Welcoming Two Newcomers

Earlier this spring, I wrote about my obsession with fig trees.  I'm proud to report that I am now an owner of a fig tree.  A Chicago fig, to be exact.  It's only a couple feet tall, but it's a manageable size.  And the price was right.  Ten dollars for an experiment isn't bad.  Figs are unknown territory for me.  Well, really all fruit bearing plants are new territory and this is my first real season growing them.

Here is my fig!

If you look closely, that little round nubby thing by the stem is a fig in the making!  There are about three of them. Impressive for such a young tree.

There is another newcomer to the garden this week.  This is going to sound totally garden geek, but I have been wanting a crane garden statue since I installed the first phase of my shady dry creek garden.  It just begs for one.  Sunday night I decided to do a Google search to see what I could find.  I've been regretting a pass up purchase from a few years ago when we were at Sam's Club and they had a pair of cranes for what I thought was an expensive price, only to find out it was a steal of a deal.  I got to page three of the Google search and there it was -- and for the right price.  Who was selling it, you ask?  Kmart, of all places.  My hubby works at Sears, which is part of the same corporation, so he gets a discount.  Add that to the near expiring Shop Your Rewards points and a gift card with a small balance left on it, and yes my friend, I've got a crane for next to nothing.
 

Introducing the Crane!

The rest of the pics are a progress report on the latest changes.  Photos taken today.

The Annabelle Hydrangeas are doing fine after their aggressive winter pruning.

 

 

 

 

Hydrangea "Pee Gee".  Striking in full bloom.

Coreopsis that climbed up the chicken wire trellis I made for a clematis.

Lavender is just starting to bloom.  I need to harvest a few tablespoons of flowers to try out those lavender cookies I read about in BHG a few months ago.

I think it's a little early in the season for these "Roadside Orange" daylilies to be blooming, but I'll take it.

The backyard garden that transitions from the house to the woods is definitely a little wild.  What started out as a sparse planting has naturalized, and needs some taming.  Not to mention dividing.

 

Unstoppable Annabelle Hydrangeas

Annabelle hydrangeas are spectacular shrubs.  They are reliable, easy to grow, and put on a great show every year.  I have three of them surrounding my porch.


Every year, my Annabelles host soccer ball sized pure white blooms.  The blossoms are so heavy that the rain makes the entire plant fall into the sidewalk.  It takes both my husband and I working at it to lasso and hitch them to the porch railings with thick rope.  He keeps asking me to move them, but I love how simplistic their blossoms look against our white railing and Victorian-styled house.  I had better start coming up with new and better excuses because the shrubs' height well exceed the height of the railing every year.  I also promise I will try to find a way to keep my Annabelles in check... next year.

I came across an article about Annabelles that suggested cutting them completely back to the ground.  It promised they would spring back to life in the growing season.  Forgive me for not immediately grabbing my pruners, but I am leery of ruthless trimming techniques.  It had to simmer with me for a while, but this winter, I finally gave into the idea.  I cut them back to 3 inches above ground and I bit my nails in anticipation for Spring.  Had I killed my Annabelles? If they came back, how would they perform?

I am happy to report that the experiment was met with results just as the article stated.  The Annabelles made a mighty comeback.  They are just as tall as they have been in the past and they are on time to producing blooms.


Unfortunately, this did not solve my original problem of keeping the blooms off the sidewalk.  They aren't laying there yet, but give them another month.  I look forward to seeing their huge white blossoms (and bringing in a fresh batch of dried ones to over-winter in a vase).  I also look forward to the annual conversation with my hubby about how to restrain my beloved hydrangeas and the pursuit of a permanent solution.

$13 Iris

My post today was inspired by a thirteen dollar iris I bid on at a charitable auction last year.  Yes folks, I spent thirteen dollars on a single plant.  A single tuber.  It was a gamble.  All I had to go on was a fuzzy blown up computer print out.  It looked and sounded great.  Ruffled white iris with yellow edges called "Skirt Alert", multiple blooms per stem.  I LOVE white iris, so of course, I was eager to snatch it up.  It finally bloomed.  Drum roll, please...

 

I, for one, am disappointed.  It's definitely not as spectacular as I had hoped.  The edges are not the bright yellow from the computer print out.  It's more of a mustard yellow.  My first impression when I got an up close look was, "I waited a year for this?".  Oh well.  My money went to support a non-profit, and that's what counts.  I just happened to get a plant in exchange for my donation.

However, not all is lost!  I have some great pics to share from around the yard.

 

The pot around my porch is looking good.  The geranium is very happy.

White iris!

Iris "Variegata".  Look at that foliage!  It's a bonus that it blooms.  I ordered ten of these in the fall and they're doing spectacular.

More white iris!  I'm addicted...

Sarah Bernhardt peony

A visitor

Okay, in my opinion, this iris is nothing short of spectacular.  It is a reblooming german iris called "Orange Harvest".  The color makes it look so delicious!  I ordered 5 of these in the fall and it was a gamble.  Pictures are deceiving, as noted above.  But this is such a wonderful surprise.  Only 2 plants survived, but the mail order company is planning to replace the others.  I'm pleased as pie with this one, and now I get more joy knowing it is going to bloom again in the fall.  It has taken over a week for it to open, and today it made its debut.

I'm so loving this iris, that I have to share another pic.  The top is a sherbet orange and the falls are bright yellow with dark orange beards.  Like a beautiful sunrise or a fruity frozen drink!  The photo does not do it justice.

Holy ferns, Batman!  When I visited the Kansas City, Mo., Powell Gardens, I was intrigued by their island garden, which had a stone wall with lots of little things growing out of it.  Much to my delight, this happened on its own in my backyard.  The wall is filled with sedum, columbine, and ferns.

Another peony

A bright orange begonia on the front porch.