Variegated Korean Lilac
My favorite method of propagating shrubs is digging up suckers. That’s how I started a Korean lilac hedge for the cost of one plant.
As I was weeding this weekend, I noticed that one of the new plants had variegated leaves. Have I discovered a new variety?! Couldn’t find a variegated Korean lilac on the Internet. Hmmm.
June Border
The front border is looking spectacular, with layers of blooming flowers like a dessert tray. Even with rain knocking over the peonies, it still looks grand.
Iris
The Siberian and bearded iris have started to bloom, and the abundant moisture has kept them fresh-looking. Too often, the Siberian iris fades after a day or two, but not this year. After daffodils, these are some of my favorite flowers.
Sawfly
The sawfly larvae did damage again this year. I have been vigilant in my garden rounds, except for the four days we spent in Boston for our son’s graduation. Of course, that is when they struck! The climbing rose (William Baffin) and azalea (Exbury, Lemon Lights) foliage was destroyed. I did some hand-picking and used insecticidal soap to save the rose buds.
Dictamnus albus, aka, Gas plant
It’s common name isn’t pretty, but this herbaceous perennial sure is! Deer resistant, sturdy, with flowers that look like alosteria, this is one of my favorite garden flowers.
The flowers give off a gas that keeps the critters away; and is flammable! Of course, it’s unlikely that the deer will be smoking around this plant.
Bear with Me
The big (and, I mean, big) wildlife excitement around here is a black bear!
It has been spotted only half a mile east of our home. Then, someone caught it on camera just a mile or so south of us.
My next-door neighbor called me over the other evening when I was out watering the pots. He said he wanted to show me something.
We walked over to the footbridge he had recently built over our little creek. There, quite clearly, where the large paw prints of a bear.
With the coyotes howling at night and the hawks swooping after songbirds at the feeder, I am starting to feel like we live in the Wild West!
If only bears ate venison… .
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A bear. Wow. The most I have to worry about in my garden is the odd Muntjac deer.
A bear !? (a big cat ..) amazing! We are waiting for live pictures now …
About the Dictamnus, I didn’t know this plant and the video is very explicit. I have to google about it, especially since the flowers are beautiful
Thank you! We have been working hard, and Mother Nature even harder!
Thanks! You will love dictamnus. It’s slow to get started, but worth the wait.
They sure are. I want to, and don’t want to see this bear, if you know what I mean!
You get the gators, we get the bears!
A bear! Now that’s something I wouldn’t like to have to think about coming into my garden. Your border is looking beautiful indeed, and that gas plant is a novelty.
Your photos are bright and gorgeous. I must check out if Dictamnus would grow here. Love your idea of bear taking care of that deer issue. Hahaha.
Those are big bear prints!
Oh my! No lions or tigers? That’s cool (I’m thinking maybe yes maybe not so much).