These mystery Iris were planted a couple of years ago. Surprise!
When these iris were planted in the front garden a couple of years ago, I was not sure what color they were. I can’t even remember where I got them. Was it the Rocky Mountain Gardening Forum plant swap? Maybe my friend Julie? Surprises in the garden are one of the joys of toiling in the dirt. Watching all of the fruits of your labor burst into bloom in the spring, summer and fall makes it all worth it. I love the process of teaching the kids about the powerful lesson of cultivating a seed, nurturing it and watching it grow into a beautiful flower or food to eat. The value of delaying gratification and cultivating patience. I know many of the gardeners feel the same as I do, that gardening is a form of therapy. Cheap and effective therapy!
I have been thinking of garden design. Having incorporated a small potager garden in the front yard (grow food not lawns!) taking a more intentional approach to my garden design has added a new dimension to the process. When I first started gardening, I would see a plant and fall in love and plant it in the garden without much thought as to aesthetics or companion planting, or even lighting and ease of water. As I grow and learn the art of gardening, I am thinking about color combinations, height in my plantings, compatibility and complimentary plantings. Consideration to water and light, will this plant thrive here?
These sweet dwarf Iris have been in my garden since we moved into the Bohemian Cottage.
The garden design has evolved into mostly cool tones of blues, purples and pinks in the front beds and warm tones of orange, red, yellow and hot pinks in the beds near the house. This will be the first year to really start seeing it all come together. I have added many drought resistant perennial flowers and I am working on growing more and more from seed.
These prolific yellow columbine can take a beating and keep on blooming… photo credit:Coda
You can take a peek at these yellow columbines from our garden last year here. They are just as lovely this year. Some of the other plants that were planted this year include:
- Red Scarlet Morning Glories
- Sugar Snap Peas
- Watermelon Radish
- White Mini Pumpkins
- Blue Ghost Pumpkins
- Snake Gourds
- Golden Zucchini
- Bright Nasturtium Mix
- Chinese Lanterns
- Orange Poppy
- Blue Delphinium
- Perennial Lavender
- Celery
- Marigolds
- Blue Kale
- Oak Leaf Lettuce
- Bright Mix Cosmos
This orange Poppy was able to survive being transplanted from my friend Cat’s garden.
I am looking forward to sharing with you another season of gardening and learning and lots of recipes and pictures!
