First, I would like to join in on the blog of miss c and post the view from my back porch.

The sun rises over this mountain and thankfully I’m an early riser so I don’t miss it.

I’m watching my grandson today so while he’s napping

precious baby

let me show you what’s happening in the gardens.

Allium ‘Globemaster’ is one of my favorite bulbs in the flower beds.  It stands about three feet tall, has no leaves but has a very sturdy stalk.  I like to plant it with daylilies or behind other plants to cover the stalk.

Allium ‘Globemaster’

People stop me all the time and ask what type of flower this is.  When the flower has finished its show, it still adds dimension with the dried flowers lasting until fall.  This is a perennial in zones 5-8 and likes full sun and dry weather.  And another plus–deer don’t like them!

Allium ‘Globemaster’

My grandmother’s peonies are blooming now.  These peonies are believed to be around seventy to eighty years old.

These were given to me by my grandmother

and my grandmother got them from her mother.

Pass-a-long plants are very special to me.  It is a special reminder of a person I loved and I think of her even more when these bloom.

The ‘Zéphirine Drouhin’ rose always blooms on Mother’s Day.  This is a climbing rose but I keep it in check by cutting back in late winter.  It is very fragrant, tolerates some shade is it’s not prone to black spot.

‘Zéphirine Drouhin’

A new coleus I’m growing this year is called Chocolate Covered Cherry.

Coleus ‘Chocolate Covered Cherry’

Coleus is very easy to start from seed and I started these around the middle of January in the greenhouse.  I have these in the same bed as my hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ and some white caladiums.  Can’t wait to see everything filled out and together.

Another underused shrub that many people don’t know about it Amsonia hubrichtii or Arkansas Blue Star.

Amsonia hubrichtii

This shrub gets about 2-3 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide.  The blue flowers appear in the spring and the foliage is thread-like

Amsonia hubrichtii

and turns golden in the fall.

It loves hot, dry weather and deer don’t bother it at all.  Last year when we had the grasshopper invasion, this shrub was untouched which moved it to the top of my favorites list.

Another native plant I have is Baptisia australis or False Indigo.

Baptisia australis

This is a smaller shrub (?)/ plant that blooms in the spring,

has unique leaves, and produces a seed “rattle” in the fall.

Baptisia seed pods.

When the wind blows, these seed pods sound like a baby rattle

Baptisia seeds

These are also easy to start from seed but grow slowly.

Oh!  I almost forgot to show you the living roof on the chicken coop.  I finished it a couple of weeks ago and so far the plants have stayed in place even after the massive rains we’ve had from the recent storms.  I also painted the ugly white door red.  Let me know what you think.  I plan on painting something else on it just don’t know what yet.  I’m not an artist so any ideas are welcome.

My little sweetie is up so time to get playing

Have a great day and weekend!

Brenda