrangea in the conservatory of the Biltmore Estate. Wish you could tell how huge the petals were!
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View from the Biltmore Estate
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Haywood Community College Gardens
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'Creation' by Christopher Carrie at his mountaintop home, Ku'ulei 'Aina
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Barbara, Andrea and Lisa on the path to Bonnie Brae, Christopher's mother's place right next door
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The view from Bonnie Brae
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White Garden Inn
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Nan Chase, author of Eat Your Garden and other books, has a beautiful tiny garden and interesting poplar bark house
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I loved visiting fellow blogger Lisa's house and garden. She has a typical gardener desk filled with seed packets, writing material, and gardening books.
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Last but not least, some of the 80+ garden bloggers. Photo courtesy of Pam Penick
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For more on gardens in Asheville, visit the Explore Asheville site.
Next year's Fling will be in San Francisco, yeehaw!
This post was written by Jean McWeeney for my blog Dig, Grow, Compost, Blog. Copyright 2012. Please contact me for permission to copy, reproduce, scrape, etc.
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Tulipa clusiana
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On the 15th of every month it's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day hosted by Carol of May Dreams Gardens. Though I may be a little late (Blogger problems), I can't pass up posting in springtime, can I? In the last week our area has exploded with blooms of all kinds. I've had my bulbs going for a while but I still have some to show off. So I'll start off with my Bulb-o-rama exhibit and then show a few other pretties blooming in the yard. Gotta love that clusiana tulip, which reliably returns each spring.
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The color of these 'Treviathian' daffs is no joke; the darkest yellow ones I've ever seen.
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'Ice Follies' daffodils in the front yard. Alas, they faded fast this year with the warm temperatures.
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'Excelsior' Spanish bluebells, Hyacinthoides hispanica- this latest purchase from Old House Gardens had huge bulbs compared to last year's purchase.
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Tulipa clusiana 'Cynthia'
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White "cemetery" iris - the ones on my little hillside are always the first iris to bloom in my yard.
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The 'Mrs. R.O. Backhouse' daffodils are interesting. According to Old House Gardens, she was known as THE pink daffodil for decades. But as you can see, she starts out with a yellowish cup (left) that matures to an apricot color (right).
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An older 'Mrs. Backhouse' - isn't she a faded beauty?
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'Thalia' daffodil
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Through the gate "sidelight" - 'Thalia' daffs and Wave petunias
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I'm so excited I finally grew some borage from seed! The flowers taste similar to cucumbers and can be used as a garnish.
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Almost forgot to show you my "Wave Purple Improved Spreading" petunia (as it was labeled).I planted this last spring and I've never fertilized them or done anything to them really. In fact I meant to cut it back a few weeks ago. Guess it was made for this mild winter.
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A new hellebore for me, 'HGC Joker' has upright blooms.
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'Hinckley's' columbine I think. I bought it in Texas (where Hinckley's is common) last year but it had no label.
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Lanai Bright Pink verbena with blooming rosemary and candytuft in the background.
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Not blooms exactly but if you squeeze your eyes almost shut they could look like blooms! One of my latest fun projects.
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I really need to stop now! Hop on over to Carol's blog to see other GBBD contributors!
This post was written by Jean McWeeney for my blog Dig, Grow, Compost, Blog. Copyright 2012. Please contact me for permission to copy, reproduce, scrape, etc.
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'Grand Primo' Narcissus tazetta (I think)
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Is this the start of spring? It's been unseasonably mild here, a far cry from last winter, and some of the bulbs are blooming much earlier this year. I dug up these narcissus, which I think are 'Grand Primo', the first week in March last year while they were in bloom. It was part of my daffodil rescue. But they're blooming already. I really like these bulbs - very robust leaves and stems and extremely fragrant (maybe too fragrant!). Plus they're just plain pretty.
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Southern grape hyacinth, Muscari neglectum
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Last year the grape hyacinth were just starting to open about a week later. So they seem on track. If I were to buy more grape hyacinth bulbs, I think I'd buy some larger cultivars. These are very teeny.
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'Gravetye Giant' summer snowflake, Leucojum aestivum
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These 'Gravetye Giant' snowflakes are new for me this year. Last year I had the smaller summer snowflakes blooming about a month later. The smaller ones have yet to bloom so I don't know if it's a cultivar difference or not. I do like the bigger blooms on these!
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Flowering quince
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The flowering quince is starting to open, probably a week or so earlier than last year. I'd say it's got a good month of blooming left though.
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'Peggy Clarke' flowering apricot, Prunus mume
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My new baby is blooming! I planted my 'Peggy Clarke' flowering apricot last January and it's covered in blooms and bees now! I'm so glad there are some bloomers for my pollinator friends.
Are you starting to see signs of spring earlier than last year? What's blooming for you?
This post was written by Jean McWeeney for my blog Dig, Grow, Compost, Blog. Copyright 2012. Please contact me for permission to copy, reproduce, scrape, etc.
