Tuesday, April 14, 2009

A "Gifted Garden"

A “Gifted Garden”
Many of the plants that now make their home in my garden started off in the gardens of family and friends. When we moved into our home, I was gifted with plants from my mother, grandmother, aunt, and neighbors. My cousin gave me a Lavender plant on my wedding day to plant by my front door. I was a complete novice and knew next to nothing about gardening. The previous owners of the house had left me peonies, roses, and unusual double day lilies. My garden has been a constant pleasure and subtle teacher. My friends and I often swap plants, thus expanding our gardens and friendship. My garden is a scrapbook of memories-the Hydrangeas from Donna-peonies from my grandmother-primroses from my former neighbor Bonnie-Iris from my Mom..












Naturalized daffodils on the side bank.






Spring is here, but those lovely spring temperatures still elude us. Some hardy blossoms are putting on a show anyway. The magnolia in my neighbor’s yard is stellar with big fist-sized blossoms. In a little while when the petals drop it will look like a carpet of pink snow.
My old fashioned red primroses turn their little faces to the sun and a bunch of Forget Me Nots has seeded itself in my front bed.
The Lenten Rose is a fascinating piece of art captured up close. The double daffodils were a gift from my mother’s garden as well as the old fashioned bleeding hearts. I have a white variety that has yet to bloom.


Since we had company for the weekend, I needed some color for the back door so I planted a wire basket with magenta pansies. Since we use the backdoor more than the front, this would be the first sight to greet my guests upon their arrival.


The PJM Rhododendron is just beginning its show. With all the rain showers things will really start to burst into bloom.


I hope you enjoyed your visit to my early spring garden. Just a little show for

Have a lovely day!
















5 comments:

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

What great shots of beautiful spring flowers!

Floral Still Life said...

I moved about 3 years ago. So I'm starting a garden, but I do have some plants from earlier owners - flowering quince, peonies, old fashisoned lilacs which should bloom this year, and a beautiful crabapple tree.

Your plants look beautiful. Have you ever picked some and turned them into still life images?

I want to plant a lot of flowers so I can photograph them. Check out my posting of today to see still life peonies I did of some friend's peonies and my posting of yesterday's still life hydrangeas.
The blog is at http://photographyhints.blogspot.com

The Stylish House said...

Kate,
I have enjoyed viewing your site, it is lovely. I like the idea of sharing plants with friends, my mother did this when I was younger. You have some unusual flowers; I assume you are in the south. I am up north and more then ready for it to warm up and show a bit of color. Have a wonderful day….Cathy

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

Happy Outdoor Wednesday Kate...Sorry I haven't been around as much lately..... I haven't felt good. Thanks for sharing your photos.~ Susan

prashant said...

Your plants look beautiful. Have you ever picked some and turned them into still life images?
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