Country Dancer opened today (at least partially!). I planted this shorter, rambling rose last year, and was amazed at the amount of bloom I had the first year. Hoping for similar results this year.
William Baffin this morning. I would guess maybe half of the buds are open now. I wish I could get a super great photo to show you. It is unbelieveable how many blooms this very large rosebush has on it. (Click on photo to see a little better)
Another peony opened today. Pretty sure this one is called Gay Paree. This little beauty is having trouble getting a hold in the garden, but each year is a little better. I think the center is very fun.
Here's my green urn by the back door (street side) planted out. It will look better as all of this starts filling in, of course. Fiesta "Salsa" double impatiens and some vine that has purple or white flowers on it. I put one of each in this urn. The window boxes on the fence have only white. And it doesn't show in this photo, but there is a purple wave petunia on the side where the urn gets some late afternoon sun.
Goat's beard. I really like this plant. It's pretty large. I grow it in shade so mine is about 3 1/2 feet tall - but if you grow it in the sun, it will get up to 6 feet or more. There are different varieties - I have the full-sized one. It blooms early with astilbe-like white plumes. I have it planted by the fairy under the river birch clump - and it adds a bit of brightness to the area when it's blooming.
This bird house is in the garden by the porch. I think the holes are too big for wrens, but last year they filled it with sticks (probably as a decoy). This year someone just stacked a bunch of sticks in front of the opening - too funny. I'm thinking this bird keeps house like I do in the summer!
These next 3 photos are for Tracy (but feel free to look at them if you like - she won't mind!). They are Capt. Sam Holland in various stages. I think these were taken the third year I had this gorgeous rose. I loved the color - the climbing habit - the amount of bloom. If memory serves me right, it had a long bloom time and did some lighter repeat blooming throughout the summer. As soon as I can figure out where to put one, I'm definitely getting this rose again. (It croaked when I had to move it when they came to replace the retaining wall. My fault - it was in full bloom, and I couldn't bear to cut it back. Also it had a zillion very long roots - so it may not have made it anyway.)
Wasn't it a gorgeous backdrop for the fountain??? Beautiful.
