Climbing Moonlight Nasturtium: An Unexpected Beauty on the Deck

Have you ever seen a nasturtium be the lead plant on a deck? It was a happy accident to see how vigorous and healthy this Moonlight nasturtium could grown in a pot supported by a peony cage. 

I am known for growing delphiniums in pots on our deck. It was an exciting development this summer when, in the lull between delphinium spikes (June and then again in September), I let a few nasturtium seedlings grow and thrive in my delphinium pot.  The cage was there to support the blue spikes, but they became handy to guide the trailing nasturtium. 

Look at the this magnificent Moonlight (pale yellow) climbing nasturtium. The stem was thick like a pencil and I occasionally arched it toward the cage and held it with a simple tie until it could send out a shoot to wrap around it. 

I will make sure to pair these plants again because it was wonderful. I'm posting now so that you can add these seeds to your shopping plan.

#nasturtiums #gardengirl #companionplants
 

Sweet Peas in a Container Garden

This is my tuteur, exploding will Sweet Pea vines planted in a single pot on my deck. I strategically placed it near my kitchen window so I can be washing dishes and enjoying this. Even the hummingbirds can't believe it. Did you realize that you can grow Sweet Peas this way? Get to it! 

This year I planted 2 kinds of seeds, Renee's Garden "Spencer Ruffled" and Botanical Interests "Perfume Delight." They grew together and it was wonderful. Sometimes I would cut only the lavender and pink blooms for arrangements like this (below). You know how I am with unusual vases and the ability to gift someone some visual vitamins. I gave this arrangement to a friend back in July and she swooned upon receipt.

#sweetpeas #beautyofeverydaylife #gardenofdelight#flowerpower #visualvitamins bouquetaday #floralglory

Primula Power

It's as easy as setting plants in a formal serving piece. I absolutely love this happy display on my kitchen table. The plants have quite a lot of dirt on them, so I didn't add soil or anything but a little water. For now, they love it and that's all I ask.

#springflowers #primulas #easterdecorations

Sapphire Blue Caribbean Jewels: An Outdoor Plant Indoors

Have you ever wished that a plant was fake? Me neither, until now. 

I bought this striking flowering plant called Sapphire Blue Caribbean Jewels (Scilla peruviana) because of its unusual blue petals. I am in love with blue and I have never seen anything quite like this plant.

I know that it can't last here in my family room, but I am enjoying it while I can. The tag says that it is hardy to Zone 7 (ahem, jury is still out on what zone our new house is in - it keeps snowing!). I will plant it in a large container on the deck as soon as the weather permits.

I love real plants and would discourage decorating with anything artificial, but then I glance at this tablescape and wish that I could freeze it in time. 

I guess my message is, live a little. It doesn't make sense, but I will love this plant indoors for as long as I can and then I'll give it the environment it needs to thrive. 

Do come visit soon, it looks great!

Buds in January: A Rosarian's Dream

In May 2015, I was only in Seattle for a few weeks, but did what I could to make our little apartment feel home-y. And when I say home-y, I also mean garden-y. I'll show you how our decorating is coming along in the next few days, but the big news here is that my rose has a bud! And is leafing out. IN JANUARY. I noticed our first bud on January 29. Things are looking up.

Last May, I bought a beautiful "Apricot Candy" hybrid tea rose for $14.99 at the grocery store giant, Fred Meyer's garden center. It had big peachy pink blooms and had buds all over it. We planted it into a plastic outdoor pot with drainage holes (about 4 sizes larger than the container it was planted it) and used bagged dirt that was specifically for roses. This is my rose in her glorly last summer.

It bloomed until October and has been on the deck out of the wind for the last 3 months, receiving only the water Mother Nature blew her way. Could Seattle roses (facing North) possibly start to leaf out and grow in January? I knew that we had an extended growing season, but this is incredible!

Stay tuned.

Herb Appeal

This is the goal: a healthy herb pot on the patio at the cottage, shown here on one of my Ana's Delight Totes (if you want a tote with this cover, just email me).  I am happy to report that we will have planted our herb pots one week from today!

My dad and I always celebrate Father's Day by planting herb pots together.  His pot stays up north and we cook from it all Summer.  Mine travels back home with me, wrapped in a plastic bag and gently wedged between a laundry basket of weekend clothes and, say, an electric ice cream maker.  It always makes it home, but I'm a little nervous until it is taken out of the car, unbroken.

Last Summer we didn't make an herb pot for the first time in years and we both missed it terribly.  We blame a combination of timing, weather and travel schedules;  we didn't have a great selection of herbs and the time to pot them intersect. So....this herb pot feels even more important.

Last week we went to Wiegand's and we thrilled to find: Ginger Mint, Lemon Thyme, Dill, Chocolate Mint, Variagated Sage, Orange Mint, Parsley, Hot n Spicy Oregano...  It was an herb specialists dream!

Father's Day is Sunday and we will be planting together by Tuesday.  Can you see me smiling?

Patio Pots: Layering Shades of the same Color

Doesn't this planter shout, "Yippee!"  When I was selecting the plants for my large patio pots, I decided to blend shades of coral, bright pink and touches of orange across a variety of plants.  The effect is a happy and visually interesting arrangement.  Every bloom is a different shape, but the arrangement works because the colors are so similar. 

What you see here are a:

• bright pink gerbera daisy
• icelandic poppy in orange & white
• vibrant coral geranium
• medium coral gerbera daisy
• pink double petunia (which I might move, because the color is a little too blue)

As you shop for the pots on your patio, consider combining a mix of plants like this.  The varying height, color and shape will give your patio a custom look.

Strawberry Pot

I am finally using something for its original purpose!  For years, I have planted my strawberry pot with herbs.  It is a wonderful way to have a container garden full of a variety of herbs by the kitchen door.

However, the pot keeps the plants small, so the supply of basil is limited.  This year I am giving my herbs more room and planting them where they can grow larger.  

All of this left my strawberry pot empty, so I transferred some little plants from the garden to the pot and they love it!  When at least 10 are ripe, I'll make a dessert and sprinkle them on top.  Viva la Strawberry!

Father's May Herb Pot: Planting a Tradition

Every year, my Dad & I celebrate Father's Day...in May. You see, our tradition is planting matching herb pots and we want to plant when the herb selection is best.

First, we shop for mint & sage & thyme, oh my! Then there are discussions about dirt (bagged or from the garden), who has the Soil Moist (usually me) and how the weather is looking for Memorial Weekend (gorgeous!). 

We plant a different herb in each hole of our strawberry pots. Sometimes, as a crowning touch, we add a "Sweet 100" cherry tomato plant next to the dill and orange mint on top. Sometimes the cherry tomato plant grows too big and it dominates the pot; other times it is just right. I certainly love seeing the bright red cherries, but in truth, it is probably best to stick to just herb. What choices there are!

Our little herb garden is compact, beautiful and smells divine. Happy Father's May.