Tuesday, May 15, 2012

The Seven Faces of My Garden - GBBD May

Carpenter Bee on Chive Blossom

In my garden, there are seven faces that nature provides to maintain my interest. And although many of these same faces emerge each year, they grow different and more interesting from season to season and year to year. They are the faces that make me gasp, lure me closer, and inspire me to continue gardening. These faces add beauty, texture, color, and life to my garden with gentle suggestion and bold insistence.



Buds

As each season begins, there are buds that form before the bursting bloom. The fist that holds that energy can be just as beautiful as the flower itself. They can be:

oval, cayenne-colored clusters

Sundrops or Evening Primrose - Oenothera fruticosa

or tightly woven textured clumps.

Yarrow - Achillea x "Moonshine'

Containers

Although I have perennial beds, containers not only add space for annuals but create spots of color on patios and steps.

One of my favorite annuals is pelargonium. I plant it in many pots using various colors.

pelargonium

Calibrachoa is another favorite that offers so much color and spreads down the side of a container.

Calibrachoa "Coralberry Punch' and Ivy

This is a hypertufa container that I made last year. I use it in the herb garden.

Hypertufa Container

Insects

I seem to battle many of the insects in the garden, keeping them from eating my vegetables and roses, but there are some insects that I welcome and enjoy.

Ladybug on Peach Blossom


Luna Moth


Red Admiral Butterfly

Herbs and Vegetables

I use herbs in teas, in cooking, and for medicinal purposes. Many of these herbs have beautiful blooms as well. And vegetables carry beauty and interest outside of the flavor and nutrition they provide.

Yarrow is one of my favorite herb/perennials. It has a beautiful bloom that pops in the garden and a soft fragrance when softly rubbed.

Yarrow - Achillea x 'Moonshine'

Lavender has a calming fragrance and reaches tall with lovely purple blooms.


English Lavender - Lavandula angustifolia 'Ellagance Purple'

Swiss chard is one of my favorite vegetables. It has a mild flavor packed with lots of nutrients, and the color and texture of this vegetable rival many of the ornamentals in the garden.

Swiss Chard 'Bright Lights'



Yarrow - Achillea x 'Paprika'

Foliage

Many think of a garden as providing colorful and fragrant blooms, but foliage adds color and texture to a garden as well.

I only have a handful of Japanese maples in the garden because I have such little shade, but they offer color and beauty throughout the growing season.

Japanese Maple - Acer palmatum 'Emerald Lace'

Eastern redbud is one of my favorite trees. Some of the varieties offered are outstanding specimens glowing with color.

Eastern Redbud - Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'


Japanese Maple - Acer palmatum 'Fireglow'


Wildlife

The wildlife that frequent my garden are welcome visitors that only add to my experience of gardening. They bring me smiles and contentment that my garden is as much of a wildlife sanctuary as it can be.

This fledgling has been very vocal near one area of the yard. It calls to its parents quite often. And they work very hard to provide it with lots of food.

House Sparrow Fledgling


Ground Squirrel


Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Blooms

Flowers in a garden make the garden. Although I enjoy many aspects of gardening, it is the flowers that offer one of the greatest rewards. To walk by a bed and see the pop of color is so very satisfying.

Gerbera Daisies




Clematis - Jackmanii




Clematis - 'Dawn'

Bearded Iris - Iris germanica 'Mystic Lace'



Oakleaf Hydrangea - Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alice'


Pinks - Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Bath's Pink'


Climbing Rose - 'Joseph's Coat'

What are the faces of your garden?

I am joining Carol of May Dreams Gardens for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day and Gesine of Seepferds Garten for the European version.

And I am also linking in with An Oregon Cottage for Tuesday Garden Party and with Pam of Digging for Foliage Follow-Up.

Swing by these blogs to see gardens from all over the world.

© copyright 2012 Michelle A. Potter

116 comments:

  1. What a wonderful and beautiful post! The picture of the squirrel is great! Larry

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    1. Thank you, Larry. I got lucky with Mr. Squirrel. :)

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  2. Now that is a beautifully written post! Wishing you a Happy GBBD! Cheers, Jenni

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  3. Beautiful Luanr moth! Very Unique indeed!
    Cute Squirrel!
    I'm dreaming fo Lavender now!

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    1. Thanks, Malar. I often dream of lavender, too. :)

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  4. Wow you have such beautiful blooms just now and I loved reading about the different faces of the garden. I never thought of it that way before! That Luna moth is incredible looking and I agree with you on the Chard - I love mixing clumps of it in amongst the garden plants. My redbud is just thinking about sending out a leaf - it's still in leaf bud. Have a great GBBD!

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    1. Thank you, Rosie. I love when redbuds leaf out. The leaves are very shiny and supple.

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  5. The Lunar Moth is really beautiful! Isn't nature just the most amazing thing? It is quite exquisite. Love all your blooms and the squirrel is just too cute :)

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    1. Thank you, Christine. Nature surprises me each day...I love it.

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  6. After seeing the pictures of butterflies, flowers, containers, i felt so refreshing. Happy GBBD.

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    1. I am very glad you felt that way. It all kinda makes me feel that way, too.

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  7. Beautiful post! Fabulous shots of all the wildlife in your garden! You have a lot of gorgeous color in your garden. Love the texture and color of the foliage too!

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    1. Thank you, Karin. It was nice for me to discover all of this in my garden.

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  8. A fantastic way to showcase your garden. And beautiful photos, as always

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  9. GREAT post! I love the seven faces of your garden, you've captured this concept beautifully in both words and pictures. I love that squirrel, too. What a great photo! I have all 7 faces in my garden, but containers and herbs/vegetables tend to dominate. Happy GBBD!

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    1. Thanks! I have been trying to balance out what I can of these elements.

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  10. What a wonderful way to present your garden. Thanks for some beautiful images and great words. I am stopping by from Tuesday Garden Party.

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  11. aloha,

    wonderful post, i enjoyed it and your garden, that is a very unusual moth, i love the subtle colorations on it.

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    1. Thanks, Noel. It is a real treat when I discover one of these moths.

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  12. I particularly love the ladybug in the peach blossom photo. There's a special magic to them both.

    Michael

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  13. Those are gorgeous photos.
    I think all the faces of your garden are beautiful!

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  14. I loved your Hypertufa contaner, and a climbing rose, what a lovely color!

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    1. Thank you, Nadezda. I only have two hypertufa containers that I made last year, and I love them. I am hoping to make more this year.

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  15. Beautiful photography!
    Enjoyed your post!

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  16. Lots of happy faces in your garden! I've been enjoying the face of rain lately!
    Happy GBBD!

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    1. After your drought last year, you must be so grateful for rain.

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  17. What a great way to look at your garden! Very creative, and your photos are fabulous!

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    1. Thanks, Holley. This time of year is very inspiring.

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  18. Beautiful shots! Great close up of the squirrel and the hummingbird!!!

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    1. Thanks, kacky. That squirrel has become a star. :)

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  19. Your photographs are amazing! And that squirrel is sooo cute!

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    1. Thanks, Denise. I think he needs to get an agent. :)

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  20. Lovely photos... I wish I could visit your garden someday :)
    oh, and I have a squirrel, yes just one, but he/she keeps sticking around.

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    1. Thank you, Evelyn. What lovely compliment! And...he must like you and your garden. ;)

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  21. Absolutely gorgeous photos. Especially like the lunar moth, squirrel and the hummingbird. Oh and the Iris too.

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    1. Thanks, Crystal. I love all the surprises in the garden at this time of year.

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  22. I've never had the privilege of seeing a lunar moth in person. What a treat to your photograph of one! So spectacularly beautiful!!!! I have the many stages you do in my garden. Although right now is the "weed stage" just because I don't have the energy to get out and pull them.

    Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage

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    1. I know that feeling, Cindy. I have a few spots in my garden that are always calling me to weed. :)

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  23. What a charming post! Thanks for letting me have a stroll in your garden, which incidentally have come far further this spring than mine....I can only dream of clematis, gerbera and roses yet - here in my London garden I have just buds wherever I look. Lovely photos of the wildlife too :-)

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    1. I am sure your buds will become beautiful flowers very soon. Not two days passed after I published this post, and my sundrops began to bloom.

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  24. Happy GBBD... an absolutely AMAZING post... I don't have a favorite picture... there are too many that are so outstanding. But I'm envious that your lavender is alraedy blooming!! (Although perhaps I shouldn't be... we are so far ahead on so many things!) Anyway, just scrolling through the photos makes me smile!

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    1. Thank you, Cathy and Steve. The lavender does seem to bloom too quickly.

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  25. Whatever your secret is to this amazing blog, It certainly works, it is striking and breath taking...I love the colors and the Lunar Moth is simply beautiful... Bravo, yet again!

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    1. Thank you, Virginia. Your kind comments are inspiring.

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  26. Excellent post. The faces are similiar at my place as well....except termites:) I love your shots and you've captured the feel of the garden well. It's what I enjoy most about organizing a landscape. A Lunar Moth is a wonderful thing....love it:)

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    1. Thank you, Rohrerbot. I hope I see more Luna moths soon...joy!

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  27. Your photos are lovely and your words thought provoking. Gardens have so many faces, depending on the season, the rainfall, the wind, the hot summer sun and, of course, the stage of bloom. Your first photo reminded me that I forgot to photograph my chives. I did make chive vinegar, though. Is this something you have tried?

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    1. Thank you, Joene. I have made Lemon Thyme Vinegar but not chive vinegar...sound interesting, though. I might just try it.

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  28. What a great idea for a post, and it is executed so perfectly! I love the wildlife shots!

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    1. Thank you, Beth. I think they are becoming stars, the wildlife. :)

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  30. Your photography is simply stunning! What fabulous captures--particularly the hummingbird! Thank you for sharing such lovely images of your garden.

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    1. Thank you, Julie. I love seeing and hearing the hummingbirds in the garden. They are so entertaining.

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  31. Very well done. nice photography as always.

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  32. The oakleaf hydrangea is unique. I don't think I've ever seen it before. Yarrows are a favorite of mine. They have wonderful texture in the winter, too.

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    1. The oakleaf hydrangea is one of my favorites. I just have the one, and it is growing into a beauty.

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  33. Beautiful photos! You have some amazing wildlife in your garden.

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  34. Brilliant post. Loved the wildlife and the blooms, and the buds ... loved it all! Fabulous photos as usual. Loved the angle of that Clematis shot, and the squirrel shot is just way too cute!

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    1. Thanks, Bernie. I think I need to get that squirrel a publicist. :)

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  35. You've been missing gardening I think. You are loaded with beautiful photos for us to all enjoy. Some great shots here and everything looks lovely.

    Cher Sunray Gardens

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  36. Oh my, what a very special post you give us. The photography is exquisite. I for one would be hard pressed to choose a favourite, although isn't that lunar moth just so very weird.

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    1. Thank you, Alistair. There is so much to photograph with spring here.

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  37. What a wonderful idea for a post. I love how a garden provides pleasure on so many levels - beyond just blooms.

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    1. Me too, spurge. It is the one thing I never really tire of.

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  38. Oh my goodness, your garden flowers are gorgeous! I especially loved the red and purple ones. It made my heart sing when I saw the hummingbird. I don't know if I mentioned to you, but that is my beloved bird. I saw one a week ago, but I have never been able to photograph one because they don't stay in one place too long. They are always in motion. Hummingbirds are beautiful, and so special to me. I really enjoyed the many faces of your garden. Thank you.
    ~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

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    1. Thank you, Sheri. Hummingbirds are special to me as well. I receive so much joy from watching them. I must be patient when I try to photograph them.

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  39. I just noticed that you had the hummingbird posted on my birthday. Such a sweet surprise.
    ~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

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  40. What wonderful photos! You're good with the camera! I very much enjoyed this post.

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  41. What a nice post!
    Your pictures are great and the way you showed them a good idea!
    Thank you for supporting Blogger Blüten!
    Best wishes from Berlin in cold Germany!

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    1. Thanks! I am glad you enjoyed them as much as I did taking them. It is my pleasure to support Blogger Bluten!

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  42. That adorable squirrel surely loved the camera! The blooms are so alive and until now I still wonder where their colors come from...

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    1. He has become a star. Color is so beautiful in the garden.

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  43. Michelle I love the faces of your garden...I think I have soem of those same areas of enjoyment...blooms, wildlife and veggies for sure...stunning pictures!

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    1. Thank you, Donna. Most of us have many faces in the garden. I hope to find more.

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  44. Such a beautiful bloom day post---so artful, so true about what we all love about our gardens.

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    1. Thanks, Carolyn. There is so much to love in the garden at this time of year.

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  45. You really put my small garden to shame. I only have some roses and some peonies..but I am crazy about them. Your magic garden must have magic soil :).

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    1. Thank you, unikorna. Roses and peonies are worth being crazy about...so beautiful!

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  46. I like how you put a 'face' to each aspect of your garden. There are so many reasons to enjoy a garden and I loved to see the photos of your sanctuary.

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    1. Thank you, Marguerite. It seems I am enamored by different ones at different time.s

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  47. That Luna Moth is seriously something else. So beautiful, and I’ve never seen anything like it from where I’m from.

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    1. I don't see them often...perhaps a few times a year.

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  48. What a beautiful post! I enjoyed the seven faces of your garden. Love the Luna Moth and the Lady Bug. If I were to choose a favorite face, the flowers with their pops of color would be my favorite face of the garden though. Well, I have to have the birds too. Oh, it's so hard to choose. It takes all the faces to have a lovely garden, doesn't it? :-)

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    1. I know what you mean, Beth. I go through the same thing. It is so hard to choose...I'll take it all.

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  49. I enjoyed looking at the seven faces of your garden! Your garden has many dimensions to enjoy. And thank you for mentioning 'Forest Pansy'. I have a particular place in my woodland garden that need a small tree. i wanted one with colorful leaves. I think this one may be perfect!

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    1. Thanks, Deb. The redbud is one of my faves...you will love it!

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  50. So beautiful! Love your up close shots of the birds. Mine always fly away before I can capture their picture.

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    1. I have a lot of blurry ones as I try to catch them. :)

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  51. Very nice post. I'll have to think about what "faces" of my garden are most important to me. Certainly blooms and wildlife! I like that you put buds in as another face; buds should get a lot more appreciation from me for how beautiful they are in their own right, and not just as a portent of blooms to come. Thanks! My favorite photos are the edge-on gold yarrow, the gerbera daisies, and of course the squirrel. For me, it's because of how well you captured the texture of the fur on its belly.

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    1. Thanks, Sharon. Some buds are too beautiful to miss. Those sundrop buds are so interesting because they are red, but the blooms are gold. I think the squirrel posed for that shot...he wants to be in pictures. :)

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  52. Your garden is really flourishing! I'm impressed your lavender is in bloom already. Our 'Provence' is just forming buds, but it's not open yet. I really like your hypertufa birdbath. I've been looking for a natural rock with a depression in it that I could use as one in our new native garden, but honestly, I think something like this would work just as well, and then I can stop scouring the stone yards! Your yarrow photos are so pretty. They look little yellow runways, inviting the pollinators in for a landing!

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    1. Thanks, Clare. That hypertufa birdbath is one of my faves. All I did was use a bowl as the form, and then I molded out a depression. I want to make more.

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  53. Great shots - really like the pose you caught with the squirrel. Have a wonderful day!

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  54. As always, GREAT photos!!

    I love the photo of the Luna moth. The camaflouge is incredible. It looks like a leaf... but with eyes. :)

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    1. Thanks, Holly. It was a great surprise to walk out and find it.

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  55. Everything looks lovely in your garden! I wish I could start my own too. I've tried container gardening for a while but the conditions in the city just don't jive with my plants well. Seeing your photos and those of other bloggers just make me really happy and make me feel like I could do this one day too : )

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    1. If you have a balcony or patio, you most probably can do a little gardening. I hope you can...it is so rewarding.

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    2. Thank you for the encouragement, I most definitely will! I will start small, probably with some herbs : )

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  56. Brilliant images and the idea of seeing your garden through these different faces. And each one as wondrous as the next

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    1. I am amazed at all of them. When I think I have seen everything, another face steps up to greet me.

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  57. Beautiful photos. I especially love the wildlife ones.

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    1. They are such a joy to watch. I would want it no other way.

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  58. I am speechless at those photos, garden, and write-up! WOW

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'I see trees of green, red roses, too
I see 'em bloom for me and for you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world'
--What a Wonderful World

Thank you for visiting The Sage Butterfly blog. I enjoy reading your charming reflections very much. Have a great day!

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