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Autumn Leaves

'Dancing Peacock' Someone needs to write a song... :) With an atmospheric river and 30 mph winds predicted this past weekend, I was afraid the ginkgo, which had just started to turn color, would be stripped.  We were lucky though and it remains intact. Gingko 'Princeton Sentry' After the storm... The Black Tupelo (Nyssa slyvatica) changes color from the inside out - The above photo was taken last week. Here it is today - 'Wolf Eyes' Dogwood (Cornus kousa) has never had such pink color - Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea', Crape Myrtle 'Dynamite' ( Lagerstroemia ), and Persian Ironwood ( Parrotia persica ) - Japanese Maple 'Beni Hime' - Serviceberry 'Autumn Brilliance' ( Amelanchier ) with tree peonies - Stewartia pyschocamellia starts the color show early. It has since faded to a much softer color - Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Gifts from gardening friends

As I was puttering in the garden this afternoon and taking photos when I should have been weeding, I started noticing several plants were blooming that were gifts from gardening friends.

This beautiful iris - 'Edith Wolford' - is a gift from Randy, Jamie and their friend Carol who visited us a few weeks ago.




Kaye, an Internet acquaintance from Arkansas, was passing through the area on the way to Florida, and made a detour to visit our garden. I felt so honored. She and her husband have a beautiful rose garden and they brought me three China roses that I didn't have. This one is "Archduke Charles" -



Jennifer, rose rustler extraordinaire, has been rooting cuttings from the roses in our garden. Last fall she gave us this beautiful variegated sedum which has been getting lots of attention from garden visitors. Isn't it stunning?



There are many more plants in the garden that have come from friends and visitors. I will have to do a "Part 2" when those start to bloom.
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Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 11, 2009 at 11:02 PM

    Garden friends are THE best! Beautiful iris. Stunning rose.

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  2. Monica the Garden FaerieMay 12, 2009 at 4:59 AM

    Pass-along plants are the best! It's fun to walk through the garden and recall who gave what! Along those lines, I host a plant swap each year (this year on Saturday)... wish you could come!

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  3. UnknownMay 12, 2009 at 5:35 AM

    Beautiful, I too have been lucky to receive many "pass along" plants. And as I look at my garden, I think about where they came from. I think that is true with almost all gardeners, they love to share and be helpful. hugs...Brooke

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  4. SandraMay 12, 2009 at 5:36 AM

    That is a gorgeous iris - absolutely one of my favorite flowers. I just wish they lasted longer!

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  5. Roses and LilacsMay 12, 2009 at 5:37 AM

    I can see why the sedum is getting so much attention. Really pretty. Edith Wolford too, love the color combination. Nice to have these plants to bring back memories of good friends.
    Marnie

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  6. joeyMay 12, 2009 at 5:54 AM

    Lucky you. 'Edith Wolford' is a true beauty. I have a very similar iris that will soon be blooming. My garden is also filled with many treasured gifts and I love to share!

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  7. Carol MichelMay 12, 2009 at 6:12 AM

    My favorite plants in the garden seem to be those given to me by someone else. Those are beautiful plants.

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  8. AnonymousMay 12, 2009 at 6:28 AM

    Beautiful flowers. It's so nice to receive gifts of flowers from friends.

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  9. YolanaMay 12, 2009 at 6:53 AM

    I have quite a few plants that were passed along to me and for me their cultivar name is whoever gave it to me. I think of all my generous garden friends whenever I see them bloom.

    And wow, that sedum

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  10. Dig, Grow, Compost, BlogMay 12, 2009 at 8:21 AM

    Those are all really beautiful. I've never seen a sedum like that. Do you know the name of it?

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  11. Catherine@AGardenerinProgressMay 12, 2009 at 8:26 AM

    Isn't it great having plants that remind of us people? It's part of what makes gardening so special. They are all beautiful, what nice friends!

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  12. AntonioMay 12, 2009 at 8:41 AM

    Aren't gifts from gardeners the best! Between my neighbor and my gardening guru (and the other pre-existing plants that came from assorted friends), my entire garden is an heirloom. Your garden, on the other hand, is my shopping list. Archduke Charles and Edith Wolfe have just been added to my spreadsheets.

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  13. Dirt PrincessMay 12, 2009 at 9:51 AM

    Very nice! Reason #981 I love blogging ;)

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  14. sweetbayMay 12, 2009 at 11:12 AM

    Edith Wolford is gorgeous! I just got Archduke Charles last year and it's a beautiful rose. You've got good gardening friends.

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  15. Becca's DirtMay 12, 2009 at 1:00 PM

    The seddum is stunning and can easily see why it is loved. It is so nice to have flowers from friends. All of the blooms are so pretty. Becca

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  16. GailMay 12, 2009 at 7:32 PM

    I have to agree with your commenters...the best plants in my garden are from friends. Such lovely reminders. The iris is beautiful and I think the sedum is a keeper (but do share it);) gail

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  17. JanMay 13, 2009 at 3:43 AM

    Gardeners can be so generous. I have received so many plants from friends and neighbors that I feel I must do the same. You have some lovely gift plants to remember friends by.

    Jan
    Always Growing

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  18. Annie in AustinMay 13, 2009 at 8:24 AM

    Lovely sedum! How amazing that Kaye could find three China roses you didn't already have in your garden, Phillip ;-]

    A lot of my plants are passalongs, too - but if/when you have to move, the logistics of bringing along a hundred potted friends can be daunting.

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  19. Dee/reddirtramblingsMay 13, 2009 at 12:11 PM

    Aren't we lucky to have such good friends who love us enough to share. I did a post on this recently too. I love that iris, Phillip.~~Dee

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  20. UnknownMay 14, 2009 at 1:36 PM

    Absolutely beautiful. Generally not a sedum fan, but that is certainly special. Love the iris, as well. I have a similar one called "Pinball Wizard," but plants are always somehow more special when there is a story attached.

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  21. Jennifer FrazierMay 14, 2009 at 7:20 PM

    Phillip, you are too kind. If you want to propagate more of my sedum just cut off a few stems, strip the bottom leaves and stick them in a pot...they'll root in no time. I have no idea what the name is...I got it myself as a passalong plant from my husband's 85 year old aunt. I think of her everytime It emerges in spring! A garden just wouldn't be a garden without keepsakes in the form of plants/flowers would it?
    Jennifer

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  22. Wayne StratzMay 19, 2009 at 6:03 PM

    your photos are wonderful. I too have a lovely iris which came by way of a friend.

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  23. Lisa at GreenbowMay 21, 2009 at 5:36 PM

    Aren't gifts from friends at least a double pleasure. You are delighted when you receive the plant and then time and again when it blooms you are reminded of the gifter.

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