Jewell
 Regular Plants Contributor
Puget Sound Region of the Pacific NW (Washington State, US)
Posts: 1590
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 12:20 am Post subject: Front/Side and Back Yard Gardens |
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My front and side/driveway gardens are very hot and dry, although this summer I have water some of the herbs, I never water the heaths and heathers. The silver heather is one of my favorites and has been very slow in establishing itself.
( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )
Dusty pink flowers and silverish foliage on this heather ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )
( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )
My big white heathers are blooming and all the plants are buzzing with a myriad of different insects.
White heather - the honey bees love it ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )
( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )
The driveway has the crosomia blooming along one side. Way earlier than I would expect it to.
( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )
And the hollyhock is up against the south side of the house but still has rust reallly badly, but the flowers are so pretty. I hope the plants survive since I have had to wait so long for the blooms (I planted them from seed.)
Alcea rosa 'Chater's Double Icicle' ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )
Hollyhock: Alcea rosea "Chater's Double Red" ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )
Another plant blooming earlier than I would expect it to is the fall anemone.
Anemone hupehensis (Japanese Anemone) ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )
And this is the first year this hydrenga has bloomed (because I made too many starts off it last year).
( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )
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~Jewell
If a you have but two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one to sustain your life, and a flower with the other to give you a reason to live. ~Chinese Proverb
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Netty
Regular Plants Contributor
Southern Ontario zone 5a
Posts: 9959
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 1:00 am Post subject: |
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Very nice collection of flowers Jewell. I'm really interested in your Heather...I've never seen it around here so I'm assuming it is not hardy here in zone 5. It's very pretty!
I love the Crocosmia and your double Hollyhocks are gorgeous. I think they were worth the wait 
Your Anemone is very pretty and blooming very early...I wonder if it knows something we don't?
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Jewell
Regular Plants Contributor
Puget Sound Region of the Pacific NW (Washington State, US)
Posts: 1590
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 1:58 am Post subject: |
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They do sell them in the supermarkets around here, and there are a wide variety of these small, evergreen shrubs, known botanically as Erica (Heath) and Calluna (Heather). Seldom if ever labeled.  When I looked it up online they said they were hardy zones 5-7 and 5-9. They do seem to be tough plants and really vary in growth habits from low growing to six feet  . I unknowingly once planted a tall one under a window and had to take it out.  I started growing it because I was told our climate was similar to Great Britians and I guess some species came from there. Maybe a stewie could give you more information? 
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~Jewell
If a you have but two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one to sustain your life, and a flower with the other to give you a reason to live. ~Chinese Proverb
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kuntrygal
Texas ~ Zone 8
Posts: 3436
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 2:38 am Post subject: |
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Very pretty flowers indeed. I really like the Hydrangea. It is one of my favs. I bought one this year and tried to start rootings from friends, but the summer has been so hot and miserable, that nothing made it. RIP
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"I'm so far behind, I thought I was first"
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, It's about learning to dance in the rain"
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glendann
Texas
Posts: 9228
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 3:06 am Post subject: |
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You do have very pretty bloomsOf all kinds and colors.Great flowers Jewell.
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petunia
northern michigan
Posts: 2246
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:35 am Post subject: |
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what beautiful flowers you have. I like the holly hocks-they are the double holly Hocks right? so many differant colors of flowers, Thanks for sharing them with us.
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Petunia
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Droopy
Regular Plants Contributor
Western Norway
Posts: 9272
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 7:59 am Post subject: |
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Lovely colour!  Our hollyhocks haven't started yet. I'm partial to heather myself and had several different ones at one time. Unfortunately our recent wet and mild winters cause all sorts of trouble on heathers so I'm pulling them one by one when they rot away.
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Gardengirl
Hertfordshire,UK
Posts: 1020
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 8:21 am Post subject: |
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What a lovely selection of flowers Jewell. I particularly like the double hollyhocks as ours are all single. We have quite a few heathers. I am surprised that you consider your climate similar to ours, poor you Our climate has been awful these past few years and a lot of our plants aren't doing so well in view of all the rain we have had. I love the blue of your hydrangea, my favourite colour.
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daisybeans
annapolis md
Posts: 3675
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 1:47 pm Post subject: |
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Your heather is so pretty. Esp like the big white one. The crosomia is gorgeous too. And love the textures combined in that hydrangea. So many pretty things to admire.
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Daisybeans/MaryAnn
"Once the relation between poetry and the soil is well established in the mind, all growing things are endowed with more than material beauty." -Elizabeth Lawrence
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Jewell
Regular Plants Contributor
Puget Sound Region of the Pacific NW (Washington State, US)
Posts: 1590
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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Yes Sjoerd, I am guilty of loving my heather (it is my most maintience free flowering plant and subtle unlike the rhodies.) The double hollyhocks were a score. I didn't realize they would be as pretty as they are. I should have a couple of other colors from the plants that haven't yet bloomed.
Gardengirl we used to have rain and cool, but it has been a lot drier lately.  I'm one of the silly ones that enjoys the damp, cloudy, rainy weather. Thanks Petunia, Droopy, Daisybeans for the kind comments.
Countrygirl I just kept the old brick on them till they gave in and rooted. They didn't root in the summer, but started root development in the fall and winter. (please don't ask me how I know this...its the kid in me)
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~Jewell
If a you have but two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one to sustain your life, and a flower with the other to give you a reason to live. ~Chinese Proverb
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bunkie
eastern washington
Posts: 1439
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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awesome pics jewell! i have never heard of silver and white heathers, only the purple! beautiful.
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gardengater
NC
Posts: 1544
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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Lovely gardens, Jewell. I love the Heather, it's so feathery. That hydrangea is a beautiful blue. The rainey weather can be quite nice, esp here where we are sweltering now. Enjoy.
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eileen
Forum Moderator
Scotland
Posts: 18013
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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Here in Scotland white heather is considered to be a very lucky plant. Yours is really pretty and I hope it does bring you luck.
I really like your Alcea rosa 'Chater's Double Icicle' and 'double red' - they are so beautiful.
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