Monday, August 29, 2011

Hosta Guacamole- AHS Hosta of the Year 2004

 HOSTA GUACAMOLE - 2004 AHS HOSTA OF THE YEAR

love this hosta, has grown well since spring, nice leaf substance and the fragrant sweet flower. it will grow to be a large plant.

  
JULY 2011 

AUGUST 2011


Sunday, August 28, 2011

Hosta in Pots - Pauls Glory, Praying Hands, Salute

These are my hosta that will probably be overwintered in their lovely pots. :) Hope they will survive Ottawa winters.

hosta "praying hands" 
AHS Hosta of the Year 2011
Hosta Praying Hands is oddly upright, I added vinca majors and heuchera-caramel. Hopefully, next year there will be some growth. I notice new shots coming up. I got this plant from Artistic Landscape on 2079 Bank Place,Ottawa ON. K1V 8A8.

Hosta - salute
Another upright Vase Shape Hosta

For some reason, this one did not grow any better in the ground. Few weeks ago, I dug it and planted into the pot with Heuchera-Palace Purple as its companion. So far, it sends flower as late in August. This flower scape came out about August 15, 2011.
I got this plant from Artistic Landscape on 2079 Bank Place,Ottawa ON. K1V 8A8.

Hosta - Pauls Glory
AHS Hosta of the Year 1999

This one I ordered from Dawn: www.gardensplus.ca in Peteborough. Showing some stability, but did not grow yet. I hope this one will survive harsh winters in Ottawa City.


Saturday, August 27, 2011

Pink Liliums in Blooms

It was raining and cold past few days and this Lilium made it. Looking around, this may be my last one for the seaon.


Friday, August 26, 2011

Hosta - Gold Edger

 HOSTA GOLD EDGER 
(Aden 1978)

Small gold heart-shaped leaves. mature mound is about 12 " wide and 8 " high.

This small border hosta seems to grow, and keep growing. Nice golden leaves all through the season.








Sunday, August 21, 2011

Late Blooming Liliums, Gardeners Delight!

here are some more of my late blooming liliums:)
the rain just mist them and  oh...so lovely. 


This one looks like it is trying so hard, tiny lilium but produces some blooms. This plant deserves a reward of composted manure!



Rain and This is it! Fall and the Dramatic Changing of Colors








HARVEST OF THE DAY - BUTTERNUT SQUASH





The wind knock out my squash from the stroller aka squash trellis.

Well, I peeled the squash, and cook em for lunch, and yummy!
ginger, garlic, salt & pepper, boiled the squash until soft, then add some coconut milk. Asian style soup that is yummy on your tummy, and home grown too.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

HEUCHERA-MIRACLE (Coral Bells) Shade Loving Perennial

 SHADE LOVING PERENNIAL -
 HEUCHERA  - MIRACLE
Common Name: Coral Bells

Went to Home Depot today, and they got 1L pots of Heuchera - Miracle. It looks lush, and I bought one to add to my collection.Another shade loving perennial to go with my Hosta. :)

The leaves were lush lime green, but the tag has fushia color with green border. So, I'm excited for fall, hope this Heuch show a display.

from: perennials.com description:


This European hybrid forms a mound of changing colour, the lobed leaves are green in summer but brick-red with chartreuse-gold edges during the cooler weather months. Taller sprays of pink flowers appear in mid to late summer. Sturdy in habit, nice for borders, containers or in the rock garden. Remove any winter-burned leaves in the spring, otherwise no pruning is required. Developed in France by plant breeder Thierry Delabroye, using Heuchera villosa in his breeding lines. USPPP: unlicensed propagation prohibited.





Heuchera Miracle - changing to a miraculous ugly color. Taken Sept 16, 2011 by my Blackberry.


heuchera miracle taken Friday Sept 16, 2011

Update: May 14, 2012
While I was complaining that this one look ugly in the fall, she survive my Zone 5B winter, and she came out in the spring with  very interesting coloration. Very dramatic, so I guess she is a keeper. 

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

More Lilium Blooms and Marigolds

This morning was an ordinary day, checking my garden plants with coffee on one hand. These late planted liliums were delightful, and just stunning. And some marigolds were surviving the heat.

Good thing my blackberry comes in handy.


I love what I do, and I am blessed to have the time to enjoy it. :)

Saturday, August 13, 2011

More Blooms on Asiatic Lilies, Tomatoes & Squash

It's August I can feel the cold air, and I notice the shorter days. Won't be long and then its fall. 

 late planted liliums, late blooms, ah charmer. 



small hosta kifukurin ko mame - got this from Ann early this season, and it blooms, Lovely!


Hosta Alex Summers, with new growth....really nice leaves

hosta salute with blooms - late bloomer, August 13th




 Modern Squash Trellis, BabyJogger Stroller


And Another Baby Squash just on top of the wheels,
Baby Jogger USA, not just for running!


Roma Tomatoes, Ripening!



Sunday, August 7, 2011

Groundcover: Ajuga Reptans ( Carpet Bugle) Flowering in Purple Blooms

This carpet bugle (ajuga reptans) was purchase on sale, maybe $1, almost dying in heat. Now, it grows in my front yard, and very beautiful patch just beside the petunia.





October 2011. I moved some of these plants in backyard to add to my hosta hill, and they flourish beautifully. 
October 2011: (from left to right) Back - Siberian Iris, Bergenia crassifolia, Ajuga Reptans (carpet bugle in nice shiny purple) Hosta Purple Dwarf, Hosta Wolverine, Heuchera Palace Purple, Hosta Ginko Craig, Tiarella Spring Symphony)

Plant Profile:  AJUGA Reptans (Carpet bugle) Zone 3-9 Part shade to shade
Ajuga reptans is an evergreen groundcover that can grow in the shade of large trees where grass is hard to establish. Unlike many perennials that are grown only for their flowers, ajuga is prized for its attractive, colorful foliage that looks nice all year.

    This attractive small-scale groundcover has glossy, near-black, scalloped leaves and a dense habit. The deepest foliage color is achieved when plants are sited in full sun and in cooler temperatures. From mid to late spring, short (4-6") spikes of deep blue flowers stand upright above the low, spreading foliage. The effect is stunning when planted en masse.  It also fits nicely into rock gardens and mixed container plantings. It is reported to be resistant to powdery mildew.

Blooming Lilies ( Lilium)

I bought some bags of sale Asiatic Lilies and Oriental Lilies, late and did not expect them to flower. However, they seem to produce single/double flowers.

Hibiscus Luna

 UPDATE: May 28, 2012
I thought this plant died in winter, but it looks like it came back alive. I never thought Hibiscus could survive the capital city winter - but here she is showing more shots. The whole branches turned dead, but the roots survive.
may 28, 2012. Young stems are coming out the soil - from a totally browned branch.



This plant was labeled Hibiscus Luna, my mother in law brought it as a gift.
The flowers are simply stunning.