Garden Tour Bucket List: Nanzen-ji Gardens Kyoto Japan

The world is full of so many spectacular and varied gardens. And I'd like to visit each one of them, but until I win the lottery that's not possible! However, through the wonders of YouTube, it is possible for a virtual visit. I have found so many garden tour videos, I'd like to share my Garden Tour Bucket list with Sprouts readers. Each week, I'll feature a different garden video tour on my bucket list.

Today we visit Kyoto Japan to tour the Nazenjii Temple and Gardens.

Read more about Nanzen-ji here.

Friday's Flower " Bearded Iris- Savannah Fair"

I have always loved growing iris in my garden. I mostly have purple Siberian iris in my borders, but a few years ago added this tall bearded iris, Savannah Fair. So far only one has bloomed for me, but next year the rest will bloom and put on a show.

Click here for bearded iris growing tips!

Garden Creatures: Busy Bees

So many creatures call my garden home. The bees have been busy lately, which is a good sign. It's especially nice to see honey bees.

More July Daylilies

Daylilies are everywhere in July. Here are some varieties I saw on my travels this week. I just might add these varieties to my own garden someday.

 

Here's a good video from First Class Gardens on how to grow daylilies from seeds. Very informative!

 

Garden Tour Bucket List: Umpherston Sinkhole Garden in Mount Gambier, Australia

The world is full of so many spectacular and varied gardens. And I'd like to visit each one of them, but until I win the lottery that's not possible! However, through the wonders of YouTube, it is possible for a virtual visit. I have found so many garden tour videos, I'd like to share my Garden Tour Bucket list with Sprouts readers. Each week, I'll feature a different garden video tour on my bucket list.

Today we visit the Umpherston Sinkhole Garden in Mount Gambier, Australia. If you are a hydrangea fancier, you will love this one!

Friday's Flower "Lupinus"

I love lupines. They are easy to grow and showy. The bees and butterflies love them. And they seed in naturally. Consider adding these to your perennial border or cottage garden!
To learn more about "Lupinus" click here.

If you have children (or even if you don't) do check out the picture book "Miss Rumphius" by Barbara Cooney from your local library. It's about the Lupine lady and one of my favorites!

Day Lilies in July

These are some of the day lilies blooming in July. I don't know the official names of these, so any reader who does, please leave a comment to let me know.

 

 

 

 

Herbs: Gigantic Chive Patch

 

This is my Dad's huge patch of chive in bloom.

I have never seen so many chives in one spot and the purple flowers made such a pretty sight.

The bees love them!

It may not show in the photos, but the patch must be three to four feet in diameter.

Anyone know any good uses for chives? I might try drying some to use in the winter.

Garden Tour Bucket List: The Lost Gardens of Heligan Cornwall

The world is full of so many spectacular and varied gardens. And I'd like to visit each one of them, but until I win the lottery that's not possible! However, through the wonders of YouTube, it is possible for a virtual visit. I have found so many garden tour videos, I'd like to share my Garden Tour Bucket list with Sprouts readers. Each week, I'll feature a different garden video tour on my bucket list.

Today, we visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall, England. Be sure to keep your eyes open for the Mud Maid, one of the earthen sculptures in the gardens.

Read about the history and restoration of the Lost Gardens on their website here.

Friday's Flower "Lady's Slipper"

This is the beautiful Lady's Slipper. My daughter and I saw two of these orchids while hiking in the Maine woods. To read more about this flower, click here.

Cottage Garden In July

The pastel pallet of the spring cottage garden has faded to the hot colors of summer.

Orange and yellow daylilies, red bee balm, yellow loosestrife have replaced the iris, geraniums and lupine.

The daisy flea bane is still blooming and provides a nice backdrop to the other flowers no matter the pallet.

The exception to summer's hot colors, is this rose. This is a fairy rose with tiny pink flowers.

Soon new plants will bloom and the pallet will change again.

Mountain View

This isn't really a garden post, but I think Sprouts readers will appreciate the beautiful scene of Lake Winnepesaukee in NH from the top of a nearby mountain. The views were spectacular. And, to keep this post garden related, I will mention wild blueberry bushes were plentiful at the summit, with loads of ripe berries for visitors to eat!

How To Upcycle an Old Book Shelf into a Raised Bed

This spring I was in need of another raised bed. I had this old book shelf which originally was a do-it-yourself home entertainment center that was later turned into a child's bookshelf (note the blue color to match the child's room) and then had a later incarnation as a Barbie apartment building for my daughter's dolls.

When Barbie moved into classier townhouse digs, it was used for basement storage. It survived a flooded basement, but was damaged. So, this year, instead of heading to the landfill, it has a fifth life as a garden.

Today, it is filled with peas, lettuce, beans, and a cucumber plant. It was recently raided by a groundhog (a subject for another post) so now sports a make-shift fence, also created from up-cycled materials.

So, look at discarded items with an eye toward the garden. Don't worry too much about appearance. Once filled with plants, the container isn't so noticeable. Check yard sales, thrift stores, Craigslist freebies, and curb alerts for possible items to up-cycle. I'm not handy with power tools, so this is a good option for me. I know Michele has used dresser drawers found on the curb for her garden beds.

Be Creative!

How To Make a Triangle Raised Bed With No Power Tools

I had an old stump in my yard from a dead oak we cut down 20 years ago. I had three long planks. I had some stakes. I had a pile of loam. I had a daughter willing to lend me a hand. I didn't have any power tools.

This was the result. At first I was thinking of making a rectangle or square raised bed but would need to either a) use power tools which I didn't want to do or b) buy another plank the same length which I also didn't want to do. Then it hit me! Why not a triangle shaped raised bed?

Here's what we did in three easy steps:

1. Arranged the planks into a triangle shape around the old stump.
2.  Drove stakes into the ground to hold the planks in place. We used ample numbers of stakes so the planks won't move out of place. Stakes were placed on the inside and outside of the bed for maximum stability.
3. Filled the bed with loam and compost.

Easy!

My new triangle bed is in the shade so I planted hostas, astilbe and impatiens in it. I decorated the stump with a bowl for the wildlife to have water. This is just a bowl I found at a thrift store. I think it was once part of a set with a pitcher. I also added a cherub statue I moved from another location in my garden.

We are pleased with the result. I will post more photos as the plants grow and fill the bed.

Garden Story for Children

The July issue of Guardian Angel Kids E-zine, Making Our World Better A Better Place, includes a garden story and children's poem written by Caroline. Both are about children growing food to share with others.

Check out the July 2016 issue here.

Scenes from the Cottage Garden

The cottage garden has been full of blossoms this year. Here are some scenes from the first blooms. Since I snapped these pics, most of these have passed by and the colors of mid-summer are opening up. I'll show you those in the very near future.

My mock orange bush outdid itself this year. My favorite part of this bush is when the petals rain down over our walkway and garden at the end of the blooming cycle. The blossoms smell wonderful while they last. You also see some daisy flea bane and dianthus in this scene.

I'm so happy lupines and iris bloom at the same time as they make such beautiful companions.

 

Every year I start new lupine seeds of many colors, but it seems purple is the only color I can grow. I have several shades of purple, but I'm hoping to add some other colors with any luck. I started more seeds this year so we will see in seasons to come if I'm successful.

I started these foxglove from seeds last summer.

This lovely rose is a volunteer. A few years ago I noticed it in my garden and happily let her stay.

more scenes from my cottage garden to come.....

Happy Independence Day!