Love, Joy and Peas: maryland garden

Showing posts with label maryland garden. Show all posts

Friday, March 3, 2017

First Daffodils, Periwinkle and Forsythia Flowers of the Year

Happy March, floral Friday and welcome to "this week in my Maryland garden!" The spring flowers started extra early this year. But it's not truly spring yet and God reminded me of this by sprinkling snowflakes on my camera as I took these photos earlier today.

We only have one remaining forsythia bush but its sunny yellow flowers brighten up a shady corner of the yard.

The purplish blue periwinkle flowers (also called vinca) are popping up all over. I think periwinkle is my favorite ground cover. It spreads nicely and squelches weeds but still lets my larger perennials grow through. Last year I planted some under one of our rose bushes and I'm looking forward to seeing how that works out later this year.

This daffodil has an unusual shape but I thought it was still pretty.

It'll be a while before it flowers but I was happy to see tulip foliage popping up through the mulch this week too.

Although I didn't get any photos this week, the hellebores are blooming too and you can see them here.

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you!

Related posts:
Daffodils, pansies and cyclamen: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/03/daffodil-pansy-and-cyclamen-flower.html
Primroses, daffodils & quince: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/03/primroses-daffodils-and-flowering-quince.html
Funky daffodil and more flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/04/pretty-pansies-periwinkle-forsythia-and.html

Friday, October 14, 2016

Delightful Dahlias in Early Autumn

Happy floral Friday and welcome to this bonus edition of "this week in my Maryland garden!" Often by this time of year all of my dahlias have been killed by frost but this year they're still blooming and I thought that was worth celebrating with a blog post.

I'm not sure of the actual name of this cute red and white bicolor dahlia but I think of it as my peppermint twist.

This pretty yellow and white bicolor dahlia isn't perfectly formed but it is still beautiful.

This burgundy dahlia plant has been producing beautiful flowers steadily since early spring.

I believe this is a Mr. Optimist bicolor dahlia. It started out with yellow tipped red petals and then faded to this pretty sunset color scheme. I think I cut it over a week ago and it's been in a vase by my computer ever since. The yellow came out more as the red faded.

I feel blessed to have dahlias still blooming in mid-October here in Maryland. It is delightful.

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you!

Related posts:
Summer dahlia: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/09/bright-summer-flowers-dahlia-tithonia.html
Sunset dahlia: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/06/bee-balm-sedum-sunset-dahlia-coreopsis.html
Raindrops on dahlia: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/09/big-fat-raindrops-on-beautiful-flowers.html

Friday, September 30, 2016

Big Fat Raindrops on Beautiful Flowers and a Surprise

Happy floral Friday and welcome to "this week in my Maryland garden!" This might be my last installment of regular garden photos for 2016 but, God willing, they'll return in the spring. For this week's post I waited and waited... and waited for a break in the rain but it didn't come so I went out and got soaked for you all. Hope my raindrop on flower photos make you smile!

If you look closely you can see big fat raindrops filling some of the little lantana flower cups.

The raindrops were so big and heavy on this rose that it was facing down toward the ground.

The dahlia was sturdy enough to support the heavy raindrops.

The tiny little bug on this yellow cosmos was a pleasant surprise to me. I didn't even notice it until I downloaded the photos.

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you and all you set your hands to do!

Related posts:
Yellow finch on black eyed susans: https://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/08/yellow-finch-feeding-on-black-eyed.html
Bright summer flowers: https://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/09/bright-summer-flowers-dahlia-tithonia.html
Butterflies on flowers: https://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/08/butterflies-on-mexican-sunflowers-at.html

Friday, September 23, 2016

Mexican Bush Sage, Purple Coneflower, Impatiens, Giant Zinnia, and Tithonia Flowers

Happy autumn, floral Friday and welcome to "this week in my Maryland garden!" The Mexican bush sage has started to bloom and I'm always thrilled to not only see the flowers but feel their super soft texture. They're almost as soft as pussy willows. I overwintered this plant in the house as it's not perennial in our planting zone.

The white impatiens I planted in early spring is still putting out lovely flowers in a semi-shady area.

This volunteer purple coneflower sprung up in the middle of my giant zinnia area but I let it stay. I'll probably move it later this fall or early next spring, but for now I'm enjoying the contrast.

I only planted red giant zinnia seeds but also got pink and purple from the package. The bees and butterflies like them all so I do too.

Our biggest annuals this year are the tithonia (also called Mexican sunflower). They are huge and covered in pretty flowers.

That's all for this week's tour. Thank you for visiting! May God bless you!

Related posts:
Butterflies on tithonia: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/08/butterflies-on-mexican-sunflowers-at.html
Monarchs on chrysanthemum: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/10/monarch-butterfly-on-pretty.html
Brookside Gardens butterflies: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/09/monarch-butterflies-from-brookside.html

Friday, September 16, 2016

Bright Summer Flowers: Dahlia, Tithonia, Rose, Marigold and Salvia

Happy floral Friday and welcome to "this week in my Maryland garden!" The dahlias are still putting out nice sized flowers and this pink one is a favorite.

I think some of our tithonia plants (also called Mexican sunflowers) are over six feet tall. The butterflies and bees love them and I occasionally even see a hummingbird visit them. They are especially precious to me because I started them from seed.

These creamy knockout roses smell like a mixture of honey and lemon.

I love the contrast between the giant yellow marigolds and the blue salvia. You can also see some red zinnias in the background.

Because this pretty butterfly was kind enough to open its wings for a photo I thought it deserved to be included in today's post.

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you!

Related posts:
Butterflies on tithonia: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/08/butterflies-on-mexican-sunflowers-at.html
Dahlias and marigolds: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/08/dahlia-marigolds-zinnia-butterfly-bush.html
Funky flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/05/funky-lavender-thyme-allium-marigold.html

Friday, August 26, 2016

Butterflies on Bright Summer Flowers

Happy floral Friday and welcome to "this week in my Maryland garden!" Many flowers are blooming and it seems like we have more butterflies than we've had in the past couple years, so that is an added blessing.

The butterflies love many of our flowers but the butterfly bushes (aka buddelia) often have several butterflies per plant, especially in the morning.

The dahlias get their share of butterflies too.

And the giant red zinnias definitely attract butterflies.

There often are butterflies, bees and even golden finches on the giant zinnias. The tithonia have started blooming too but the flowers are up so high I have yet to get a sharable photo. Hopefully next week. The tithonia are special in that they also attract hummingbirds.

Thank you for visiting! That's all for this week's mini garden tour. May God bless you!

Related posts:
Cute critters on flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/06/cute-critters-on-flowers.html
Monarch butterflies: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/09/monarch-butterflies-from-brookside.html
Bees on butterfly bushes: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/10/bees-and-butterflies-on-butterfly-bushes.html

Friday, August 19, 2016

Giant Dahlia, Echinacea, Dianthus, Vinca and Zinnia Flowers

Happy floral Friday and welcome to "this week in my Maryland garden!" Our pale yellow dinnerplate dahlia started blooming. I love the giant flowers (this one is about 7" wide).

The echinacea (purple conflower) plants are still putting out a few fresh flowers, although the majority have faded.

This dianthus is doing the best of all if its kind in my garden. It's the only one in part shade (the rest are in full sun, which I think is what their tag said they prefer, but clearly mine like some shade).

The vinca flowers continue to bloom nicely. I liked the glistening dew drops on this one.

The zinnias are the star of the garden this year, partly because I planted so many and partly because the birds, butterflies and bees love them.

Thank you for visiting! I hope this finds you safe and cool, despite the summer heat. May God bless and keep you!

Related posts:
Giant red zinnia: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/07/giant-zinnias-gladiola-mr-optimist.html
Funky dahlias: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/08/four-dahlias-and-dianthus-for-floral.html
Sunflower & dahlia: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/07/sunflowers-dahlias-marigolds-verbena.html

Friday, August 5, 2016

Summer Flowers for Shade and Sun

Happy August, floral Friday and welcome to "this week in my Maryland garden!" The pretty white impatiens flowers are brightening a shady area.

This hosta blooms even in our deepest shade.

This patch of black eyed Susan flowers blooms even under the shady canopy of several trees. It only gets a little filtered light but I think there are just as many blooms as our other black eyed Susan plants in full sun.

This yellow coreopsis is a volunteer baby of our red coreopsis and thrives in our hottest, full sun flower bed.

This obedient plant is blooming in full sun but we also have some in shady areas that bloom, although not as profusely.

This tiny bicolor fairy marigold is blooming in part sun.

It's fun to have flowers for both shady and sunny areas. Which is your favorite?

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you!

Related posts:
Red coreopsis: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/06/coreopsis-zinnia-hydrangea-dahlia-and.html
Yellow finch on flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/08/yellow-finch-feeding-on-black-eyed.html
August 2015 flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/08/rose-zinnia-dahlia-salvia-and-obedient.html

Friday, July 29, 2016

Day Lilies, Strawberry, Dahlias and Butterfly Bush Flowers

Happy floral Friday and welcome to "this week in my Maryland garden!" The double orange day lilies are still producing a few flowers, which I greatly appreciate.

I planted this pink flowering strawberry (Tristan) last year but didn't get any flowers or fruit so I'm thankful to have flowers from it this year. I hope one day it will grow a strawberry or two.

This pretty pink-purple dahlia has been producing flowers for months now.

As long as I remember to water them frequently enough the dahlias keep flowering.

The butterfly bushes are great survivors and butterflies and bees love them.

This special little bicolor day lily survived under some larger day lilies' foliage. I think of it as my miracle day lily as it doesn't get much sun.

It's hot and humid here in Maryland but the flowers are gorgeous. Thank you for visiting! May God bless you!

Related posts:
Unusual dahlias: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/08/four-dahlias-and-dianthus-for-floral.html
Powerhouse dahlias: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/07/sunflowers-dahlias-marigolds-verbena.html
Philadelphia Dahlia Show: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/10/philadelpha-dahlia-society-flower-show.html