JUNE FLOWERS - A WALK AROUND THE YARD - JUNE 29, 2011

Double giant Clematis "Arctic Queen"

Double Clematis Franziska Maria 

Late Tall Bearded Iris Jump For Joy and Poem of Ecstasy

Late Tall bearded Iris Aphrodisiac

Asiatic Lily 

The last of the poppies, lupine, iris and peonies

WHITE SWIRL Siberian Iris

TAHITIAN SUNSET Hybrid Tea Rose

Yesterday I took a walk around the yard, snapping these pictures before the late spring blooms are gone.  Sigh...it was so beautiful while it lasted!  But, as you can see by a few of the pictures, new plants are already in bloom. (That's one of the things I like best about having a variety of perennials with different bloom times).  Yesterday, today, and if necessary, tomorrow, will be spent cutting back all the lupine, dead heading the peonies, and making sure all the iris stalks are snipped right at the base of each stem that bloomed.  Cleaning up your beds at the end of their season not only keeps the beds looking good, but helps protect them from harboring insects and increasing the risk of spreading disease.  The next plants in line to bloom are lilies of all kinds, and summer perennials, like salvia, monarda, larkspur, delphinium, foxglove, all the rock garden plants, daisies, and, of course, the roses are blooming now, and will continue through the season (another reason why I love roses so much!)  And, the clematis are stunning! This is also a time when the few annuals I have planted will add the extra color my perennials don't provide.  I've planted the tall, State Fair colorful zinnias and some lacy pink and white petunias this year.  The glads are growing taller each day, and I should have a stead supply of them through the summer soon.  Planting groups of gladiola in 2-week intervals makes that possible.

Late Tall Bearded Iris FEATURE ATTRACTION

Bright Blue Bush Delphinium

Larkspur

Dwarf Bell Flower

Pink and White Lacy Petunia

Spent white peony

New blooms of Clematis, Salvia and first Lily Blooms

"America" climbing rose

JOSEPHINE clematis

Late Peony

MAGHAREE late tall bearded iris

Climbing Roses and Clematis

CHICAGO PEACE hybrid tea rose

Lacy Petunia

LAST OF THE LUPINE, IRIS & PEONIES - SAD TO SEE THEM GO

The glory of the garden is starting to fade.   With those fading colors come some of the most pleasing sights and color combinations of the season so far for me. I hate to see the days go by, and with them, the fading blooms will disappear.When they start to fade, it happens quickly--even in just a day.  So, on to the next flush of blooms--the lilies will be on next, and the gardens will take on a completely different look. I will enjoy these last few days, and am glad to have these documented photos of the back garden bed.

BLUES AND PINKS - SERENE COLORS FOR THE GARDEN AND ARRANGEMENTS

DOUBLE DELIGHT ROSE--EACH ROSE ON THE PLANT IS DIFFERENT

DOUBLE DELIGHT Hybrid Tea Rose

The roses are just beginning to unfurl, about 26 days behind their usual bloom time.  One of my favorites has always been DOUBLE DELIGHT.   I like it because every flower on the bush is different; there were about 12 blooms on the rose bush, and no two were alike!  It's fragrance is very aromatic, and it's especially nice used in bouquets, lasting a lengthy time if stored in clean water with a floral preservative.  To make arranging easier,  I remove the thorns before I arrange them.  I also use a floral preservative, plunging the blooms in tepid water as soon as cut, on an angle,  If possible, cut under water.   Cut blooms early in the morning or late in the evening for longer  lasting arrangements.  If you need your arrangement to last a week, cut flowers as buds.  Store in a cool, dark place until you need to display it.  Keep arrangements away from drafts or direct sunlight .                                                                                                                     

THE LAST IRIS TO BLOOM - THE IRIS SEASON APPROACHES IT'S END

Master Touch

Bubbling Over

Rolling Thunder

The IRIS BLOOM never lasts long enough! Yesterday I had the last 2 tall bearded iris to bloom in my flower beds: Rolling Thunder and Extravagant, with Bold Expression, Magharee, Bubbling Over, Paint the Sky, Heartstring Strummer, Sly Fox, Cherry Blossom Song Master Touch, and Feature Attraction in the last few days.  That makes 100 different iris bloomed this year.  They have been beautiful, although some not as tall or large, due to weather conditions this spring.  But, that also makes 61 that didn't bloom, also due to the weather.  There are some that have finished blooming, but most are still blooming' however, the season is definitely coming to a close within the next couple of weeks.Tall bearded iris are the showiest members of the genus IRIS, and have fuzzy beards at the top of each fall. They like full sun and well-drained soil.  Their beautiful blooms have long been a common site in beds and borders in the spring. Having varieties that bloom early through the late season, extends the time you can enjoy these beauties, which usually starts the first of May and ends in June around here in the top of Utah.  This year they were later by a couple weeks due to an unusually wet and cold spring. There are virtually thousands of cultivar's to choose from, with more being introduced by hybridizers each year.  Every year, award-winners are named, including the American Iris Society's DYKES MEDAL, the award given to the one iris variety that year for beauty, performance, and hardiness.  One of the best thing about Iris is that they perform best when regularly divided, and so you'll always have some to share with fellow gardening friends and neighbors. 

Cherry Blossom Song

Heartstring Strummer

Extravagant

Bold Expression

Magharee

Feature Attraction

Sly Fox

Paint the Sky