Believe-it-or-not.

This 'photograph' was done in the scanner! I read about this and forgot it then sometime later came across another mention, so I had to try it.

Unbelievable! Japanese anemone taken last fall. If you don't own a camera have some fun this way. 

The front door. Summer 2006.

Don't you love the Heucheras?
So do the weevil babies. This black one looked absolutely fine till a few days ago when there was the top of it laying on the step. I lost count of the little white commas I had to squash. 

Looking out through the courtyard.

Here is another aspect! December 2006. 

Courtyard; summer 2006

Myrtle was given to me about 5 inches tall, look at it now, it is taking over the place. The little white puffs are extraordinary followed by dark purple-blue berries. The canna makes oustanding foliage.

 

Clematis viticella purpurea plena elegans

There's that is a mouthful but she is worth it. ( the clematis is the Queen of Climbers so therefore 'she' it is.)

Every year there is plenty of bloom. The colour is a little diffident and a stranger could pass it by. It should have a light background, mine has a greengage plum through which she scrambles. 

Dianthus

There are many named varieties of pinks on the market and you can't beat them for the dry sunny place. Here it is in one of the quadrants of the Rondele, I have at least one in each of the four quadrants along with a peaony, siberian iris and of course penstamon and as many others I can squeeze in. 

Campanula persicifolia 'Chettle's Charm'

And charm it does, the big patch is positively thrilling. It is quite happy increasing in size.

I still have the old one which seeds liberally around but it pulls out quite easily when it starts to bloom where you don't want it. 

Oriental poppy.

Again with no name but quite a history. I bought a little pot of
Papaver orientale (cheap)and when IT bloomed it turned out to be THEM. There was this pale pink, a deeper shade, and a white with a pink edge. Who could ask for anything more. 

Paeony

A lovely white bought un-named in a packet. To match the centre the magenta Geranium psilostemon snuggles up between the blooms.

We are in the quadrants now of the rondele, with mainly shades of pink and some whites. In this case over head is Rosa Moonlight. 

Anthemis 'Hollandaise Sauce'

A favourite long lasting daisy in the yellow border across from the yellow and blue pairing below. 

Colour combinations.

The deep blue of Baptisia australis with the soft pale yellow of Digitalis grandiflora is a lovely combination. The verticals are set off with the flattish heads of the white Lychnis. There are no Fiery- Crosses in my garden only the other form in pale salmon. 

Arisaema candidissimum

Here is the flower, interesting in its stripes, coming up just ahead of the leaves, very smart of them, you wouldn't see them if they waited. 

Arisaema candidissimum

From China. I had to check on the spelling! Also it says leaves are 9 to 12 inches, yes that is right! This is a gorgeous plant, the  original a little offset from a dear friend who had paid a lot of money for hers. I have kept it potted where it multiplies well and have given some away myself now.

This pic may look silly but it was just to show you the size. 

Convallaria majalis variegata

You will find lots of leaves in my garden. This lily of the valley doesn't really need to put out blossoms but it does anyway. I keep this is a large shallow pot as I'm afraid of losing it in the hurly burly of the masses. 

Is there room for one more?

This garden shown in late fall is now known as the Birdbath Garden. Very original!

The house-wall-border seen before in yellow and chartrese and greens, then the Red Border, third side is the white-mauve-blue bed and lastly, backed by the fence giving protection and quick shelter for the bathers, is, do I need to say? The bathers are known as American robins, in my bird bath they are Canadians! Please ignore the nasty fellow on the far side, I have to. 

Senecio paladon ssp.subglaber

Here is a 'knock your socks off' plant.

I am afraid I have lost it! While working in this area last fall this seemed to be just lying rotted around the root. Have to wait and see. This photo is just the tip of the iceberg. It is so fine it doesn't interfere with other things. 

'Sea Shadows'

Here is the iris in the forground with Papaver orientale 'Patty's Plum' and behind the much admired purple-leaved grape.

Patty is fairly new. 

Iris Siberica 'Sea Shadows'

I just love this iris, bought as an unknown quantity in a nearly dried-up package. Every year the plant increases in size and quantity of bloom. Must give you a distant view. 

Papaver orientale 'Wedding Day'

These white poppys are too similar for me to diffrentiate between them in photos. There is the old 'Perry's White' and the fairly new 'Choir Boy'. 

Peony.

Leaving the red border and turning right in the square are a large clump of un-named single peonies in what is largely a white and blue-to mauve area.

The flower is surrounded by the foliage of a geranium that grows up and around and seeds not too abundantly, dainty white flowers. G. clarkei 'Kashmir white'? 

Red Parrots!

Slipping back to last spring here are some tulips in the Red Border. 

The Red Border!

Every picture tells a story!
The Red Border in December 2006. 

Chestnut sided Chickadee.

A chickadee alit on the rose branch hanging over the kitchen window and as I watched he picked out a little green caterpiller and swallowed it.

December 2006. 

Rosa 'Olympiad'

A cutting from roses at my son's wedding. It is another member of the Red border. It is here to show that I do grow the occasional hybrid. Also it seems something else likes it to. NO spraying in this garden but for Safer's for aphids. 

Acer 'Ozarkazuki'

This is autum in the red border. I bought this maple many, many years ago and it survived two moves when I brought it with me. You can more or less look it in the eye. Perhaps it is taller in other gardens. It is a nice red shade but goes to ravishing red, in the fall.