Garden Notes with Deb: Sweet Spring Cuttings

 

Dear friends, 

How's your garden growing? All of a sudden I turned around and my peonies were in bloom!

I have the scented gardenia variety and I look so forward to them every year. I used to leave them on the bush outside so when I walked by I would get a sweet whiff of that beautiful scent. NO MORE!

Sometimes the rain would weigh the delicate blossoms down and I would find them laying on the ground. 

Now I cut them as the first sign of opening ( or a little later)  and arrange them to enjoy inside.

 

 I don't grow enough to make them part of my flower farm stock but they are perfect for making a few sweet spring arrangements. 

They are lovely on their own, but I like to add other elements for contrast and interest. For the longest stems possible, cut from the top of the crown of the plant. That way you'll have as much length as you need for small, medium, and large jars, vases, pitchers, etc.

These cuttings are from my established beds and borders.

The additional use of chive blossoms, catmint and Russian sage made for a heady herbal aroma!

The house smells wonderful! If you don't have any Gardenia Peony in your garden yet... You MUST get some!

My Ninebark shrub is just beginning to put on its tiny white blossoms. I added this shrub ( a native to New England) to our landscape garden two years ago and it's a beautiful performer;not to mention the color of the foliage is beautiful all season long and a few cuttings tucked into an autumn arrangement are right at home with the deep rich colors of the season.

All of the seedlings, tubers and corms are coming up in the raised beds. See those tiny green sprouts reaching for the sun? Such and exciting time of year for a backyard flower farmer. 

There's lots left to do here to get ready for the Farmers Market but I'm looking forward to it!
I'll be back to share next Wednesday in Garden Notes with Deb...

My Top 5 Autumn Bloomers

Knock Out Rose

I know, I know... You were expecting to see images of burnt orange pumpkins, dried berries and plumes and some lovely garden mums. After all aren't those Autumn bloomers too?

Of course they are, but I'm talking about different bloomers today. The one's that bring you joy in the garden right up until the first frost. I know many rose purists don't appreciate the new varieties of roses, especially the Knock Out Rose. But I look at it this way. Knock Out Roses have earned a place in Dandelion House Gardens because of what they are not what they aren't. These beautiful landscape roses are hardy, disease resistant, and add long lasting color to your garden. Plus, they have a delicate rose scent to boot! I am a FAN!

Lemon Queen

I love the Lemon Queen sunflower. These beauties grow up to 8 feet tall starting in early September all the way until the first frost. Plant them next to ornamental grasses if you enjoy a natural effect in your garden. They make lovely loose fall arrangement's too! 

Autumn Sedum Joy adds a beautiful pinky plumb richness and texture to the late summer garden

and looks right at home planted next to ornamental grasses in bloom.

 

Ornamental grasses are so beautiful when their feathery plumes come into bloom.They sparkle in the afternoon sunlight and wave gently in the breeze.

It seems almost sinful that flowers this beautiful are still going strong so late in the season. That's the simple beauty of growing dahlias. They are the perfect late bloomers in any garden. Whether in a pot on your patio or deck, a raised bed or a field.

Nothing can compare to the beauty of the dahlia in your late summer garden.

Look, even the bee's are still storing up on pollen! 

  What are YOUR favorite autumn bloomers?