2023: What was planted ...

 

At left are the flowers on our deck in 2023;
at right is the rock garden.

    For several years I have blogged on what plants and flowers went into some of the 13 gardens and planting areas we have on an acreage in Scott County, Iowa.

    This year that blog is months late, but I figure, "better late than never." I have been gardening since I was about eight years old, and the efforts continue to this day. I am trying to add more perennials to the gardens. Here we go:

Perennials: 

    The star of this class is a Pugster Blue butterfly bush I found locally, after searching for two years. It's still alive, thank goodness, and I'm just very pleased we have it in a prime spot out front.

    I also bought two more coneflowers, or Echinacea, in white and wild berry pink. Stonecrop, a sedum, in pink (Plum Dazzled) and green (Lime Zinger) are in the rock garden, pictured above at right. The rock garden also gained "Chick Charms," in yellow, pink and purple. Many gardeners call these "hen and chicks."

Annuals:

    I have a weakness for annual, bright flowers  -- there are examples all over the property. The deck decor is pictured, at top left.

    These include: King Tut and fountain -- annual grasses, purple aster, flowering kale, the "Rio" Dipladenia, "Pink Gem" caladium, marigolds: Bonanza yellow, Fireball orange and Antigua yellow, coleus, "Black Dragon," "Festive Dance" "Wizard Jade" and "Le Freak."

    There was also: Dianthus, "Ideal Raspberry," begonia, "Super Olympia Pink," lotus vine, "Parrot's Beak," Calibrachoa "Neo Lava and Red Eye," salvia, "Grandstand Red-Pink Lipstick," Supertunia "Mini Vista Hot Pink," as well as a dwarf Morning Glory "Blue My Mind."

    Finally: "Blazing Rose" bloodleaf, geranium "Vancouver Centennial," yellow loosestrife "Fanicifillers Sunburst," and trailing plants for pots. These included two varieties of Sweet Potato Vine and Asparagus fern. Hanging baskets was one of New Guinea impatiens and a one for sun, with pink and purple bloom combinations.

    Whew!


 

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