Garden Share Bristol

I hope that you’re not sick of lotus flowers yet, because I just can’t resist posting two more photos. The first one was taken Friday, July 27, 2007 on the first day that this flower was in bloom. Note the rich pink color of the petals and the wonderful polka dot look of the stigmas on the pistil. The stamens are the curled, creamy colored frill around the pistil.

I must admit that this is undoubtedly the most beautiful photo that I have taken all year!

Fast forward to Sunday, July 29. Just a few days later and the petals have turned almost completely white, and the stamens have grown into the stigmas for pollination. Amazing!

Just a reminder: on Saturday, August 4, my garden will be featured in Denver Botanic Gardens’ Highlands Art Garden Tour. The tour is from 1-3 p.m. and is preceded by a lecture at 11 a.m. by Julie Moir Messervy. Messervy will discuss “Creating Inspired Gardens Through Art” as part of the Bonfils-Stanton lecture series.

The garden tour is an open studio tour of sorts as well. All of the gardens will feature sculpture, and several of the gardens are at artists’ residences and/or studios. I’ll have some of my fiber collages on display---several new pieces and a couple of older favorites too. This photo is from my latest series of mini-floral fiber collages that feature my own photographs and fabrics.

Tickets are required for this event. Please contact Denver Botanic Gardens at 720-865-3580.

Hope to see you here!

Finally in bloom! In a previous post I opined that the uplifted leaves of my lotus were a sure sign of imminent flowers. Well, it’s been a bit longer than I expected (wished for?) but this weekend we were rewarded with our first lotus bloom of the summer. These are such stunning flowers. They make me feel like my city patio has been transformed into an exotic Asian resort (minus the humidity!); a fun escape on a hot summer day.

Mosquito season is here---aaaaak! I hate mosquitoes, and now with the upgraded threat of West Nile virus they are on my hit list. I’m a big fan of Mosquito Dunks®, a biological larvicide that’s easy to use and lasts for about a month. I put them in my water pots, pond, birdbath, etc. The active ingredient is Bacillus thuringensis, a bacterium that is eaten by, and then kills, mosquito larvae. The dry cakes can be broken into smaller pieces depending on the surface area of water to be treated (a little goes a long way!). Look for them at your favorite garden center.

Chocolate colored daylily and purple lysimachia
"Topaz" shrub rose
Globe thistle

Poppy mallow

Here is a list of the many things blooming in my hot and sunny garden today, July 15, 2007. It never surprises me to see how many things really are in flower at any given time!

Trees
None

Shrubs
St. Johnswort
Rose(s)

Perennials
Poppy mallow
Red flowering yucca
Aster Frikartii
Geranium(s)
Penstemon(s)
Clematis(s)
Daylily(s)
Tall phlox
Purple coneflower
Sea lavender
Jupiter’s beard, red & white
Yarrow(s)
Potentilla(s)
Missouri evening primrose
Baby’s breath
Goldenrod
Hollyhock
Sunrose
Scarlet hedgenettle
Mexican hat
Allium
Horned poppy
Lavender(s)
Spiderwort
Gaura
Russian sage
Sea holly
Carpet Zauschneria
Globe thistle
Sedum(s)
Lysimachia(s)

Fresh herbs in full use now
Mint
Basil
Chives
Rosemary
Sage
Oregano
Dill
Thyme

Does anyone know what this plant is? I took this photo last week at Denver Botanic Gardens in one of their vegetable plots. I love the gunmetal grey color, the fountain-like form, and the weirdly corrugated leaf texture. The plant is about 12”-14” tall at this time, and had no indication of a flower or fruit. Is it some type of kale? I would love to add this as an edible ornamental to my mixed border at home!