tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91820893129175895722024-02-18T18:12:57.193-08:00Melanie's PerennialsMelanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-48546155913978614252019-02-10T17:27:00.000-08:002019-02-10T17:27:20.646-08:00Oh the places I’ve been...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Although I haven't been blogging over the last years I have not stopped visiting as many gardens as time allows. Just last week while my family was skiing in Vail Colorado I walked through the Betty Ford Alpine Garden. As beautiful as it was in winter I hope I get to see it some day in full bloom.</div>
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Two years ago Andy and I went to Germany. We visited public gardens and stunning castle gardens but nothing was better than the visits to my Aunt's garden and my cousin's garden. I truly discovered my roots and the origin of my love of gardening.</div>
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I took many photos in the public gardens and the castle gardens. </div>
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This blog is just an opening chapter to highlight some of the sights I've seen the last few years. With February winds blowing through our bare trees and howling down the chimney I thought I'd come up with a topic to fuel my garden dreams. Spring is just around the corner, or so we hope.</div>
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One of our more adventurous trips was this past August. We took a Harley Davidson trip to Nantucket where the gardens, window boxes and beaches took my breath away.</div>
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There were hikes in amazing places with wonderful friends,</div>
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Shopping in new "instantly favorite" locations,</div>
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and visits to family members where we swapped plants.</div>
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Sometimes there were just walks around our charming Centerport which is just chock full of lovely gardens. So check in every now and then and come along with me to the places I've been.</div>
<br />Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-38386787400191388592019-01-27T12:23:00.001-08:002019-01-27T12:23:26.452-08:00Ferns<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's beautiful out today. Well, let me clarify, it's beautiful for the end of January. I had a lovely walk around the neighborhood where I looked at all kinds of winter plant material. Coming back to my porch I noticed how nice this fern looked. It will take some digging around but this spring when I go over my plant labels I will take note of what type of fern this is and try to find more for my garden.</div>
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Ferns have been catching my eye quite a bit the last few years. Surprising to me is the many different conditions where I have found them thriving. Two years ago we traveled through Northern Germany. One of the castles we visited had real life grotto. Be still my beating heart! This combination of ferns and Wisteria is just stunning.</div>
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One of the first ferns I grew (back at Old Country Gardens) was the variety "Ghost". It grows well here in Centerport too, this last spring I learned that it's super easy to divide and hardly missed a step when replanted. I have not had the other ferns here grow as fast.</div>
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Here's "Ghost" with a purple Heuchera. I took this photo at the Peconic River Herb Farm, one of my must visit places here on Long Island. </div>
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This nice green fern came without a name. That's because I dug it up in a field at our friends house in upstate New York. It's been happy for three or four years so I'd like to see some more come along. Maybe I have to go dig a few more...</div>
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One of my new experiments this past season was this perennial shade pot. I'm hoping these babies make it through the winter, in about 8 weeks I'll know for sure.</div>
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Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-80921143595753658832019-01-21T15:17:00.000-08:002019-01-21T15:17:06.170-08:00Another go around<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So here I am again, trying to find a way to get back to my garden blogs. So much has happened since I last posted here. I married my wonderful Andy, making me Melanie Chopay. </div>
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Thankfully Andy loves the outdoors too and we’ve hiked and walked through many a garden or nature preserve. Not only has my name changed but I also manage a bank, who would have guessed that? By the way this photo was taken in Hamburg Germany. </div>
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I have two years of pent up photos and ideas to share, can’t wait to get them out to the world again. </div>
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Love</div>
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Melanie</div>
Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-16217673052266990322017-03-21T15:24:00.002-07:002017-03-21T15:24:55.336-07:00Peconic River Herb Farm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's finally here! It's Spring!!</div>
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If only I could rush outside and see dew drops on my ladies mantle. Unfortunately most of our beds are still covered in snow or dusty leaves. It will be two more weeks before I uncover everything so right now I'm still living in anticipation mode.</div>
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Alchemilla mollis (Ladies mantle) is one of my "can't live without" perennials. I always explain it by saying it's like adding crown molding to a bare painted wall. Ladies mantle makes all of it's companions look fabulous. It's the ultimate tapestry plant.</div>
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There are no visions of sugarplums dancing in my head right now. The only visions are of the garden centers and nurseries that I will be visiting in a very short time. Luckily we have so many of them available to us here on Long Island. This year I hope to adventure out and try a few north and west of New York city too.</div>
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Peconic River Herb farm is a must visit nursery for any gardener on Long Island. Pack a picnic lunch and a chilled bottle of champagne, there's plenty of places to sit and have lunch.</div>
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I love all their quirky garden art like this planted wheelbarrow.</div>
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Last year it was cold and rainy when I visited the herb farm but it didn't stop me from taking photos and buying plants too. They have a fabulous selections of herbs (of course) but also a surprisingly large selection of perennials, annuals, shrubs and small trees. The staff there is super helpful too.</div>
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If you get to visit, save time to walk the large grounds. You'll find all kinds of plant combinations and ideas every which way you turn. There's many mature trees so you'll get lots of ideas for semi-shade areas if that's your style. I love this combination of Epemedium, Dicentra spectablis (bleeding hearts) and Podophyllum (May apples).</div>
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The rustic charm and sounds of nature will whisk you away to a place far far away from home. </div>
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I can't wait to go back again this May. Maybe I'll see some of you there...</div>
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<br />Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-84063647203463055682017-03-14T09:28:00.000-07:002017-03-14T09:28:27.033-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are all bundled up inside while the wind and rain and sleet swirls around us. Long Island was under a blizzard warning today but temperatures rose just above freezing so it's pretty much rain now.</div>
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Spring is just around the corner and it's all I can do to keep from starting to clean up the garden. I've always been a perennial kind of gal but last season one of the stars of the garden was my Coleus on the front porch. You can bet I'm going to add more of these.</div>
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Sitting out on the front porch is one of my favorite pastimes. You can see how small the Coleus was at first.</div>
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Total sun is hard to find here at our little cottage. Wherever I find it I tuck in some succulents.</div>
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The front curb was wasted space so it too became part of the garden.</div>
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This post is mostly a test, there have been so many changes to blogger that I'm playing around to see if I can post again. I miss my garden friends!</div>
Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-43077651110055143732016-05-04T17:32:00.001-07:002016-05-04T17:32:43.761-07:00Rainy Day Garden Tours<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today was a tough day to be a gardener. I'm in the middle of a 3 months shift at work that has me covering Saturdays. In exchange I get a day off during the week and I've promised myself to spend the day as a gardener. Drizzle, fog, rain and temperatures in the high 40's were a challenge but I refused to back down. First stop was SUNY Farmingdale, they were having a plant sale and my daylily friends would be there. This place is just magical to me.</div>
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The large kitchen gardens are still waiting for most of it's plant material to arrive but there were still lots of things to see like this cracked but still beautiful trough.</div>
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Tucked into a wooded walk was a cheerful spring planting combination.</div>
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So much blue, I just love it!</div>
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The white trees were perfect with the underplanting of blue. The challenge was taking good photographs as I was protecting my camera from the weather and my fingers were numb.</div>
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A large planting of Allium reminded me that before their spectacular blooms the foliage already poops out and gets quite ratty.</div>
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A nice little woodland walk</div>
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This spot was perfect, I could have taken a dozen photos here.</div>
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Pulmonaria in all it's glory! This is a plant I need to get for our cottage garden.</div>
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Well one thing for sure, when it rains the Alchimella molls (Ladie's mantle) is going to show off!</div>
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Next stop was Peconic River Herb Farm all the way out in Calverton. The rain was more steady here and my poor fingers really froze but I still took my time and checked out every corner of this heavenly place.</div>
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I don't think it's possible to take a bad photo of this potting shed.</div>
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Early spring bloomers were competing for attention. Epimedium, Dicentra and May Apples, oh my!</div>
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The grounds were empty, only a half dozen employees busily filling every nook and cranny with new plants for Mother's Day coming this Sunday. </div>
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How do you like this window box? I just adore it.</div>
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One more close up look. So yes, I'm back, I've got a darling cottage garden and I'm going to write all about it. Today's post was driven by all the photos I shot today but no worries, I'll be sharing all kinds of information on perennials that do well here for me.</div>
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<br />Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-49132427120259983002015-02-24T17:43:00.006-08:002015-02-24T17:43:52.643-08:00Arctic Blast! Not at Planting Fields Arboretum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofc11ECnGmX3YzhcJqDAbw8rKue0VkB_QkU8WbQVRFSH3Mx8AkdWN8xIQmeGxWRVYWbREYpRNImiEpXpbWB8_O_rCI47bj3_w7EtPhx0pJN1s2Q1ml3PPQL2TUwQdwGf0MpQC035WjQxD/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofc11ECnGmX3YzhcJqDAbw8rKue0VkB_QkU8WbQVRFSH3Mx8AkdWN8xIQmeGxWRVYWbREYpRNImiEpXpbWB8_O_rCI47bj3_w7EtPhx0pJN1s2Q1ml3PPQL2TUwQdwGf0MpQC035WjQxD/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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This past Autumn we spent a wonderful afternoon at Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay NY. While all the outside plant displays were magnificent as always, it was the greenhouses that took our breath away.</div>
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This morning we awoke to a fridgid 4 degrees, talk about cold! It's one of the coldest winters I can remember, the salt water bays of Northport, Centerport, Cold Spring Harbor and Huntington are frozen solid. One place though that I know is warm is inside the greenhouses at Planting Fields Arboretum, I can't wait to get there again.</div>
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The plant displays change in the green house from season to season although the large main-stay plants are always there. I'm not going to try to list the plant names, tropical plants are not my expertise.</div>
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The best lesson I've learned from tropical gardens is how important foliage color and form can be. Who needs flowers with a combination like this?</div>
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I couldn't resist it, this is the same shot just a little closer. I'm in love with all these patterns, colors and textures.</div>
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Being that this was fall, there were quite a few Chrysanthemums in the display. I'm not complaining.</div>
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There are benches and ledges scattered around, it's easy to find a place to sit. I keep promising myself to come back here with a book and just relax for a few hours. It's something I've put on my bucket list.</div>
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If you have time, there's side rooms with different temperatures and air conditions. You'll find a dry room with cacti, an orchid room and a room filled with begonias. There's probably even more rooms, I haven't made the full tour in a number of years.<br />
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There's no reason to sit inside and complain about the snow and ice, get yourself over to Planting Fields Arboretum and soak up some plant life!<br />
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melanieMelanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-18623054345498976112015-01-03T13:40:00.003-08:002015-01-04T06:54:15.316-08:00Armchair Dreams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The past few weeks I've been having "armchair dreams". That's when you sit in your comfy, insulated, warm house during the winter and look at garden photos.</div>
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Over the last four years I've basically lost almost every single plant that I used to grow. That might not mean much to some people but I used to grow hundreds and hundreds of different perennials Just this tiny section from my old garden would fill my present location.</div>
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Space, growing conditions and yes, funds, won't allow me to grow them all again but I've been looking through my photos wondering which ones I absolutely must have. Kniphofia always made my heart beat faster but they won't do well in the small cottage garden here.</div>
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Astilbe do very well here. They do like super rich soil so I'd have to do some serious amending but this variety "Deutschland" would be wonderful in our shady garden.</div>
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If we had more sun it would be easy, I'd go succulents and sedums all the way.</div>
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I can't believe how easy these were to grow. Thankfully I can grow a few out by the street.</div>
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When I first began to garden I worked for a German Steel Importer in Manhattan. A co-worker named Carmen shared a piece of an annual that would sow itself all over my garden. Silene Armeria (catchfly) was always welcome in my garden after that.</div>
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It's been a few years so forgive me. Today I find myself quite humbled in not remembering the names of every plant I photographed. Don't tell me though, I'll remember better if I have to look it up and learn it all over again.</div>
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Another name that I don't remember except for the stolonifera part. I'm guessing Saxifraga stolonifera. Sadly I no longer know how to even get pieces of these.</div>
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Astrantia major was another less known plant that I loved to grow. I will be looking for these but are they the star plant I dream about? No...</div>
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The plant I need to add this year, the star that I remember so well is Aruncus athusifolious. Sure hope I can find some. It loved semi-shade, formed a perfect little ball and every few years could be divided to give you more perfect little balls. </div>
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Do you grow this plant?</div>
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melanie</div>
<br />Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-9379102510066143452014-12-28T16:54:00.002-08:002014-12-28T16:54:16.971-08:00Plant of the year - Geranium cantabrigense<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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2014 was a tough year for gardening. With a new garden location, much of it was spent in removing plant material. The new plants introduced to the garden had little time to settle in. I found it hard to decide what to buy, so many plants that I've had in the past and wanted once again but there's only so much room and so much money.<br />
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You can see from this photo that these are new plants, they will need a year or two to settle in but the first to grab a hold and go crazy was this hardy geranium. I've written about them in the past, they are wonderful plants, their foliage in the winter will often remain, sometimes with lovely red coloring.<br />
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My second choice would be the Ladies' Mantle, Alchemilla Mollis. It had some ugly days though because the roots just haven't had a chance to settle in. I'm really hoping that Liatris blooms this coming year, it's another favorite of mine.<br />
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One plant that was already here and taking over the garden is Ligularia. I had to thin them ruthlessly, a very hard thing for me to do. This coming year I'm going to try to trade some for other shade plants. I'm looking for ferns and Soloman's seal.<br />
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The troughs out front were planted with Sedum and Sempervivum, they did quite well and filled in completely. I'm hoping they make it through the winter well. We'll know in a few months.</div>
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What was your favorite plant this year?</div>
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melanie</div>
<br />Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-7671500945737879822014-11-30T19:41:00.001-08:002014-11-30T19:41:51.758-08:00Back to Basics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, only a year and a half since I last posted… what can I say? A lot can happen in a year and a half!<br />
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The goods news is I've been taking photographs the whole time, struggling a bit to learn a camera that is way above anything I've ever worked with before. My partner in life, Andy, gifted me with a fabulous Nikon 5300 and it's been a bit of a challenge for me to get used to it.<br />
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While my garden here is small and just in it's beginning stages, I can still share lots of advice and tips on plants that do well here on Long Island.<br />
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This photo of a simple Zinnia was taken this past September at SUNY Farmingdale. It's a wonderful secret place to visit just a half hour away. We grew Zinnia's in a pot this year and fell in love with them. Just like the title says, "Back to Basics".<br />
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I've begun a new blog, it's covers more of what we do since we tend to travel every chance we get. I'd love to have you pop by and take a look, it's brand new, still need to add all the bells and whistles. You'll find it at <a href="http://www.liwalkabout.blogspot.com/">The Island Walkabout</a>, stop by and leave me a note, I've missed you!<br />
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melanieMelanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-41913482982145622422013-02-04T18:09:00.002-08:002013-02-04T18:09:28.865-08:00Heat Wave!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here it is, February 4th and what a surprise, it's FREEZING outside!</div>
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To be honest, I'm not really complaining, some cold weather is necessary for the plants that are native to this area. Still, the thought of the sun on my shoulders seems like a faded dream so I thought I'd find a photo or two to warm me up.</div>
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Although this blog is for perennials, there's nothing like hot Hibiscus to make me think of a Heat Wave. Luckily there are also wonderful hardy perennial Hibiscus too for our gardens here on Long Island.</div>
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Coleus, not an annual, just very tender. You can keep a Coleus plant growing for years indoors but I just keep buying new ones for the garden instead.</div>
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Ah ha, here's two perennials that thrive in hot dry sun. Monarda and Agastache, why if I close my eyes I can almost smell their heavenly scent too.</div>
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Finally a shot of something that could cause a heat wave on your tongue, some peppers! I believe these are ornamental, not for eating but still, even my mouth is warm now :-)</div>
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Just thought I'd drop a simple post today... got a great idea for next week for my other blog at <a href="http://www.melaniesoldcountrygarden.blogspot.net/">Melanie's' Old Country Gardens. </a></div>
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Till then, stay warm...</div>
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mel</div>
<br />Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-14632777511034310532012-11-12T16:14:00.000-08:002012-11-12T16:14:10.875-08:00November colors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today was a day long in coming, I finally had the itch, the uncontrollable urge to explore the world around me once again, camera in hand. While my world has changed quite a bit in the past two years, my camera and computer have changed too so it is a true lesson for me.</div>
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Just a mile or so from my home here in Centerport, Long Island is Twin Ponds Park. I've passed the parking lot countless times, today I finally pulled in and went for the short walk. On the north side of 25A is mostly sand and scrub, basically an uninteresting walk unless of course you are looking at the world through your camera lens. I found a large stand of Opuntia (don't know the rest of the botanical name). Another quick lesson was learned when I tried to remove a leaf for this photo and found the entire tip of my pointer finger stabbed with teeny tiny but painful thorns!</div>
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Bittersweet is the gardeners nemesis, many is the time I cursed this plant as I pulled it's vivid orange roots from the ground. In the wild though, it can make your heart sing :-)</div>
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The south side of 25A was much more scenic albeit also a very short walk. I was fascinated by these points coming up out of the ground. They look similar to Hosta shoots when they first emerge. If anybody knows what these are, please leave a comment. My guess is skunk cabbage only because I really have no other idea.</div>
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The moss was everywhere and it literally glowed in the autumn sunshine! If you look close you'll see those spiky growths coming up right through the moss.</div>
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Walking along I remembered why one has to dress in plain jeans, hiking boots and an old sweatshirt. Lots of clambering over and under with whippets of thorns just waiting.</div>
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Now these are roots! I tried not to hear the tree cry as I gently tiptoed my way through them.</div>
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A final note for today, we are still in the thick of the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. I took this photo several times over and had fun playing with my i-photo enhancements. If you want to see the result it's posted on my other blog, <a href="http://www.melaniesoldcountrygarden.blogspot.com/">Melanie's Old Country Garden</a></div>
<br />Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-77487347483450861482012-03-21T17:25:00.005-07:002012-03-21T17:57:07.849-07:00Mystery Plant!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyYV3Q4IPOFMvqkja38TcYb7RXUQaFFLSP6NGPuN6Yn4iiOWHoupbCCSw_DoKUsmzMLqZdzor9oXrxhdulBErd-sBsy5ansdkZDecS_tbq98tz-v4Vtj8bIdOFjUFUWKNS2IhsDlJKTam/s1600/P3210002.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyYV3Q4IPOFMvqkja38TcYb7RXUQaFFLSP6NGPuN6Yn4iiOWHoupbCCSw_DoKUsmzMLqZdzor9oXrxhdulBErd-sBsy5ansdkZDecS_tbq98tz-v4Vtj8bIdOFjUFUWKNS2IhsDlJKTam/s400/P3210002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722511814113746930" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color:#ffff99;" >One of the fun things about moving to a home with an established garden is discovering new things. Many of them I knew about before coming here even if I never grew them. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color:#ffff99;" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color:#ffff99;" >This grass is familiar to me but I have no real idea what it is. A Carex? Acorus? It looks like this year round and you can see the little spent bloom heads from last season.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgflmYWnDqdXQaHQqOWACPJHL59zebd-Ncw2PRn3hiuC1-WQAAlCtuBDVuYj01PXiYbkJdYgmLckQodyWWZhhSFQjsgv1JM4IlDQWhzKNNoasO6rhfNe5oLI5tU4YLzAUO737SL4vFdkV/s400/P3210003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722511829546569010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color:#ffffcc;" >It's not that impressive right now but I think it would look great near my little pond. I'd love some ideas on what it is and how to treat it. As you can see, there's lots of common orange daylilies growing around it and through it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRH6C1iAI41MhdzYu_jhx0YRiGj0FEQcGMh4Rnt6wnX7MhgQV7T2YYOHXU27D1RgtH4uA4Zh5Gfy3O8NtpcISA73BkMvx4Fs1ngVVnnQW3Ms5rUt4w_eU7Bt7C59Enh0P65D7YC2QI64aA/s400/P3210005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722512417493392706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#ffffcc;">Believe it or not, in all my years of gardening I've never had pachysandra! Can't say I love or adore it but at least right now it's green and Claus my garden Gnome is quite happy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMCv3RPIdAgRMgNzvS8YG2bE4q94X4Vu8UkLW0vJFzf7s4E3LJHt-uwCaKe2xMJgYOy9n4wNtBmQyDewg_UAYxn9YgJIvdl5VSC902hk4jRt8UqOrPcqfh0UxSorqqrlcFvl-nHUJb2h6/s1600/P3210007.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMCv3RPIdAgRMgNzvS8YG2bE4q94X4Vu8UkLW0vJFzf7s4E3LJHt-uwCaKe2xMJgYOy9n4wNtBmQyDewg_UAYxn9YgJIvdl5VSC902hk4jRt8UqOrPcqfh0UxSorqqrlcFvl-nHUJb2h6/s400/P3210007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722511804409216914" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#ffffcc;">Up close the blooms are actually quite nice. I'm going to try to take some more shots this weekend with my new camera.</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#ffffcc;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#ffffcc;">For those of you who want to see my little cottage, I just posted some photos on my sister blog, <a href="http://melaniesoldcountrygarden.blogspot.com/">Melanie's Old Country Gardens</a>.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#ffffcc;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#ffffcc;">Love to hear your suggestions about my mystery plant!</span></div>Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-90165981671521216542012-03-15T07:22:00.004-07:002012-03-15T11:54:30.947-07:00Big Plans<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrxaEhddVvEz5M4KSFfJI8e0P6btMcJjIMAg1OF3PfM31-G4K5DxWcU1gPTwNwyX6d5CndAp2lUx6pUIMTsW1vts7UTO06HbWRaq4VJTSFCGWz5emB6Xs8HIRdHusF6MnQZIt0IxGt7Wb/s1600/P5160212.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrxaEhddVvEz5M4KSFfJI8e0P6btMcJjIMAg1OF3PfM31-G4K5DxWcU1gPTwNwyX6d5CndAp2lUx6pUIMTsW1vts7UTO06HbWRaq4VJTSFCGWz5emB6Xs8HIRdHusF6MnQZIt0IxGt7Wb/s400/P5160212.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720131864435920162" /></a>With a whole new garden, complete with different growing conditions than those I had in the past, planning is key. Having spent much of the last year moving and making career changes, I did not do much gardening at all at my new cottage. In fact, in retrospect I wish I had done a bit more and moved some of my prized plants to my new location. A few of my Epimediums came here with me, I hope the one in this opening photo was one!<div><br /></div><div>One good thing that came of that year off was the chance for me to watch what was already growing at my new place. I was able to learn quite a bit about the soil and growing conditions here.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc874oKz_QfCDE6jFG-Psze7IiAlN-uhFTyfZIr2MHumTpjAMZtXCbzSz8PtZeBf2uMtWZwJEyYIt36ryMm7LMfYSnK1yPDnJ283XBfdkpWrqJJPvueRS9XmjQzOBwJeps_Di2EK9_UDPa/s1600/combo6.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc874oKz_QfCDE6jFG-Psze7IiAlN-uhFTyfZIr2MHumTpjAMZtXCbzSz8PtZeBf2uMtWZwJEyYIt36ryMm7LMfYSnK1yPDnJ283XBfdkpWrqJJPvueRS9XmjQzOBwJeps_Di2EK9_UDPa/s400/combo6.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720131849554832594" /></a>The time to begin working in the garden is almost upon us, most neighbors are already busy in the clean up stage. Luckily for me, my landlord does an amazing job on that. This weekend though we are expecting wonderful weather and I will be out there inspecting the newly emerging growth.</div><div><br /></div><div>You see, not only did I down-size drastically but I also went from being a home owner to a home renter. Being a tenant changes my whole focus. I have the whole cottage and garden to myself and my landlord has been totally open to allowing me the freedom to do what ever my heart desires.</div><div><br /></div><div>When you don't own a home and don't know how many years you'll be there, you are more reluctant to spend large amounts of money on plants that might take years to mature. </div><div><br /></div><div>Photos of my cottage will be posted soon, a new camera is being shipped to me as I write this :-)</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmJLAlr4CjEczEjjWDTk__Avx4Jggb_6bD8WjT5AqCwnuudWyaITD5tT_BcOz4vCdRoCROrATwtq8bYbj92H3GgsXu2NXLRji0jM-uuuOPhm3bVYux4zMsyZJ61BIZ1f2-uQvujbp64pA/s1600/P1010001.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmJLAlr4CjEczEjjWDTk__Avx4Jggb_6bD8WjT5AqCwnuudWyaITD5tT_BcOz4vCdRoCROrATwtq8bYbj92H3GgsXu2NXLRji0jM-uuuOPhm3bVYux4zMsyZJ61BIZ1f2-uQvujbp64pA/s400/P1010001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720131837964272466" /></a><br /></div><div>The cottage I live in has been in the same family since it was built (way more than 50 years). The gardens are darling, chock full of heritage perennials. Many of them are slightly (if not more than slightly) invasive. Plants that need TLC just wouldn't make it there.</div><div><br /></div><div>I will have to find a few slips of the violets from my old garden and tuck them in here. Enough of my friends have pieces, so it's just a matter of time.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSyjPWP8MvQ1eVXv8B0sbAoG8yJ432Do390-eH2N2cNfWfB_qgsi4Tp-9RjdzSe6BP22-eqUb-ykHls8TyEpkPYn0XxYEPtxC9rOeGjPosFr4-VWKNIS7GJcd_926AJWTjxkfOmNN4sU-/s1600/0626001811.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSyjPWP8MvQ1eVXv8B0sbAoG8yJ432Do390-eH2N2cNfWfB_qgsi4Tp-9RjdzSe6BP22-eqUb-ykHls8TyEpkPYn0XxYEPtxC9rOeGjPosFr4-VWKNIS7GJcd_926AJWTjxkfOmNN4sU-/s400/0626001811.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720131823187834418" /></a>Container plantings will become much more of a focus. Especially since I will now be gardening in shady conditions. My inspiration will come from the many photos I have of containers in my friend Gianna's garden. She's one of the most talented container-designers that I know.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGjQIl3wGXuiQEkd0yBW7aec-2og0h3l-BZujRNOLGdQmgFnUogC7MqD1qO9hGWy8sSUSXREm_8PTd39gzovMzOFx9lXhE5SfRPkKtMv_oqeqri0XWmL2H7VgfJdTKEKW8oWHysT6moPC/s1600/0626001815a.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGjQIl3wGXuiQEkd0yBW7aec-2og0h3l-BZujRNOLGdQmgFnUogC7MqD1qO9hGWy8sSUSXREm_8PTd39gzovMzOFx9lXhE5SfRPkKtMv_oqeqri0XWmL2H7VgfJdTKEKW8oWHysT6moPC/s400/0626001815a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720131817669684578" /></a><br /></div><div>Accents in the containers are also an addition that I will be looking at. Anything to add more interest from day one until well after the growing season has finished.</div><div><br /></div><div>So as my title says, I have "Big Plans"!</div><div><br /></div><div>melanie</div><div><br /></div>Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-32894196457646934912012-03-10T15:21:00.002-08:002012-03-10T15:36:32.159-08:00ABC's - Start at the Beginning<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8Gai9g2_W7rBB5yk2g8tp_P7I5PgztspTRcugWPtPlKGL4dHby5S3DOer9m7zT45xCDSOKZp6TAwd1eHMqwH8EszbIu-Fw3Nn-sXiv7orfna6mf12X6vt1MOAbceUuJLiaA79VSHnCU_/s1600/P1010065.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8Gai9g2_W7rBB5yk2g8tp_P7I5PgztspTRcugWPtPlKGL4dHby5S3DOer9m7zT45xCDSOKZp6TAwd1eHMqwH8EszbIu-Fw3Nn-sXiv7orfna6mf12X6vt1MOAbceUuJLiaA79VSHnCU_/s400/P1010065.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718414461238214546" /></a>Well, it's been quite some time since I've posted here on my blogs. In the past year my life has changed drastically. I've moved from my large country home on 1.3 acres to a tiny cottage 2 blocks from the beach. <div><br /></div><div>My oldest daughter Lauren moved in to New York City, Emily began college at Wagner in Staten Island and my divorce has finally been finalized. So suddenly Calie the wonder-doodle and I find ourselves as instant, true, empty nesters. </div><div><br /></div><div>Very few plants made the trip here with us but a few accents came along. Couldn't resist the shoes with succulents although finding sun is a struggle on this Oak filled property.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lWjWtqiIuqa-UeZNtqYUat4XQIxeX0g8r6ED3ScQIbaSHM3FRRfVxOTHOisE8f1MQUcTfUW1DLN6J9i8aIyPE3mEetzmqswLNt7UvXVv4-H5pDC8NgUNAFn4M056J1Kw0zjQxPVAukv4/s1600/IMG_0231.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lWjWtqiIuqa-UeZNtqYUat4XQIxeX0g8r6ED3ScQIbaSHM3FRRfVxOTHOisE8f1MQUcTfUW1DLN6J9i8aIyPE3mEetzmqswLNt7UvXVv4-H5pDC8NgUNAFn4M056J1Kw0zjQxPVAukv4/s400/IMG_0231.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718414459169617394" /></a>Luckily, I'm surrounded with the most amazing neighborhood (and neighbors too) in this storybook town of Centerport. The gardens are small but filled with many different plants and I try to walk every day. </div><div><br /></div><div>We've had a mild winter and the proximity to the water probably pushed me one zone warmer. As you can see, crocus are already in bloom here along with lots of snowdrops (miss mine so much). </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRP4inWC6Eh6c7xI764_7QxlRTmmr4fNLwEwluSlCUTpwhYcqv09v0RRa4Sij9mZ6LuCOFYc8AsSJGPTCex_Vk_2_HAOAPYSqYvxOM4cqAvasFsyPelCkSYyQUcAEWWj1Zb9_D8PXesrUS/s1600/IMG_0008.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRP4inWC6Eh6c7xI764_7QxlRTmmr4fNLwEwluSlCUTpwhYcqv09v0RRa4Sij9mZ6LuCOFYc8AsSJGPTCex_Vk_2_HAOAPYSqYvxOM4cqAvasFsyPelCkSYyQUcAEWWj1Zb9_D8PXesrUS/s400/IMG_0008.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718414453125108098" /></a>Instead of days filled as a stay-at-home mom and gardener writer/lecturer, I'm now a banker. The best part of every day is driving home. The very end of my commute takes me across a small scenic bridge and almost always seems to happen as the sun goes down. </div><div><br /></div><div>As for my morning commute, this is the first thing I see. Not too shabby!</div><div><br /></div><div>Be back soon, promise!</div><div><br /></div><div>Melanie</div>Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-20206020531423135842010-07-24T17:06:00.001-07:002010-07-24T17:21:21.941-07:00Christmas in July<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8QpzYTsvYq6nmZom90bseddFm5ymQVnUY5i-zQKZbIB5XnzJhn3biq2fDbHr_J2aG91tj9eu47zL5NnU0zVV9xV3IVa3GDMyNA7NP2O15osOSgfGVJpKDsL67tmiDDm99T6Xvu608Gbl/s1600/P1010006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8QpzYTsvYq6nmZom90bseddFm5ymQVnUY5i-zQKZbIB5XnzJhn3biq2fDbHr_J2aG91tj9eu47zL5NnU0zVV9xV3IVa3GDMyNA7NP2O15osOSgfGVJpKDsL67tmiDDm99T6Xvu608Gbl/s400/P1010006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497630149078786594" border="0" /></a>While it might be July, this is the time of year to think about making those stunning bouquets of Lunaria (aka Money Plant, Honesty Plant).<br /><br />Lunaria is a biennial that self sows itself quite nicely in my garden. It's actually one of the very few plants that I already found growing here when we first moved to this property.<br /><br />In spring Lunaria has lovely purple blooms but now it has dingy brown seed heads.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmLFJ0bX58kwx0UkN0Wy4bYPRA7pfJJYBgD4sBxOJUYUtolj5wH4WzB_iFlud1te-VfY9LseBHQ138JMk8IEkJszsCIwFLN1xzIBezLZle_jnxH9IB3pjsP83MYgmKsiU6q8MPD0z9V2Z/s1600/P1010009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmLFJ0bX58kwx0UkN0Wy4bYPRA7pfJJYBgD4sBxOJUYUtolj5wH4WzB_iFlud1te-VfY9LseBHQ138JMk8IEkJszsCIwFLN1xzIBezLZle_jnxH9IB3pjsP83MYgmKsiU6q8MPD0z9V2Z/s400/P1010009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497630139117020066" border="0" /></a>The seed heads are actually three paper thin, translucent pieces. Only the two outermost layers are dingy in color.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFwrVrz8WdCIPQsc0n3IQbev7PMCl4mTkBKv7OrQ04prt0Qi9U0VeuUuQf13VYdkUAS8V8SmjH9teEO566Wib1MK61VYkS1kE93pZqGuj5d3N2IcS1REuIqLlq_-jJW530hYBRUoEG6wT/s1600/P1010010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFwrVrz8WdCIPQsc0n3IQbev7PMCl4mTkBKv7OrQ04prt0Qi9U0VeuUuQf13VYdkUAS8V8SmjH9teEO566Wib1MK61VYkS1kE93pZqGuj5d3N2IcS1REuIqLlq_-jJW530hYBRUoEG6wT/s400/P1010010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497630131176362258" border="0" /></a>If you gently rub your thumb and forefinger back and forth over the seed head the outer sheath will slide right off, exposing the seeds. There are seeds on both the front and back so make sure you get them all.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyfFCSWmgXnu0kxFfpxVvgD1QzzwoZdTOZgboW_i2WO5VFbznRSSC9uFVZxT7uVwDcthoaOYsT0mzuJjKlptgLSRxnm05T3nznBK0yC-_MP5W1i8S_HlaE370OBNy5LsmEYuXIZ3PvTp9/s1600/P1010012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyfFCSWmgXnu0kxFfpxVvgD1QzzwoZdTOZgboW_i2WO5VFbznRSSC9uFVZxT7uVwDcthoaOYsT0mzuJjKlptgLSRxnm05T3nznBK0yC-_MP5W1i8S_HlaE370OBNy5LsmEYuXIZ3PvTp9/s400/P1010012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497630125758531746" border="0" /></a>After you've removed both outer sides and collected the seeds you are left with a wonderfully luminous pod.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQj9RTfBVRnJzhETlQQOFxJ5mSzovrYiEaHD-L8kN1ayeNNjddZouBiJnG6krQWrW1KZeMWBm8IAo-1xWHNyb-85TR0P5UHY4uRIwNAv7BmxtNwrQ678or2CD2UEpOTcwv-vWet6w3r3m/s1600/Garden+08+-+part+3+078.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQj9RTfBVRnJzhETlQQOFxJ5mSzovrYiEaHD-L8kN1ayeNNjddZouBiJnG6krQWrW1KZeMWBm8IAo-1xWHNyb-85TR0P5UHY4uRIwNAv7BmxtNwrQ678or2CD2UEpOTcwv-vWet6w3r3m/s400/Garden+08+-+part+3+078.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497630118503910402" border="0" /></a>This photo was taken two years ago. It's so simple to just gather up a bunch of dried Lunaria stalks and put them in a vase for a flower arrangement.<br /><br />The reason for my title "Christmas in July"? These arrangements will hold for a long time and look lovely with your holiday decorations.<br /><br />For a similar post with more information you can visit me at <a href="http://melaniesoldcountrygarden.blogspot.com">Old Country Gardens</a> and type in Lunaria in the search bar at the top.<br /><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-71578431433936390572010-07-20T08:21:00.000-07:002010-07-20T08:37:19.927-07:00Eye Candy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmrQp3D5eNyyrWcnJzbuZVaElJ-uEjq9pgIu1sZ6lByOVu6AxymjJm7AO1ZF7U3w4wq9Dsx_o760P6Nzr2HCkfi6jqfiqUwEOa10PR8hu52PO73g4XAs-QmO5hOzSH0QCplYUfB6DxL3l/s1600/P1010073.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 391px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmrQp3D5eNyyrWcnJzbuZVaElJ-uEjq9pgIu1sZ6lByOVu6AxymjJm7AO1ZF7U3w4wq9Dsx_o760P6Nzr2HCkfi6jqfiqUwEOa10PR8hu52PO73g4XAs-QmO5hOzSH0QCplYUfB6DxL3l/s400/P1010073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496010498666527138" border="0" /></a>Today's post doesn't have a specific theme. As I was going through my photos I found a few that I just wanted to share with you.<br /><br />This is a close up of Ricinus communis (Castor Bean), a highly poisonous plant but oh so beautiful!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcoG3WY9qC8rC3AUrsCRNZALY-iWyQpaBmPcbQZQ6V-kjp62ppipftD6bBc05M9O2Qm7LhK6aCrISKLROSAhrD2-d55lgDOcQVujQaHeNNSLd5bnkdp2yT2qQ9V4ql0DRbWpQq9_BsMVk/s1600/P1010092.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcoG3WY9qC8rC3AUrsCRNZALY-iWyQpaBmPcbQZQ6V-kjp62ppipftD6bBc05M9O2Qm7LhK6aCrISKLROSAhrD2-d55lgDOcQVujQaHeNNSLd5bnkdp2yT2qQ9V4ql0DRbWpQq9_BsMVk/s400/P1010092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496011268796796226" border="0" /></a>A shot in the herb garden at Bridge Gardens in Bridgehampton NY. Don't know how I missed this one when writing about it the other day!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelGp8clgMBB-GxkDl9iz5z8QhQw01M9eXTuduk6TlJC7HSCYNMhR-A933lh4nMNPLABdnKfJQ7vutO_V237lbkYl9Z2y4-JXStC5WM_d_wJ6SKbcm2oNig1Y-oLo_OTnPxPNJ7dTZMRVT/s1600/P1010063.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelGp8clgMBB-GxkDl9iz5z8QhQw01M9eXTuduk6TlJC7HSCYNMhR-A933lh4nMNPLABdnKfJQ7vutO_V237lbkYl9Z2y4-JXStC5WM_d_wJ6SKbcm2oNig1Y-oLo_OTnPxPNJ7dTZMRVT/s400/P1010063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496010486545871346" border="0" /></a>Another close-up shot of an herb, this time it's Borage which I've grown in my own garden many times and miss desperately now!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFA1WTNrZYA3bA89sJYqVLtbbBFOslkl9KEwHbArwrd0ZA3EYaEu2o51X8mcLq5UqM2idinDnjxKP_NeAq_X0MwpbHth7HOndoZ1Fv8du3ncBoVbHY8eW0xYNFL_EFm1W1apY00u6FBfV/s1600/P1010106.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFA1WTNrZYA3bA89sJYqVLtbbBFOslkl9KEwHbArwrd0ZA3EYaEu2o51X8mcLq5UqM2idinDnjxKP_NeAq_X0MwpbHth7HOndoZ1Fv8du3ncBoVbHY8eW0xYNFL_EFm1W1apY00u6FBfV/s400/P1010106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496010481824361106" border="0" /></a>What a great color combination! The bean is a Hyacinth bean (to see what I'm going in my own garden with Hyacinth beans hop over to my <a href="http://melaniesoldcountrygarden.blogspot.com">Old Country Gardens</a> blog). The other flower is a Clematis but I don't know the variety name.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfgui_tUDd9R5TA2TNvLioYj05jMI38g3Bi6ifDPdIYgkmnKVnJwcDCeKI8_3M1D4EWozBdp3iYtz2E6spFRTsDX7Tp8LgGWhIPHXJvzEkMo8af1VWMV74DJtp4nzduQJsEgn6aBAn4fh/s1600/P1010001-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfgui_tUDd9R5TA2TNvLioYj05jMI38g3Bi6ifDPdIYgkmnKVnJwcDCeKI8_3M1D4EWozBdp3iYtz2E6spFRTsDX7Tp8LgGWhIPHXJvzEkMo8af1VWMV74DJtp4nzduQJsEgn6aBAn4fh/s400/P1010001-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496010474647947330" border="0" /></a>Final shot, another great color combination! I love the dusky purple Sedum combined with the hot bloom on the daylily 'Open Hearth' and the foamy chartreuse blooms on the Alchemilla mollis (ladies mantle).<br /><br />Ok, out to the garden to water some more...wouldn't it be nice to have gentle showers from 2:00am until 4:00am? A gardeners dream :-)<br /><br />Ciao!<br />Melanie<br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-4137606310447681972010-07-18T07:07:00.000-07:002010-07-18T07:53:14.308-07:00Crop & Stop<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VV228kpj5oWtNIgFMM90rNf2x8an3z-ShDezn3xm0pWuIXpDccZZaoMLNABOo66f-rlFDI13Xo5O2gCX_fz746GadLdsK6_Bg3Hstw9sCn-A6oxbWOHaRagNK7AvyF0CUhr3gIICT5fY/s1600/P1010015-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VV228kpj5oWtNIgFMM90rNf2x8an3z-ShDezn3xm0pWuIXpDccZZaoMLNABOo66f-rlFDI13Xo5O2gCX_fz746GadLdsK6_Bg3Hstw9sCn-A6oxbWOHaRagNK7AvyF0CUhr3gIICT5fY/s400/P1010015-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495248235269418386" border="0" /></a><br />Ok, this is going to be fun!<br /><br />Now some people might think I'm a total nerd but I had such a blast sitting here playing with photos I took this past Thursday at <a href="http://bridgegardens@peconiclandtrust.org">Bridge Gardens</a>. I usually just clean my photos up a bit, rarely do I play with any special effects. My favorite tool is crop, it's just too cool to be able to take a photo and make it something totally different by eliminating something and highlighting something else.<br /><br />For instance, this first shot is a mass of Echinacea (one of my favorite flowers for photography). The color variations in this planting takes my breath away.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20OTm-UAXITWX_wWNqpN_RGQQHpHzi0l8TTuuOgKEG9req20sVDrvYRyKlDM5C_pD7skB8jlWptDF-K92JoJkSuUGrNlcmSBL30XRemRu74Mf6_7s66ZdPjt66grHQ33l5c4wooDq4NbD/s1600/P1010015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20OTm-UAXITWX_wWNqpN_RGQQHpHzi0l8TTuuOgKEG9req20sVDrvYRyKlDM5C_pD7skB8jlWptDF-K92JoJkSuUGrNlcmSBL30XRemRu74Mf6_7s66ZdPjt66grHQ33l5c4wooDq4NbD/s400/P1010015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495248239563508466" border="0" /></a><br />My first crop attempt was a simple horizontal one, it brings more cones into view and some nice bees too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79IP4PtpvkIUpuHjjIfuywy6XvHdrSLaYNkb47tkHl0K7yuYAGyctI11Y4XIV-ijFr0gjGneQeP_RfnXygwvxjNmIPDHbVS0zJqpQXYXcbpWezvK6OV-qS2Dewc7LcryybIe-v293SnSt/s1600/P1010017-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79IP4PtpvkIUpuHjjIfuywy6XvHdrSLaYNkb47tkHl0K7yuYAGyctI11Y4XIV-ijFr0gjGneQeP_RfnXygwvxjNmIPDHbVS0zJqpQXYXcbpWezvK6OV-qS2Dewc7LcryybIe-v293SnSt/s400/P1010017-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495248244344614130" border="0" /></a><br />A vertical crop can be extremely exciting. I've made a number of bookmarks out of vertical shots like these. I know I had a post about it somewhere but just can't seem to find it...duh, I just remembered I have a search box.<br /><br />If you want to see how I make bookmarks out of garden photos just go to my other blog <a href="http://melaniesoldcountrygarden.blogspot.com">Old Country Gardens</a> and type in bookmark in the search box.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiQz1Vlb65dqpvvtvWOEp-4aQkYEYFH7U7GTj_EFOaaEppcNCpV3tUql0lWKNDkyC1E6kp6VLsR1yM2U0qSxVns05RUQ6DUKGK59im6FRjay4WHw9IPwidQghyR7gwSOU7TI1vuR-1rhJ/s1600/P1010051.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 393px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiQz1Vlb65dqpvvtvWOEp-4aQkYEYFH7U7GTj_EFOaaEppcNCpV3tUql0lWKNDkyC1E6kp6VLsR1yM2U0qSxVns05RUQ6DUKGK59im6FRjay4WHw9IPwidQghyR7gwSOU7TI1vuR-1rhJ/s400/P1010051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495248247365384674" border="0" /></a><br />Echinops ritro is another great flower for photographs. I shot a few of them while standing in front of this clump.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YTiqmb3JHVZA4JmX3cH4BEEWtY_6rqRI1XwtBxoVCoGdOhMw7949x0P_BRqEbWXBJgxx3SmeOw9EmVVpxk5XrwKYAdq7MRfjQXqlQbyG7eOCuC7AuA0GwVGQ_QbCp_vOf-cO5kPB8_h6/s1600/P1010052.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 390px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YTiqmb3JHVZA4JmX3cH4BEEWtY_6rqRI1XwtBxoVCoGdOhMw7949x0P_BRqEbWXBJgxx3SmeOw9EmVVpxk5XrwKYAdq7MRfjQXqlQbyG7eOCuC7AuA0GwVGQ_QbCp_vOf-cO5kPB8_h6/s400/P1010052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495248257645952674" border="0" /></a><br />Here's a crop from one of those photos...I'm so in love with this that I made it my screen saver! I think that's the rear view of that bee but doesn't it look like it's smiling?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5WkcwIWWlvqTenA6AgkXKPU6W9wUXb4c2Z8y8Ohuq2VD0KAnaDLa7_jy3evpIleKGdO_zH4keyd7nFhbKABH4HtuW8h_hVAw2hOX06dakov0BF8eCcoZRLoRI6v73JjAL6b3mm2bouRuq/s1600/P1010056-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5WkcwIWWlvqTenA6AgkXKPU6W9wUXb4c2Z8y8Ohuq2VD0KAnaDLa7_jy3evpIleKGdO_zH4keyd7nFhbKABH4HtuW8h_hVAw2hOX06dakov0BF8eCcoZRLoRI6v73JjAL6b3mm2bouRuq/s400/P1010056-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495251386240481650" border="0" /></a><br />Other plants are harder to photograph. This teasel was a toughie and cropping it made all the difference in the world.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3S6j-Kflz0Z_0IGlIr6n1wUGwJpfXOcZGcpa8pSFHo5ifDC8XVEgJbFWzX1yBGKgD9A2JjshmorrBId2-xBGvurMKu9yJzTuDDiIrkpphnRklnUWV-iftiR93T3e5obVAnNKzacBdTvJ/s1600/P1010091-2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3S6j-Kflz0Z_0IGlIr6n1wUGwJpfXOcZGcpa8pSFHo5ifDC8XVEgJbFWzX1yBGKgD9A2JjshmorrBId2-xBGvurMKu9yJzTuDDiIrkpphnRklnUWV-iftiR93T3e5obVAnNKzacBdTvJ/s400/P1010091-2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495248790199168002" border="0" /></a><br />Sometimes while cropping you find something totally unexpected. Years ago I took a photo in the Carolinas of a really cool looking insect. Although I didn't notice the insects while I was taking this photo, I found them while playing with my crop feature. Anybody know what these are?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqpQeMwErkpQBcu3veHSm8m6m4S0mVIGyxuQEQmzQhgBnqK84Z9Hu0l-biVJV0rqzFSGq8DeQD3L3AakIJQ62BtzRfUkCa1Vmavk1LlUqog0f102RlUv60hrFgiGk6OaJAWCRu4xM_b4o/s1600/P1010078.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqpQeMwErkpQBcu3veHSm8m6m4S0mVIGyxuQEQmzQhgBnqK84Z9Hu0l-biVJV0rqzFSGq8DeQD3L3AakIJQ62BtzRfUkCa1Vmavk1LlUqog0f102RlUv60hrFgiGk6OaJAWCRu4xM_b4o/s400/P1010078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495248774841036994" border="0" /></a><br />Ornamental pepper blooms are lovely, I had to get down on my hands and knees and shoot upwards here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRYfS4zPxBy-C73tJvJBK3ONyXeIv2ukrrOivC0SzC3F9m3vSHnO9EWFVlIExlc9O5cR7qkditMuYTgZKPUbQ1CdgGZvmDi45JzBQhgUxb8cH4lvvpAey53PT1cj4CuDU3i-GiEVbxLJi/s1600/P1010094.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 378px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRYfS4zPxBy-C73tJvJBK3ONyXeIv2ukrrOivC0SzC3F9m3vSHnO9EWFVlIExlc9O5cR7qkditMuYTgZKPUbQ1CdgGZvmDi45JzBQhgUxb8cH4lvvpAey53PT1cj4CuDU3i-GiEVbxLJi/s400/P1010094.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495248779387108658" border="0" /></a><br />Finally, I just had to add another Echinacea (cone flower). They are just so magical much fun to photograph! If you want to see more photos that I took at Bridge Gardens you'll find them at <a href="http://melaniesoldcountrygarden.blogspot.com">Old Country Gardens.<br /></a><br />Today is sunny and HOT so no photos today...think I'll go jump in the pool instead.<br /><br />SPLASH*************<br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-7153093587168039822010-07-13T12:45:00.000-07:002010-07-13T12:59:25.940-07:00Eat Bran...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8rWx7nu3KwcuByzzL_FANVF4qfBjiCpYo_yAnbCG3Kh2AKn2hokq8UjPx3A-DqU2kESYFpYuFdPVVhVcegNZJqrNZAjW9IeSbdSGKtDpAXIxpDSNyOAvMsRwZd-Ln6TfyyHZeaEK6AA3/s1600/P1010098.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8rWx7nu3KwcuByzzL_FANVF4qfBjiCpYo_yAnbCG3Kh2AKn2hokq8UjPx3A-DqU2kESYFpYuFdPVVhVcegNZJqrNZAjW9IeSbdSGKtDpAXIxpDSNyOAvMsRwZd-Ln6TfyyHZeaEK6AA3/s400/P1010098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493480563409088306" border="0" /></a>Backlogged! After being a total computer idiot, I'm finally back on-line here only to find that I'm totally backed up with images and thoughts I'd like to post (hence the title of this missive).<br /><br />Here on Long Island we've been experiencing a brutal summer. Too much heat, too little rain (almost none for that matter except for the little coming down right now). Not even enough cloud cover to shoot many photos.<br /><br />But having said all that, there's always something about the garden that just takes my breath away.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVlTm8bInVw0sEObLvc3hMO7wMBWGTa7tT3tVHgv9REhzvony0TMbl0-7P2lukwNho5steK2ie61mbpOZ1VEpTwDOStYu-dO3mO7rw9nWLUQ64IFiSlBIOx8kFDi0nsUBz47VVJXO7l-V/s1600/P1010121.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVlTm8bInVw0sEObLvc3hMO7wMBWGTa7tT3tVHgv9REhzvony0TMbl0-7P2lukwNho5steK2ie61mbpOZ1VEpTwDOStYu-dO3mO7rw9nWLUQ64IFiSlBIOx8kFDi0nsUBz47VVJXO7l-V/s400/P1010121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493480559602630274" border="0" /></a>Hydrangeas are incredibly happy here on Long Island. My soil is very acidic so the blues are what I get. Who's complaining? Not me! By the way, the yellow bloom is Lysamachia japonica.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsuzMW1OXmQ03hdeB8r1Ay7qwhY6cnqSLUIkI_-wH6D1SFvsMMWxazSK_9h28VbLGT45J8evkEJZO_2fw8KruHXBfBrCvPWKS9mGlVkq4-nGA_-zkOnjJ4c_wBEMxegENVzYz1XNdaIe1/s1600/P1010129.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsuzMW1OXmQ03hdeB8r1Ay7qwhY6cnqSLUIkI_-wH6D1SFvsMMWxazSK_9h28VbLGT45J8evkEJZO_2fw8KruHXBfBrCvPWKS9mGlVkq4-nGA_-zkOnjJ4c_wBEMxegENVzYz1XNdaIe1/s400/P1010129.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493480552920089266" border="0" /></a>Skies so blue and a few wispy clouds. Great pool weather but we need rain!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXSrO1Zz6soC4UTJvf9UdfLxbC2mzzJBSF_tbOGVQ7l0zuKfo6KoXUai4sR5qNRMy9SinZNd02LH4QQ_JSCD2J2rgozJ0TSG4JcRPAUB1GEwuHYSEk-uRFnEvelZZXnCoBJ1bJgHE9Gk_/s1600/P1010029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXSrO1Zz6soC4UTJvf9UdfLxbC2mzzJBSF_tbOGVQ7l0zuKfo6KoXUai4sR5qNRMy9SinZNd02LH4QQ_JSCD2J2rgozJ0TSG4JcRPAUB1GEwuHYSEk-uRFnEvelZZXnCoBJ1bJgHE9Gk_/s400/P1010029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493480546228137730" border="0" /></a>Veronicastrum...so cool, so white, so pristine! The lavender variety hasn't even budded yet, something to look forward to.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuqTpyw76Ecr913QxOQjLm3YaxaNOA8ziQRRZFoPBu8Rf10MGWohvHXrERKEJs5uRsMrGBdrkE2kB6beD5FT3DFLvQFKHK_uZttmEVhrqYRYsyTrzyiIfyvuLBIp9Ufx78JkpuxUhYv0E/s1600/P1010028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuqTpyw76Ecr913QxOQjLm3YaxaNOA8ziQRRZFoPBu8Rf10MGWohvHXrERKEJs5uRsMrGBdrkE2kB6beD5FT3DFLvQFKHK_uZttmEVhrqYRYsyTrzyiIfyvuLBIp9Ufx78JkpuxUhYv0E/s400/P1010028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493480536221992338" border="0" /></a>Don't forget, even if the light conditions aren't perfect to take great shots, keep taking photos and add your notes on them. I always forget that this clump of Liatris is white. Now if I want to dig it up next spring and I actually have the forethought to look through my photos I'll be able to identify which clump is the white one.<br /><br />Hope to be back regularly now ;-)<br />Melanie<br /><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-15831099446784738352010-07-11T11:31:00.000-07:002010-07-11T11:33:23.498-07:00Computer WoesHi all,<br /><br />Wish I could show you some lovely photos of my garden...yes, I've been taking them. Just having some computer woes with my laptop (where I have my photos stored).<br /><br />Only able to post right now from such an old desktop computer that I have to pedal it like a bicycle to keep it going ;-)<br /><br />I'll be back as soon as somebody comes and rescues me!<br /><br />MelanieMelanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-33074375963987029152010-06-26T16:50:00.001-07:002010-06-26T17:12:41.431-07:00All the difference...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3n1Icz6sK4ZfC6lUn9kYT-V-tSnUGiNshGsQEItOjKOwxl5wObvCd0ZDtFnETnz_5D7b5C0yNUGuoAb26fjyIruze9m5kWwKc6MnklecUS8Khh8YzcKPR3LDDy2iAdTeBdlzhUTotn24D/s1600/0626001814b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3n1Icz6sK4ZfC6lUn9kYT-V-tSnUGiNshGsQEItOjKOwxl5wObvCd0ZDtFnETnz_5D7b5C0yNUGuoAb26fjyIruze9m5kWwKc6MnklecUS8Khh8YzcKPR3LDDy2iAdTeBdlzhUTotn24D/s400/0626001814b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487235832529735122" border="0" /></a>Today I had the pleasure of visiting my friends Gianna & Rich up the street. Gianna is the most talented container designer ever. Rich is the most knowledgeable plants person ever. Together they've created a garden that tugs at my heartstrings every time I visit.<br /><br />If you ever need some top notch garden advice you can go to Main Street Nursery in Huntington to talk to Gianna about container plants or to Rich at Zaino's Nursery in Old Westbury for info on the best shrub/tree/perennial for your Long Island garden.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0QwtbWtOFAYPeKcIQd7-19nR0Ry5dh_QpvyOsucojqUyrGPQauiHPTMphMEOnnHKGvOqnxkzOrj-oxG4h0QhrAG97gCNO2C-Hfs0X9jUTO4MhhlxvHeHWrVgE18LB_IQTz_oFlyo6DRb/s1600/0626001815.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0QwtbWtOFAYPeKcIQd7-19nR0Ry5dh_QpvyOsucojqUyrGPQauiHPTMphMEOnnHKGvOqnxkzOrj-oxG4h0QhrAG97gCNO2C-Hfs0X9jUTO4MhhlxvHeHWrVgE18LB_IQTz_oFlyo6DRb/s400/0626001815.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487235816296416210" border="0" /></a>What is most amazing about their garden is the way they showcase their collected pieces, accents, accessories and containers and use them as jewels to display their amazing plants.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmR4AulE2k91X-DKMaqRAY_Yq_rTsxvplmbKCcJvoMc3Xy5s55aeuy_YLhw-RRtCIqqWO8LK7f7bD8W2OPjTSzvFGA3iqBrdVxEhgeDmvkPxqyzMpz9CaE3joTmDyzmAWVu2z6BfP7XX-c/s1600/0626001823a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmR4AulE2k91X-DKMaqRAY_Yq_rTsxvplmbKCcJvoMc3Xy5s55aeuy_YLhw-RRtCIqqWO8LK7f7bD8W2OPjTSzvFGA3iqBrdVxEhgeDmvkPxqyzMpz9CaE3joTmDyzmAWVu2z6BfP7XX-c/s400/0626001823a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487235447162415410" border="0" /></a>Gianna has ducks and swans tucked into many spots, bunny rabbits too (even a few live ones).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6v50bsUnQi_Q_bVowJ1pIQ2LsHJjf0SsdKaNWSwgt5tDgUw5ideH73cgRIdnNeOKbyyyifNZgEMEJ6slRBIaNTGQyq7oWV_-5Fw8QFIhZDu_qpSkUSWOEjARf79g51I58OgJ78VzI0MjJ/s1600/0626001812b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6v50bsUnQi_Q_bVowJ1pIQ2LsHJjf0SsdKaNWSwgt5tDgUw5ideH73cgRIdnNeOKbyyyifNZgEMEJ6slRBIaNTGQyq7oWV_-5Fw8QFIhZDu_qpSkUSWOEjARf79g51I58OgJ78VzI0MjJ/s400/0626001812b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487235446961442306" border="0" /></a>See the swan in the larger container? It's so incredibly elegant I just wish this photo did it more justice.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5orGWOeLZUsO92WPuQWybjkIqmk-v_BJXSVndwezyeIp09Rc2fo12TOKTnKkaHGijmyinP551mj6MD6c1U_nbBl_zHe30h8m6NMGArQcDLG5q4HP4VxMZHxw9GZMGfONgYe4JvPxBskVw/s1600/0626001810.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5orGWOeLZUsO92WPuQWybjkIqmk-v_BJXSVndwezyeIp09Rc2fo12TOKTnKkaHGijmyinP551mj6MD6c1U_nbBl_zHe30h8m6NMGArQcDLG5q4HP4VxMZHxw9GZMGfONgYe4JvPxBskVw/s400/0626001810.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487235438412818594" border="0" /></a>This shot is my favorite, I'm going to try to recreate it exactly with my better camera and hope for more clarity and color saturation. If it works out I'd like to have it printed out and framed.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnkwlPH9O7ziGY_VkEmclUF1iOaX2jM8b8WsYYqphpYhWpxAs4143M4X4dZ89L6QqvR3y2tc1rbKLrr3Z_LwSXbrpe59-28ES_D0BPTvCTfh5WmTFRV_QYwmKs2kOxK8YIY4IHv3Z3I59/s1600/0626001818c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnkwlPH9O7ziGY_VkEmclUF1iOaX2jM8b8WsYYqphpYhWpxAs4143M4X4dZ89L6QqvR3y2tc1rbKLrr3Z_LwSXbrpe59-28ES_D0BPTvCTfh5WmTFRV_QYwmKs2kOxK8YIY4IHv3Z3I59/s400/0626001818c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487235414801148466" border="0" /></a><br />While the above containers were Gianna's, Rich has a few knockouts too. How's this trough? I'm in love :-)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgA-6EXOHtrJeeMOqqlJHo_x9GMm8d2EqsFpxMlMNcimOTY-SKvz2ltd6-4iunkPqGn1iNpKqgwZuJ9SGgATq7wU5oZZucCg7FtVzu1nsjgf6wUMWwfrcKlOlo6x9yKAnzzSG2UpKnnQ5C/s1600/0626001818a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgA-6EXOHtrJeeMOqqlJHo_x9GMm8d2EqsFpxMlMNcimOTY-SKvz2ltd6-4iunkPqGn1iNpKqgwZuJ9SGgATq7wU5oZZucCg7FtVzu1nsjgf6wUMWwfrcKlOlo6x9yKAnzzSG2UpKnnQ5C/s400/0626001818a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487235431777784434" border="0" /></a><br />Just the way it's set up on the boulder is enough to keep me salivating for days. I love gardening on this scale but let's be honest, you need a man if you want to do something like this!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfm41SCnERVlJ2nMMeHf0d1gM_uKZNjT6iVYoPKdHsv4jktMMl-euK1ExleObktMBk-4xP4hN-goEXYPp7lwndniciMNrtsFftO90ukZ3NynxG531Rl9SyGpcKB7VcVDr-ldGfBR7EcUzA/s1600/0626001817a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfm41SCnERVlJ2nMMeHf0d1gM_uKZNjT6iVYoPKdHsv4jktMMl-euK1ExleObktMBk-4xP4hN-goEXYPp7lwndniciMNrtsFftO90ukZ3NynxG531Rl9SyGpcKB7VcVDr-ldGfBR7EcUzA/s400/0626001817a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487235824288150706" border="0" /></a>This last container isn't even a container, it's just a wonderfully textured rock with pockets that are perfect for planting. I had to include this photo for my other dear gardening friends Kim & Paul because they are into many of the same concepts.<br /><br />I've posted a number of other photos from this garden on my other blog at <a href="http://melaniesoldcountrygarden.blogspot.com">Melanie's Old Country Gardens</a>...stop by and take a peek :-)<br /><br />Melanie<br /><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-81214357671768451542010-06-14T07:32:00.000-07:002010-06-14T08:00:22.177-07:00Thalictrum flavum subsp. glaucum<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTiqz_xsVj5fciUjs6QxEScamVy_1SF9ObPt2jb9trdbUihG3UmBapEIABXrkWDhxFQooogoloVBMKMGkfbsqcrEd-aMWJ44Dm7ZSPfrvVZnzbG0ZKII0UfjbiH4Hwt5i21OmJlozEKfT/s1600/P1010017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 330px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTiqz_xsVj5fciUjs6QxEScamVy_1SF9ObPt2jb9trdbUihG3UmBapEIABXrkWDhxFQooogoloVBMKMGkfbsqcrEd-aMWJ44Dm7ZSPfrvVZnzbG0ZKII0UfjbiH4Hwt5i21OmJlozEKfT/s400/P1010017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482640090683723442" border="0" /></a>Today's perennial spotlight is on a plant that not too many people grow. Thalictrum flavum subsp. glaucum (commonly called meadow rue) has been growing in my garden for at least 10 years. It's one of those treasures I bought many years ago at Franks nursery.<br /><br />I have it in a lousy spot, extremely dry, shade for most of the day except two hours of direct sun right around noon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMpoMAZvjCLZfHPknJ2BWPMUnhE7Wo4o042Mk-L3tALLMfsHhTPQ9dMGzwAvCeW6PwT9WynFfNcrJIeU4874Cy5VK9BqfkOCZhTJ_PiiUbz_nrDWM9feJHruOhMC-875HIrTyNxpJdO2u/s1600/P1010007-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMpoMAZvjCLZfHPknJ2BWPMUnhE7Wo4o042Mk-L3tALLMfsHhTPQ9dMGzwAvCeW6PwT9WynFfNcrJIeU4874Cy5VK9BqfkOCZhTJ_PiiUbz_nrDWM9feJHruOhMC-875HIrTyNxpJdO2u/s400/P1010007-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482640087419563458" border="0" /></a>One of the mistakes I made with this lovely perennial is planting it at the edge of a border. In a shaded spot like this it wants to lean towards the sun and there's nothing much there for it to lean on.<br /><br />I did put a metal structure there and have a few wires to help it stay inside the form but it really isn't the right spot at all for this perennial. The piece I've moved to a sunny area is much happier but too small to photograph right now.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq046Ww5WwpJUgUhD6p5Yjcnu2k6kyG1861GhGuk-bgrxHX0w1RSiVzcwxUNboD6DsXZuR4bS4O3VN-2jNWSSYTatodqITC039yOWXIpxpDUHP26d-SrQoPMh-ZcBeUHvuZf8Z5Nn1zvES/s1600/P1010010-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq046Ww5WwpJUgUhD6p5Yjcnu2k6kyG1861GhGuk-bgrxHX0w1RSiVzcwxUNboD6DsXZuR4bS4O3VN-2jNWSSYTatodqITC039yOWXIpxpDUHP26d-SrQoPMh-ZcBeUHvuZf8Z5Nn1zvES/s400/P1010010-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482640082381863346" border="0" /></a>Unlike the other Thalictrums I grow, this variety has blue foliage, hence the word "glaucum" in it's name. The blue foliage and the sulphur yellow blooms are a great combination!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyXsf7CfsB3KFi5WaO5whgMeUqR9EJPvwZmw_zPiioj1-f1dvSRvHqePSnbehSoCjk7ew4ihF4SdEi8tue-m0_4kmETvyq1EJp1p8MLyE-eS2s359jYAQM-XestHfM64GK24-zNSVZdLz/s1600/P1010009-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyXsf7CfsB3KFi5WaO5whgMeUqR9EJPvwZmw_zPiioj1-f1dvSRvHqePSnbehSoCjk7ew4ihF4SdEi8tue-m0_4kmETvyq1EJp1p8MLyE-eS2s359jYAQM-XestHfM64GK24-zNSVZdLz/s400/P1010009-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482640062777474050" border="0" /></a>If you leave your Thalictrums alone (that means leaving those ugly dead blooms on them for awhile), they will scatter a few seedlings. For some reason I've got a bunch of little babies growing right out of the cracks of the belgium block border of my driveway. The foliage is in the bottom left corner, the bloom is in the top right corner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvLL4yGe-IKnXHrgfjL2C0Y_O1ZH3L4LkUsGUCWEDmdV6Pb2U1C0GyFMT5GoRCwBNqvPQcYs-f4CE_j_-OQmlo_X1mjcxZan6z3H6ECmrEUUBYn-zHEKwSUJpavFYJKW-IPL4_3e64n-x/s1600/P1010013-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvLL4yGe-IKnXHrgfjL2C0Y_O1ZH3L4LkUsGUCWEDmdV6Pb2U1C0GyFMT5GoRCwBNqvPQcYs-f4CE_j_-OQmlo_X1mjcxZan6z3H6ECmrEUUBYn-zHEKwSUJpavFYJKW-IPL4_3e64n-x/s400/P1010013-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482640058981674690" border="0" /></a>Other Thalictrums grow here too. Next to my telephone pole is a large clump of Thalictrum<br />'Elin'. I just did a quick search on this plant and was surprised to see that it is a cross between Thalictrum flavum subsp. glaucum and Thalictrum rochebrunianum (hmmm, a thalictrum I don't grow!).<br /><br />Now this is a case of the right plant in the right location. It's at least 8 feet tall right now and stands up perfectly straight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUC4hZnPtgnEXgkKRpzZsqEuWkF3BU_C7z_bQskacPuNfmIuhXya38nQS8rD-P7OmyMHgAmxcCap4C_StmnTpBhgPhejHUy2UJRT2TwA72O0ZFedf0U9Uk3Ac_EB7Un8T4LDJK-uSOyrMt/s1600/P1010001-2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 344px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUC4hZnPtgnEXgkKRpzZsqEuWkF3BU_C7z_bQskacPuNfmIuhXya38nQS8rD-P7OmyMHgAmxcCap4C_StmnTpBhgPhejHUy2UJRT2TwA72O0ZFedf0U9Uk3Ac_EB7Un8T4LDJK-uSOyrMt/s400/P1010001-2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482639442382224226" border="0" /></a>At the total opposite spectrum is the teeny tiny Thalictrum kiusianum. This dwarf Thalictrum is so small that if you didn't know it was here you'd mistake it for clover or some other little thing. Last year I planted a piece in a dish garden and it did better there than it does in the garden. Maybe it finally feels it has room to grow without any thugs taking over?<br /><br />Oops, looking at the photo I see exactly that, a little piece of clover snuck right in the middle :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qga-C1m0md9zgKMiK74ywqdTij_RaM3hrKNx65Tn0kt7vyRaqSc52tiAoEoSLPkkaOfYcTkJ7BfIqShFtgXLfiluc5kTl5w0tN1IyULWSHBp1E5UUUlFDa-GUynLoeBuW3CpEsOIrieS/s1600/P6020053.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qga-C1m0md9zgKMiK74ywqdTij_RaM3hrKNx65Tn0kt7vyRaqSc52tiAoEoSLPkkaOfYcTkJ7BfIqShFtgXLfiluc5kTl5w0tN1IyULWSHBp1E5UUUlFDa-GUynLoeBuW3CpEsOIrieS/s400/P6020053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482639439455330466" border="0" /></a>Most likely the most well known Thalictrum is Thalictrum aquilegifolium. As the name says, the foliage looks just like an Aquilegia (columbine) and many people mistake it for one, that is, until it blooms.<br /><br />I find Thalictrums easy to grow, they have no pests that I'm aware of and require little extra care. Try one out, I think you'll love them!<br /><br />Melanie<br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-63932182130823063112010-06-03T05:33:00.001-07:002010-06-03T05:48:49.405-07:00Oh Baby!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShBQ45ZL2whz73AQNWFDnaIF6zsm5FtPV9O3bOvxrXIK_W83aG8lbXXNdBEToMsLJs178uK-HepWyGES6lOOkl1HanEsnbbFvfkbzGRs6XBiyH3W3bUT1rKOuBNzrO4SlrszAksoJ1j-k/s1600/P1010012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShBQ45ZL2whz73AQNWFDnaIF6zsm5FtPV9O3bOvxrXIK_W83aG8lbXXNdBEToMsLJs178uK-HepWyGES6lOOkl1HanEsnbbFvfkbzGRs6XBiyH3W3bUT1rKOuBNzrO4SlrszAksoJ1j-k/s400/P1010012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478525289687692690" border="0" /></a><br />This morning as I walked around the garden I noticed that the Hellebores are still looking quite nice. Wow, here it is June and I'm still looking at the Hellebores. I started photographing the buds on March 16th and by March 31st was taking shots of full blown blooms.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjUmjv7yL4WtZXwyNWmthcvYLpFy8Vn_7x-x2cL1-dEMoShzBekPk0lt5XkPbkdjJxqdzdrlH3OofLCzDNari40W2DqUoSFiGwn7VxSEA_jDAMxZcUVWObKst21elAoHdKXBc1ild7WiV/s1600/P1010013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 346px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjUmjv7yL4WtZXwyNWmthcvYLpFy8Vn_7x-x2cL1-dEMoShzBekPk0lt5XkPbkdjJxqdzdrlH3OofLCzDNari40W2DqUoSFiGwn7VxSEA_jDAMxZcUVWObKst21elAoHdKXBc1ild7WiV/s400/P1010013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478525296849107234" border="0" /></a><br />Upon closer inspection I realized that these babies are actually chock full of seed pods! If you look closely you can see that many of these have already released their seeds. I sure hope I find some little babies around later this summer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWhShHuEH-1iBlBaS2Ou1lOyvvxH3JXFr3UV9_YsvHpnZR7SC5-6Q1lq9wXkLF77ajbIAXNryxqPSGC2wjCLrjOLUA9puBQVuhjK9fOxGt2QyZeQ_bxrzJDktI_Dm4opdFE_VwgAnESEc/s1600/P1010031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWhShHuEH-1iBlBaS2Ou1lOyvvxH3JXFr3UV9_YsvHpnZR7SC5-6Q1lq9wXkLF77ajbIAXNryxqPSGC2wjCLrjOLUA9puBQVuhjK9fOxGt2QyZeQ_bxrzJDktI_Dm4opdFE_VwgAnESEc/s400/P1010031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478525296183946914" border="0" /></a><br />The Hellebore foetidus near my shed is also full of seed pods. This plant is actually a baby I moved from one of my front beds. They seed very nicely, not invasively. One thing I've learned is to move the seedlings when they are young, once they are older they become leggy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zMudsalaoKgrnfG6698tqt4V4xj5AksJRCIsgXGfYQ57xBy4zk_iHDqTCKma4lk1sQphtfYhxBdT1QthR-p2J4LHirUtrqIojgSlEHl1zKr3uUsfPQamN4chsg4yisyHmNhMkJJGAQ3v/s1600/P1010014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zMudsalaoKgrnfG6698tqt4V4xj5AksJRCIsgXGfYQ57xBy4zk_iHDqTCKma4lk1sQphtfYhxBdT1QthR-p2J4LHirUtrqIojgSlEHl1zKr3uUsfPQamN4chsg4yisyHmNhMkJJGAQ3v/s400/P1010014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478525283471817394" border="0" /></a>This dusky purple Hellebore still looks good, especially now that the Athyrium nipponicum (Japanese painted fern) has filled in next to it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXItW6nDQGlXDtf_XrW1lKnaT8ZvIZ1dRpvmXQ6Hveldbm7TO83S5PyOvhf4TAMCA-pR5k6OgFv2fKmT2YHd7Dc7xZQgBC1soZ8gHhYKIfNszrgyPaItXvGtNYS3sLhfpsAbvFzUJBPCpL/s1600/P1010018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXItW6nDQGlXDtf_XrW1lKnaT8ZvIZ1dRpvmXQ6Hveldbm7TO83S5PyOvhf4TAMCA-pR5k6OgFv2fKmT2YHd7Dc7xZQgBC1soZ8gHhYKIfNszrgyPaItXvGtNYS3sLhfpsAbvFzUJBPCpL/s400/P1010018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478525282759502114" border="0" /></a>Last but not least, you can see the newest seeds in the garden. Only difference here is I have no intention of planting these seeds... I love peas. Today will be my first harvest, yum!<br /><br />For those of you who like to stop by, please note that my garden will not be open this Friday (June 4th). I've broken my own rule and have been planting an English perennial garden for somebody else. She's given me free rein to choose the plant material and I so love the creative challenge.<br /><br />Melanie<br /><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-79068455562146611752010-05-28T06:19:00.001-07:002010-05-28T07:03:12.541-07:00Play Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglACvpANp0uRh1cjcjygawhU4yeqy9zsZoOrlzQP6nuuukZrgRjufgB_k8IleLbH_gcFD0bhDr38eFtyL8T1wZzQXzJSMZIxfJffG_iNR_2MB0MlEUYwpnuO7hMhv2xdZ2ML8hNHBObVCc/s1600/P1010045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglACvpANp0uRh1cjcjygawhU4yeqy9zsZoOrlzQP6nuuukZrgRjufgB_k8IleLbH_gcFD0bhDr38eFtyL8T1wZzQXzJSMZIxfJffG_iNR_2MB0MlEUYwpnuO7hMhv2xdZ2ML8hNHBObVCc/s400/P1010045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476314891945392642" border="0" /></a>This afternoon I have a play date. Some garden friends are coming by with their children and we are going to split and replant the Sempervivum (Hens & Chicks).<br /><br />We'll be selecting all the pots that are chock full, pulling the plants apart and giving them homes in new pots with room for those little chicks to spread out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8l-7lmlk0Ri1qXZaFs9utnixd5EIo-qQJwcp5jsaRynptCH8ULMHAPOCNFi0_F2nUFgGpEAJuNFHCJhD0EMFdBYG1ueoQ9BDkTmARJ6rgjZE2OuUQ4bhEfINRX2TDLlCootTgfvgDaJH/s1600/P1010021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8l-7lmlk0Ri1qXZaFs9utnixd5EIo-qQJwcp5jsaRynptCH8ULMHAPOCNFi0_F2nUFgGpEAJuNFHCJhD0EMFdBYG1ueoQ9BDkTmARJ6rgjZE2OuUQ4bhEfINRX2TDLlCootTgfvgDaJH/s400/P1010021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476310899622103906" border="0" /></a>If you came by my house right now you'd see that I've been doing this splitting all month long. My front walkway has a number of these flats filled with all kinds of beautiful succulents.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvw7P6wqOPhStBHwOzomuyBrG1bILGs39FKhICAp5PFy8uVJvmCKnr13kM4mPq8awOl2pJ0Gri_stsTFF85br5H5cQJjmhVjmJnvXc_crKQaoTttahwKySPvX3_N93m6Kw_MGjbMhhtC7X/s1600/P1010048.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvw7P6wqOPhStBHwOzomuyBrG1bILGs39FKhICAp5PFy8uVJvmCKnr13kM4mPq8awOl2pJ0Gri_stsTFF85br5H5cQJjmhVjmJnvXc_crKQaoTttahwKySPvX3_N93m6Kw_MGjbMhhtC7X/s400/P1010048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476310893285309602" border="0" /></a>Yesterday I picked up a few more trough containers. The place I get them from has very few left so I will only be able to get 3 or 4 more this season. These hypertufa containers are quite a bit more expensive than clay pots but so much more durable.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuG2CbF1fRoSp34k4j6vx5Rn4U0J5P836Q3sqtR1UlFSsTAVSB-F-kJj5Q3MIVpQR8LAvzA3Wza1TJfr6tAbJy21BVaI6DXxBwv1FBwHPS2IjkvyGx9JYo8BDfVQINSMyPYoz9ylKlE3k/s1600/P1010031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuG2CbF1fRoSp34k4j6vx5Rn4U0J5P836Q3sqtR1UlFSsTAVSB-F-kJj5Q3MIVpQR8LAvzA3Wza1TJfr6tAbJy21BVaI6DXxBwv1FBwHPS2IjkvyGx9JYo8BDfVQINSMyPYoz9ylKlE3k/s400/P1010031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476310890771515650" border="0" /></a>I have such fun looking for things to plant in the troughs. You'll always find a Sempervivum in the mix, this one on the left here is one of my favorites, it's name is 'Oddity'.<br /><br />It's important to also step outside of the box and mix in some other material. The golden chartreuse of the Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' (creeping Jenny) is going to be fun to work with.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KyU2fUwP1RdyPhzpd2voSQ-5vbhm5Q9qJSJ6ZRh2FB38Rx8l9AR8y6u88PmvXdW0UwEhAwSdEaRWveB0gRPWXh99O_cqPw6MV8xdwGzAp0QqvXJZ0aSV-jwriG80L0rnE7D0T5weOYkL/s1600/P1010026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KyU2fUwP1RdyPhzpd2voSQ-5vbhm5Q9qJSJ6ZRh2FB38Rx8l9AR8y6u88PmvXdW0UwEhAwSdEaRWveB0gRPWXh99O_cqPw6MV8xdwGzAp0QqvXJZ0aSV-jwriG80L0rnE7D0T5weOYkL/s400/P1010026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476310884267899314" border="0" /></a>One non-succulent that I've had wonderful success with is Allium senescens glaucum which is the blue flat leaf foliage in the top corner of this trough. It was planted last year and came through the winter with flying colors, doubling nicely in size.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYdwfdVW_YfLgd6waLioaa39Xgo9qD5sPC_TskSiX92Wus5CsEFfoEHM8wRjqhtaAKumn3ywdy49R7CuFfjlTgyIZiIgcb0p5OvS3uaqqDjYIQrrGmFGS09qG4A1Rnk9-8bj7oj2M9cY0/s1600/P1010063.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYdwfdVW_YfLgd6waLioaa39Xgo9qD5sPC_TskSiX92Wus5CsEFfoEHM8wRjqhtaAKumn3ywdy49R7CuFfjlTgyIZiIgcb0p5OvS3uaqqDjYIQrrGmFGS09qG4A1Rnk9-8bj7oj2M9cY0/s400/P1010063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476310880470994034" border="0" /></a><br />There are a few containers here for sale. They make excellent gifts, they are low maintenance and will live much longer than any cut flower arrangement.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTean-lsj4a17-5YSOeLRHTYpzDsw5RgECekK9GHMls58oo00DRBlRbXxsiu6XwGRHQvDmzvTie7upHP4YqdSTmu19-1-8Mi9_RyBkd2ahbJcmvBHVxh6E-cATX8Q-tWiDmW5iy5lseUk/s1600/P1010064.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTean-lsj4a17-5YSOeLRHTYpzDsw5RgECekK9GHMls58oo00DRBlRbXxsiu6XwGRHQvDmzvTie7upHP4YqdSTmu19-1-8Mi9_RyBkd2ahbJcmvBHVxh6E-cATX8Q-tWiDmW5iy5lseUk/s400/P1010064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476311154272978354" border="0" /></a><br />For less money, there are some that are planted in clay pots. I planted a few of these last year and surprisingly the pots all survived the winter without any chips or cracks but I can't guarantee that will always be the case.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBHNvW-2kiUQZih2PSGKPRaFySZXucNFkbaZYCg7f81R5ZphLYbqai6N3-dR8hQ7AiEtOPy_WAdTxpuU3bA_vq8I_Ly-nwhAeUc5FhHeYFKKMObHr9zgN8_lX_-Wrcak5viNQW5eNwAls/s1600/P1010061.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBHNvW-2kiUQZih2PSGKPRaFySZXucNFkbaZYCg7f81R5ZphLYbqai6N3-dR8hQ7AiEtOPy_WAdTxpuU3bA_vq8I_Ly-nwhAeUc5FhHeYFKKMObHr9zgN8_lX_-Wrcak5viNQW5eNwAls/s400/P1010061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476311158967601650" border="0" /></a>Here's a shot of my front stoop. These three troughs were planted last year and are not for sale. I have them slightly raised and they look like this all year long except for when they were covered with snow.<br /><br />We are going to have such fun this afternoon!<br /><br />Melanie<br /><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182089312917589572.post-60749652335191760962010-05-24T07:34:00.000-07:002010-05-24T08:09:22.304-07:00Hardy Geraniums<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwN5kIh3uUml2YQ8N2ijVuHGSKw-Vb1h6UDHOP9qWEGBjQpFfmmyN5wW6A-2GyAHsLnv0KWuTPOKFrEArtxNgakhlEWRp8rPnm9HtONjRyANSGOzZagAbg-w_ECHWtiuTY-OfclUQiqk6/s1600/P1010005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwN5kIh3uUml2YQ8N2ijVuHGSKw-Vb1h6UDHOP9qWEGBjQpFfmmyN5wW6A-2GyAHsLnv0KWuTPOKFrEArtxNgakhlEWRp8rPnm9HtONjRyANSGOzZagAbg-w_ECHWtiuTY-OfclUQiqk6/s400/P1010005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474846490501336802" border="0" /></a>Each year at this time I find myself photographing and writing about my hardy Geraniums.<br /><br />For those of you who are new to my writings or new to the world of perennials, there are true Geraniums that are hardy perennials here on Long Island (USA zone 6b). These Geraniums look nothing like the tender Geraniums people buy for their planters, those are actually named Pelargoniums.<br /><br />Hardy Geraniums are incredibly valuable to the perennial garden. Probably the most common variety (certainly the first I ever grew) is Geranium sanguinium pictured here in the opening shot. The color of the blooms is almost impossible for the camera to capture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63mTP8HCNgxcrTSA4P1Fqi4n8uR4C0q4Pw9WqvHFbB1g6O50GTH5ESD_ZLaZS1wqEQ6PpVsvbenK_duPNwa7MXha2oGqeCW9hvfNz4w_VyMmuRK9xXP7nrNscheTAC4HK45jDPxuyxuND/s1600/P1010012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63mTP8HCNgxcrTSA4P1Fqi4n8uR4C0q4Pw9WqvHFbB1g6O50GTH5ESD_ZLaZS1wqEQ6PpVsvbenK_duPNwa7MXha2oGqeCW9hvfNz4w_VyMmuRK9xXP7nrNscheTAC4HK45jDPxuyxuND/s400/P1010012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474846481714693378" border="0" /></a>One lesson that needs to be learned when growing hardy Geraniums is that they rarely stand on their own. They tend to be soft stemmed and much prefer to cascade, sprawl, lean and meander on and around neighbor plants. If used correctly, this tendency can be quite charming.<br /><br />Unfortunately this trait tends to make hardy Geraniums look messy or leggy in pots and messy plants are hard to sell.<br /><br />Once planted in the ground though it's a whole different matter. In many cases their growth is thick and lush, allowing no chance for weeds to come up. You can see how nice and tight this clump of Geranium sanguinium is.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhta7z410YUC5pY-8K7BZ5sdbKwCzAnEEpRb3CQUgZ5cfb20qDQydo3w2FSVRyMrMDghXuqA9Od4s5qS-MzUXbXGJf92UviWGzdVTbdiAMbroRv6yMAI_CcQwbKC671SWnbJUc6zSmfYFWB/s1600/P1010027-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 342px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhta7z410YUC5pY-8K7BZ5sdbKwCzAnEEpRb3CQUgZ5cfb20qDQydo3w2FSVRyMrMDghXuqA9Od4s5qS-MzUXbXGJf92UviWGzdVTbdiAMbroRv6yMAI_CcQwbKC671SWnbJUc6zSmfYFWB/s400/P1010027-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474846476595023426" border="0" /></a><br />An important thing to note when you go out looking for hardy geraniums is that there are varieties that require sun (the sanguiniums up top do best with a good amount of sunlight although they will tolerate lower light conditions) other varieties prefer some shade and a few require even more shade. The bloom you see here is from Geranium phaeum also known as the "mourning widow geranium". This is one that does well in the shade.<br /><br />Interestingly, I just read on one web site that this Geranium also grows in sunlight but that website was a Brittish site. Keep that in mind when you research your plants, what takes full sun in England is very different than what might take full sun here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPlccr5pHb8CH-WXsEP5medTUtI2hqKKntr4UzHrCgnDgLTGluJHe1hyphenhyphen3bgC1KD1eCepEZwDI0Ijc3XmZzeBeWBg3qov9lEcWwf10YCTkApaSS9jUczkaHiVNt7AjPKnZFQPdRsbyPjZC/s1600/P1010017-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPlccr5pHb8CH-WXsEP5medTUtI2hqKKntr4UzHrCgnDgLTGluJHe1hyphenhyphen3bgC1KD1eCepEZwDI0Ijc3XmZzeBeWBg3qov9lEcWwf10YCTkApaSS9jUczkaHiVNt7AjPKnZFQPdRsbyPjZC/s400/P1010017-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474846483130376898" border="0" /></a>Geranium pratense 'Midnight Reiter' is another shade Geranium. In my experience this one does not clump up as vigorously as other varieties but you can see it is certainly a most welcome addition to the shade garden.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCjzC7N3EMr4KtPVUv-MKoKi0VS1cwCLuHR4R-ZK22QMX0Iwusvc-ir6_2G61vGdXH_x2dLZc9Nfzq_lLbFNosnRm2BFusRvNZ3_dcUIZI3g5OJWlgoqmUjgCIjp4NJBknMD6PcZTSv2H/s1600/P1010018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCjzC7N3EMr4KtPVUv-MKoKi0VS1cwCLuHR4R-ZK22QMX0Iwusvc-ir6_2G61vGdXH_x2dLZc9Nfzq_lLbFNosnRm2BFusRvNZ3_dcUIZI3g5OJWlgoqmUjgCIjp4NJBknMD6PcZTSv2H/s400/P1010018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474845463977331122" border="0" /></a>One more shade Geranium that I've grown to love is Geranium nodosum. This beauty does not bloom as heavily as the other Geraniums but as you can see, it has beautiful lush foliage. Those of you who know me well know that I'm always on the hunt for plants with great foliage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SJ49zpYE5NjjgaWwBqdZRWzIYQHTj5Vvxfez7TvTlpowK62JExacRnPlQT5lWa3ZKBI6yuZgWEv1KP508ZpaZwWUKW6U9_PriB9mRpU-3cBo1hB0gplCpshJXM_G8GN2B9y2dKkxE2-0/s1600/P1010006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SJ49zpYE5NjjgaWwBqdZRWzIYQHTj5Vvxfez7TvTlpowK62JExacRnPlQT5lWa3ZKBI6yuZgWEv1KP508ZpaZwWUKW6U9_PriB9mRpU-3cBo1hB0gplCpshJXM_G8GN2B9y2dKkxE2-0/s400/P1010006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474845459321232610" border="0" /></a>Foliage is definitely a plus on most of the hardy Geraniums. In a semi shade (morning sun) location, the foliage of Geranium 'Nimbus' is just wonderful.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq0oKMYAUy7UciU0C-EFQ63RzRDfGMGbhdUVG9HebPFc0DTCUNhKso1dQAu6BcxRAaVpp8BUH_Uc7yVdjzRzkclijq9ZEcj8uGwRLQqmUqT0V7ea8k5KQ0HQj_7zUTZRrAAkIq23aSr0x/s1600/P1010007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq0oKMYAUy7UciU0C-EFQ63RzRDfGMGbhdUVG9HebPFc0DTCUNhKso1dQAu6BcxRAaVpp8BUH_Uc7yVdjzRzkclijq9ZEcj8uGwRLQqmUqT0V7ea8k5KQ0HQj_7zUTZRrAAkIq23aSr0x/s400/P1010007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474845457606412226" border="0" /></a>Today I saw the first bloom on 'Nimbus', more are sure to come.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiAS75eacSJUs6yLSrIFo-Yj-EbVW8tTjid_rqFIT3m9VyoBvq6EvuJD50jFnlKVtNHk2gCL83CGEQo7Z18t3s4ke1DQfwLv2V2moab0pbKLeAtgwupnN2OYxUEB__bB-1KwWZxbjtkZi/s1600/P1010008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiAS75eacSJUs6yLSrIFo-Yj-EbVW8tTjid_rqFIT3m9VyoBvq6EvuJD50jFnlKVtNHk2gCL83CGEQo7Z18t3s4ke1DQfwLv2V2moab0pbKLeAtgwupnN2OYxUEB__bB-1KwWZxbjtkZi/s400/P1010008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474845451333224370" border="0" /></a>I guess I can't say I favor any one Geranium over another but can tell you that this Geranium 'Bevan's Variety' wins an award for growing into a lush clump in a location that is hostile to so many plants. Dry shade under a life-sucking Norway maple, this baby just keeps on going.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrkNA543e8gZnSURBhZ892ywyGOK4ZGp45wuhR01rqDtLLJzJLyKPaCFD7l9FMdoOfdPkGDlP2YOhgOi3b6_bwP0Qv3SnHU6TvFn9OBri_efYvcU9KX6tb04tIXzKrXNAYIKi1k8QF28V/s1600/P1010014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrkNA543e8gZnSURBhZ892ywyGOK4ZGp45wuhR01rqDtLLJzJLyKPaCFD7l9FMdoOfdPkGDlP2YOhgOi3b6_bwP0Qv3SnHU6TvFn9OBri_efYvcU9KX6tb04tIXzKrXNAYIKi1k8QF28V/s400/P1010014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474845448541244162" border="0" /></a>The cantabrigiense Geraniums (this one is 'Cambridge') deserve a posting of their own and I've done exactly that in the past. At the top of this blog and my other blog at <a href="http://melaniesoldcountrygarden.blogspot.com">Melanie's Old Country Gardens</a> you can type "Geranium" into the search bar and find past articles on these wonderful perennials. This is my 104th posting on this blog but the other has 380 so if you are looking for lots of information, check that site out too.<br /><br />Off to play in the dirt,<br />Melanie<br /><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Melanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.com3