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Cutting Garden

July 6th, 2015

There is no proper cutting garden here at Chiot’s Run, in fact I rarely cut flowers to bring them inside. I spend enough time outside to enjoy the flowers in the garden. One of my friends LOVES flowers and wants to incorporate a cutting garden into her garden space. When I went to a dinner party at her place last weekend I took a few arrangements of various flowers I had in my garden. I’ll be giving her starts of many of them for her very own cutting garden.
flower arrangements 1
We’ve been brainstorming various perennials that she can add to a space to have a long season of cut flowers. Of course a few annuals mixed in will make for a long season of beauty from the garden. Lady’s Mantle is one of my favorite cut flowers, I love how understated it is and how it fills in the space around more showy flowers.
flower arrangements 2
Even though I don’t bring flowers in, I often cut arrangements to take when I’m invited somewhere. I find arrangements are most welcome. It’s also nice that it’s something the person can enjoy and then compost, there’s nothing they will end up feeling guilty about getting rid of someday.

Do you cut flowers from you garden often? What’s your favorite flower(s) for cutting?

Friday Favorite: Watching Things Unfold

July 3rd, 2015

One of the great things about gardening is that it’s new every year. I know the peonies, hydrangeas, poppies, and other flowers will bloom, but I’m always surprised by their intricate beauty when they do. It’s like receiving a wonderful gift over and over again.
Single Poppy
I’m reminded of this quote “Mostly what’s on my mind right now are the falls colors. I go around gaping, as if I have never seen anything like it before. Perhaps I haven’t, I’m never quite sure. I could see this display every year and not grow tired of it, like seeing the flight of geese, or hearing the bird songs in spring. I remember, and that might reduce the amazement. But I don’t remember the edge–the vividness of the spectacle.” -Bernd Heinrich (A Year In The Maine Woods)
Peony poppy
Each year I’m amazed by the beauty of the garden, it’s like I can’t quite remember it in all it’s beauty. The truth is that a garden is always slightly different each year.

Do you feel like things are new every year in the garden?

Lovely Alyssum

July 2nd, 2015

Ever since I was a wee little lass, I’ve loved alyssum. It’s always had a spot in my garden and it always will. There’s something about this little flower that I adore, it’s perfect in just about every way. Generally I buy my plants at a the local greenhouse since I’ve never had much luck starting it from seed. That never stops my from trying, each year I buy a pack of seed and give it another try.
alyssum
This is ‘Gulf Winds’ alyssum from Renee’s Garden and I’m a huge fan of the color mix. Usually I buy plain white, but this mix is perfection. Last night I transplanted them around the garden, filling in holes where I harvested lettuce or where other plants died. I’ll definitely be trying this variety once again next year.

Have you had an annual that you’ve loved for your entire life? Do you still grow it in the garden? 

Must Get More Peonies

July 1st, 2015

I love peonies, simply love them. In my Ohio garden I have 15-20 different varieties of peonies and they produced quite a show in the early summer. Last year I purchased two new peonies for my garden here, but I’m definitely in need of a few more.
peony 4
peonies 4
peony 2 (1)
peony 1 (1)
single_pink_peony 2
peony_blooms 3
pink_peony 1
I brought a couple of these beauties with me and I still need to get a start of my grandma’s heirloom peony from my mom. I’m slowly adding peonies to my garden once again, I can’t wait to have them dotting the flowerbeds. ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ is definitely one of my favorites, I got one for this garden last year.

Do you have any peonies in your garden?

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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