flowers

Thinking Outside of the Window Box

/ The Bent Trowel / 6 Comments

Good Morning!

It will be a short and sweet post today, as I will be heading out of town for the weekend. It’s going to be a beautiful, sunny weekend for us, though I wish we would get some more rain. Western New York is “abnormally dry”. Our lawn is brown!

And because we have had so little rain, we need to water everything– most importantly, container plants– window boxes. ( That was a pretty good segue, I think!)

Of course, this leads me into the subject of the post– window boxes. For the first time, I received Proven Winners gardeners idea book for some ideas on how to change things up in my window boxes.

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I was not let down– I pretty much wanted to copy two different window box ideas in the book, but couldn’t find some of the flowers– they were sold out!

So, I improvised. And it was great anyway!

*Do not be afraid to try different combinations of plants for your window boxes.*

We are so used to going to our local nursery and getting the same things — geraniums, marigolds, creeping jenny, spikes (don’t worry, I purchased the last two anyway because I love them). And if you like those plants, there is no need to change them! We as gardeners tend not to look beyond the same, familiar flowers just by habit. We don’t look past the “norm” and see all the great, different plants you can put in your window boxes!

That’s why I love this idea book from Proven Winners. It gave me insight on plants I would never think of putting in a window box.

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My window boxes for the front of my house contain:

L to R: Coleus (Alligator Tears), Chenile (the red fuzzy plant), Sweet potato vine (yellow leaves) and capped off with another Coleus.

The red fuzzy plant called Chenile I actually saw at the Farmer’s Market in a basket. I was browsing the nursery a month later and found them in packs. I just HAD to add that. So different!

I have discovered the great shade/part sun annual Coleus this year. There are so many varieties at your local nursery. I recommend them to anyone with lots of shady spots in your landscape!

The window box I have on my daughter’s swing set contains:

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Bottom to Top: Coleus (Kong Red); Sweet Alyssum ( tiny purple flowers); Black Sweet Potato Vine. I have each of these plants in this particular box as every other. 

So please, take a look at some different flowers for your window boxes if you haven’t already done so. It’s amazing the beautiful combinations you can make it look beyond your typical flowers!

 

 

 

The Great Vase Brigade

/ The Bent Trowel / 6 Comments

Good Morning, everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic holiday weekend. I know I did. It was good to relax and get away for a couple of days. We have been doing so much work on our house, along with just being busy in general! It’s hard to relax when you know something has to be done. Even getting away to a hotel or somewhere for one night forces you to relax.

Now that the holiday is behind us, it’s time to get back to work!

When you think about putting flowers in a vase, what are some of the first flowers that come in to mind for you? Roses? Carnations? Daffodils? Yes! And they are all great flowers! I personally love fresh cut flowers around the house in the dead of winter. It makes things so cheery and bright!

Well, how about thinking outside of the box when it comes to flowers in your vase?

Rule #1 – Carry a pair of small clippers with you at all times. You never know when you will find the most perfect branch of blossoms, or grass! I have a pair of Fiskars I bought especially to keep in my car so when I am driving by a wooded area of road, (that is NOT anybody’s property), I can pull over quick and snip a few.

Rule #2 – Always have at least two vases full of your finds around your house. The more, the merrier! Don’t be afraid to be creative!

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We have a good mix here. L to R: Hydrangeas, Grass, Iris’

Above are three vases full of things that really caught my eye.

Vase #1– Hydrangeas — I bought these at the supermarket. I like cutting seasonal flowers, but unfortunately we don’t have these in bloom yet, so I just purchased them!

Vase #2 — Grass — I saw this grass on the side of the canal bike path. It looks a lot like wheat to me! I was so intriguing, I just had to cut a few stems. So simple and beautiful.

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Vase #3 – Iris

The yellow iris’ are literally right from the canal, next to the fuzzy cattails. I couldn’t help myself and cut a few stems. I liked that they were something you couldn’t find in a flower shop.

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Another great option for a vase are Bachelor’s Buttons. These babies grow like crazy! I cut some for a couple of vases. They last forever!

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Vase #4 – Lilacs. I just love them, so they have to make a cameo.

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So, I hope this post gives you some ideas on being creative when it comes to the vase. Anything can go if you like it!

One more pic, totally unrelated to vases, only because it’s my favorite landscape to photograph:

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Have a great rest of the weekend!

 

 

 

A Spring Showcase

/ The Bent Trowel / 4 Comments

Warm weather, bring it on! We are finally getting nice, mild temperatures in Western New York! I am happy to report that a good portion of my bulbs I planted last year are coming up very well! It’s been really great to see everything in bloom. For a long time, I didn’t have anything come up for me in the Spring, only because nothing was planted! I took a lot of time in the fall to plant over 200 bulbs, which included everything from daffodils to alliums — one of my favorite spring flowers. I have a post in the works for why you should plant them. I have planted many different varieties that will be coming up at different times of the growing season. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of planting different types of plants, shrubs, trees, etc. that come up at different times of the year. Making a show for your landscape last year round is a long and slow process. Enjoy the process and remember that your hard work will not go unnoticed.

I have a few pictures of my spring show that’s going on right now. Please hop on over to my instagram feed to see more of my spring flower photos.Instagram is one of the easiest ways for me to post all of my pictures on my many outdoor excursions.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. In between all the BBQs and fun, make sure to take a moment to remember and appreciate those who have fought and are fighting for our freedom every day.

Enjoy.

 

Consider This: Hellebores

/ The Bent Trowel / 6 Comments

Happy April! It has been a busy last few weeks– between Easter and my daughter’s 5th birthday, there hasn’t been a dull moment.

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to do too much outside because of this crazy weather. Easter weekend was 72 degrees, and now it’s snowing and blowing! With the weather the way it is, this is the perfect time to add to the “Consider This” series I started at the beginning of the year. I think it is important to introduce and learn a little bit about the different plants you can put in your garden.

Spring is my new favorite season. I have always said that fall was, but my thought pattern has changed. This year, especially, since my winter was not one of the easiest, and I am not talking about the weather this time. I have really been anxious for new life, growth and sunshine. Lots of time outside. While the weather goes up and down, it’s still a little too drab for me outside, though signs of life are popping up a little more now than a couple of weeks ago.

I have been loving all the different floral bouquets that have been at my local grocery store. I usually end up picking up a bunch of tulips every year, but this year, I have been picking up every different flower that has been available!

I picked up calla lilies for my mother and mother-in-law for Easter (yes, and my daughter thought we should have one ourselves), a couple of mixed spring bouquets, and my pussy willows of course.

To my surprise, there was a potted flower at the store that also was something I have been reading a lot about this year. They are called Hellebores.

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Hellebores have petal-like “sepals” that hold nectar.

It seems to be that Hellebores are the “It” plant of the 2016 growing season. Everywhere you turn around, there has been an article about them, and I can understand why. They are beautiful flowers with lovely delicate blooms.

Here are some things you need to know about Hellebores:

  • They are also referred to as “winter rose”, “Christmas rose”, “Lenten rose”.
  • They grow is zones 5a – 8b.
  • They bloom in late winter, early spring, usually around Lent.

This plant is an excellent addition to your garden because:

  • It starts blooming in late winter, early spring. An important step in the direction of having an all-season garden!
  • They are hardy. Despite their delicate look, they can handle whatever comes their way!

Did you buy one in your local grocery store like I did? You can put it in the ground!

  • Wait until the threat of frost is gone in your area of the world. You can plant them at the beginning of your growing season.

Consider Hellebores for your landscape. It’s one of the few plants that gives some life to the end of winter and that drab time in early spring before everything starts blossoming. You will be glad you did!

A Natural Pause

/ The Bent Trowel / 2 Comments

While the winds and rain swirl around us, I am hunkered down inside trying to get all of my plants that I had outdoors all summer ready for hibernation. I am also drying the lone sunflower head that made it this year through some pretty massive summer storms. I love the the uniform pattern of seeds still in the flower! Enjoy.

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The Beauty of a Fading Fall Garden

/ The Bent Trowel / 1 Comment

Have I told you how much I love fall?? Haha, yes, I have mentioned it before, and for good reason. The transitional season that will be ushering us into winter is so spectacular in its own right, with the leaves on the trees turning vibrant colors, you can’t help but be in awe of such beauty.

All spring and summer we takes hundreds of pictures of our gardens, posting them on every social media outlet we can, and blogging about them. But, do we ever think about taking pictures of our gardens as they wind down? I was doing some last-minute yard work this weekend — putting away my garden decor for the season, and I couldn’t help but notice the beauty that surrounded me, despite the imminent ending to another growing season.

So, here is a collage of pictures from the garden as it nears its end. I hope you take a look at yours and feel the same way too!

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Fall for Some Autumn-Blooming Plants!

/ The Bent Trowel / 2 Comments

I can’t believe this is the last weekend in August! Actually, I can, because fall is in the air. The past week or so, the mornings and nights have been much cooler. We are now in Indian Summer, and everybody’s gardens are winding down– veggies are being harvested, flowers are exhausting themselves. I look at pictures of my gardens in the early half of summer, and I’m sad to think it’s almost over. I can’t be too sad though– I do have to remember that I have a few fall-blooming plants that will keep that waning summer spark alive for just a little longer. I am constantly striving for a four season garden!

Move over, mums and asters, there are a bunch of great plants for fall interest!!!

So, what are some fall blooming plants and flowers you should consider for your landscape?

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Toad Lily (above) – this is a beautiful orchid-like flower that blooms in later summer to early fall. I had been on the hunt for these and was lucky enough to find two different types. This will definitely give me something to swoon over for the fall season!

Beautyberry — I LOVE this plant. I was so happy when I found it. This plant has these beautiful purple berries that develop during the fall. The berries on my plant have already started to turn purple! This is a great accent plant for any landscape!

If there is one plant you should have for fall color, the beautyberry is it!

If there is one plant you should have for fall color, the beautyberry is it!

Morning Glory- this beautiful annual vine is just about ready to bloom for me. They tend to bloom in late summer to early fall. I can’t wait to see this beauty.

**Something to consider when it comes to a four season garden is using then same “venue” for climbing plants such as the Morning Glory. Now that my Clematis has exhausted itself, I planted Morning Glory seeds behind the trellis I had for it. I now have a Clematis for the summer and a Morning Glory for the fall– I will always have a visual interest in that spot.

As one vine dies away for the season, another one is ready to bloom!

As one vine dies away for the season, another one is ready to bloom!

Japanese Maple – I own two different types of these trees, and the one thing you can count on for this tree is great fall foliage. If you have a small yard like me, These trees are the way to go! I am so happy my little Crimson Queen Japanese Maple has leaves again! It was fried in the sun when construction started on my house.

My little fried Japanese Maple came back to life with beautiful red leaves!

My little fried Japanese Maple came back to life with beautiful red leaves!

Other trees and plants to consider for a great fall show:

  • Monkshood — beautiful, showy blooms, but a very poisonous plant. I am looking into purchasing one of these if I can find it!
  • Oak-leafed Hydrangea — the hydrangea is a beautiful plant to begin with, but add some beautiful leaves that turn a bright orange during the fall, and you have showstopper as part of your “yard-scape”.
  • Japanese Anemone/Fall-Blooming Anemones — it may take a year or two for these plants to get established, but when they do, it will be worth it! They love part sun and will become a 12-inch ground cover.
  • Sugar Maple — These big shade trees have the most beautiful colors.

Don’t Forget:

  • Goldenrod– you aren’t allergic to this. You are allergic to the ragweed that happens to come out at this time, but does not flower.
  • Joe Pye Weed
  • Sneezeweed
  • Sedum— I have the Autumn Joy Sedum and the unique texture of this adds a different element to your garden.

There are many more fall blooming plants out there that I have listed, or don’t even know exist, but what every single one of them will do for you is bring you great joy right up to winter!

A Natural Pause

/ The Bent Trowel / 5 Comments

It’s been quite a while since I last posted. I was out-of-town last week— my little brother got married, so that was our “vacation” for the year. So, while I will post about the wedding venue in a later post, I thought I would share some great pictures of my garden nearing the end of summer. Enjoy.

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