Mother Earth's Garden

I used to scoff at Stella De Oro, I thought it was way to plain for my garden, you see it everywhere blooming it’s little heart out. Now I know why so many people grow this mighty little plant. It’s the longest blooming lily there is.

Stella De Oro blooms from early June to late July, and even into August in our area. No other lily in my garden blooms nearly that long. Most put on  spectacular show, but they’re done blooming in a couple weeks.
It may not have all the different colors available, but I love plants …read more

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My son went to a summer nature camp every day this last week, and on Friday I went with him. We had a great time hiking through the woods and meadows, enjoying Mother Nature’s garden. I thought I’d share a few images with you of the flowers in the meadow.
Some of our walk was through the woods, and down around a small pond. Check out the milkweeds. It always makes me happy to see milkweed pods, I know it makes the butterflies happy too.

Here was the first butterfly we saw.

And a few more beautiful flowers.

These …read more

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I think lavender is the most versatile herb in my garden, it’s also one of my favorites. I have a hard time getting it to come back every year in my Ohio garden. I think the wet springs get it.

I’ll have plants come up for several years, then suddenly nothing and I have to replace them. They’re definitely worth the fuss. I love the scent of lavender, and I use it in so many ways. It’s a wonderful dried flower in arrangements, it turns out very nice when you press it too.
I have several recipes for potpourris with …read more

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I enjoy Spiderwort because it is one of the longest blooming perennials in the garden. Spiderwort usually starts blooming in early June and continues blooming all the way up to fall if you talk to it nicely, or at least give it a little incentive in the form of water and quality soil.

Spider wort features tiny delicate blooms and long thin leaves, and once it starts blooming it just keeps on going adding new blooms to the end of the foliage as the old blooms wither away.
I love the blue coloring of spiderwort, it makes a great addition to …read more

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I have a mid June Garden Update for you, or is it almost the end of June already? Why does the summer fly by so fast, and the winter seem to drag on forever?
My peas are almost ready. Their little pods are finally filling out, I think it’s about time since I planted them way back in April.

I’m starting to harvest some onions, they’re not huge but they’re just the right size to slice up for sandwiches and salads.
My tomatoes all have blooms, or little green tomatoes growing on them. Hopefully I’m on track to start getting some ripe …read more

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Today is the day my garden celebrates the Summer Equinox, the longest day of the year. The day the fairies dance around my garden and celebrate the start of summer.
 
I never can catch them in the act, but I’ll be watching for them this year! They can’t fool me. I’ll watch for their footprints and signs of celebration.

Have you caught the fairies in your garden celebrating the summer equinox? Don’t tell me fairies don’t exist!

They definitely exist in my garden, here’s the sign to prove it. Hah!
Images © L Gerlach

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I have a large clump of Moonbeam Coreopsis right outside my front door, and seeing it always makes me feel sunny. The bees and butterflies seem to love it too. Everytime I step outside I find bees and butterflies hovering around the blooms.
Any plant that attracts honey bees and butterflies to my garden is automatically a favorite.

I got a start of coreopsis several years ago from my mom. It’s a plant that tends to sprawl and can get out of hand if you don’t keep it in check by pulling out the plants you don’t want in …read more

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I love poppies! They’re such a show off in the garden. I love the feel of their petals, the texture is like nothing else. I enjoy seeing them pop their heads out of the ground each spring. It almost seems as if you can see them growing if you watch closely, they grow so fast.

Have you ever tried drying poppy petals? I press them in my flower press (individual petals, not whole flowers), and they turn out beautiful. I’ve used them for abstract backgrounds in pressed flower portraits. Combine several colors and you can make a flower mosaic.
They …read more

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Yarrow is one of my favorite flowers for it’s versatility, and it’s very easy to grow. It’s great for drying, fresh bouquets, or for pressing. It blooms at the end of June or first of July every year, and makes a great display in the garden too.
Yellow yarrow is my favorite, it holds it’s beautiful yellow color after it’s dried for several years. I love to use it in fall dried flower displays.

The other colors of yarrow work well too for drying and crafting. Some of my other favorite colors include purple, pink, white, and red.

Even the foliage …read more

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I love Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day during the summer. It inspires me to get out there and capture images of the flowers growing in my garden. I still look back on last years garden images. It’s a great way to remember gardens past.
This month I have one lingering iris still blooming, it’s one of my favorites, and it always blooms a little later than the rest. It likes to keep me in suspense on whether it’s going to bloom or not. Just when I’ve given up hope, there it is! It’s a beautiful ruffled purple and white blooming iris.

My …read more

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