April Unboxing

Time to unbox some online plant purchases!

Bluestone Perennials shipped me a nice package containing heucherella (Buttered Rum), veronica (Aztec Gold, echinacea (Hot Papaya) and agastache (Summer Glow) plants that I purchased in late February:

David’s Dragonfly Farm also sent me some nice daylily clumps, White Parasol and Seductor:

As I started to working the new additions into the flower beds, I had to stop and admire the Autumn Lily azalea’s prolific blooms.

Late spring blooms

Despite all the excitement that 2 new furbabies introduces to the household, I did still get to witness some really cool blooms decorating our new front yard landscape. The tall red cypress, red columbine, Crimson Pirate daylilies, and Picasso callas are just some of the vivid sights now showing their colors. Even the waterlogged gardenia managed to push out some blooms…

IMG_20160527_185605689 IMG_20160603_184947767 IMG_20160603_095553730 IMG_20160603_095500901 IMG_20160527_190000715 IMG_20160530_192542248IMG_20160527_185643180 IMG_20160527_185748206

The highly anticipated Pumpkin Pie Coreopsis in bud and bloom was slightly disappointing for appearing mostly like a typical tickseed, just with a little more orange in color:

IMG_20160527_185906186 IMG_20160601_185043986

The Rose Gardens of Farmers Branch in November part 2

The All-America Rose Selection Test Garden is a short walk to the other side of the civic center. It marks the start of the Historical Park walking trail which runs alongside the creek, splits off into the bird sanctuary and historical building area and finishes at Gussie Field. The roses on display at the AARS Test Garden are complemented by a daylily display garden, which is remarkable to behold in spring and summer. Also at this test garden, the newest varieties are available on hand for viewing…some of which are stunners. One of my faves is the Silver Lavender rose, whose color approaches a very pale steel, almost grey-blue, color.

11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (1) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (2) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (3) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (4) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (5) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (6) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (7) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (8) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (9) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (10) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (11) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (12) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (13) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (14) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (15) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (16) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (17) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (18) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (19) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (20) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (21) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (22) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (23) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (24) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (25) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (26) 11/12/2011 AARS Test Garden (27)

The great thing about these gardens is that it’s free and open to the public.