Dirt Therapy

Two transplants from last fall - Goldenrod ( Solidago 'Fireworks') and Beautyberry ( Callicarpa 'Profusion') appears to have made the move with ease. Wednesday Vignettes are hosted by Anna at Flutter & Hum . Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

There is a soothing slow rain today and it is so nice sitting inside listening to it through our open windows. It is getting that time of year when there are subtle changes in color and some plants are really coming into their own. The anenome (above) is a perennial that really puts on a show in the fall. It seems they just get better each year (of course, part of that is due to their tendency to spread...) Clematis 'Bill Mackenzie' Another plant that seems to sneak up on me is Clematis 'Bill Mackenzie' although it actually begins to bloom in mid-summer. It really comes into its own though in September with a smothering of yellow blooms. This clematis is in the Tangutica/Orientalis group. It is getting more aggressive with age (I think this is the third year) and I dug up two rootings yesterday. Anybody need one? Aster 'Wood's Purple' and Cedrus deodora 'Feelin' Blue' I've really become fond of asters since moving to Washington. There are se...

Hibiscus 'Midnight Marvel' Last week I wrote about the joys of new Abba and Vera and this week there is more excitement - we have rain in the forecast! And the possibility of a good rain - at least one inch. Keep your fingers crossed for us. We are in dire need of it and I'm sure the plants would be overjoyed as well. Despite the drought, there are lots of blooms in the September garden. I will start with the container plants which get daily watering. Note to self - less containers next year. Two matching baskets hang on the pergola - they are filled with Begonia 'Bonfire' and Fan Flower ( Scaevola ). I don't remember the name of this begonia. I've overwintered it for the past two winters in the garage.   I tried to overwinter Hell's Bells ( Datura ) last year but it didn't make it. We liked it so much that I got another one this year. Oxalis 'Plum Crazy' Another beautiful begonia (a customer recommended this one) and an overloaded fuchsia at...

We've spent most of the last two days working on an arborvitae next to the house (that is another post!). I was up on the roof this morning in order to trim part of it and took some aerial shots while I was there. The photo at the top and the one below is looking out over the front garden. I am standing just right above the front door.   (Above) The area to the left shows the garden directly in front of the living room windows. The only plant here when we moved in was the 'Bloodgood' Japanese maple at the top left corner. (Below) Looking down on the center area of the front. To the left is the painfully slow-growing Sourwood tree ( Oxydendrum arboreum ) that was planted the first year. It is now only 7 feet tall and very little horizontal growth. The large Japanese maple on the right is 'Skeeter's Broom'. (Above) The area to the far right next to the driveway. Cotinus 'Royal Purple' (Smoke Tree) is on the upper left and the 'Esk' maple is to ...

I have been so excited this week with various entertainment media. First, I got the news that Abba had released two songs after a 40-year absence. I've been a huge fan since I was a teenager and I'm in hog heaven. I've already ordered the CD which will be out in November.  Next up, a brand new season of "Vera"!! And finally, a wonderful new book that showcases 20 private gardens in Washington and Oregon. I got an advance copy to review and I've been trying to savor it slowly. Books of this nature used to appear frequently but it seems that they are few and far between these days.  This is a beautiful hardcover coffee table book that measures 11 x 9 1/2". The gardens cover a diverse range of types and sizes, from lush multi-acre gardens to small city lots. Various gardening styles are represented, from the whimsical to the exotic. The majority of the gardens are located in northern Washington in the Puget Sound region with five from the Portland area. The ...

'Dragonwing' begonia in a pot with Persicaria 'Golden Arrow' in the foreground Fall is in the air and I already notice how the light is beginning to change and the shadows are growing longer. I love this time of year although I do often experience a tinge of melancholy and an increased need for sleep. We've had some wonderful cool days in the 70s and an occasional warm day here and there. Tomorrow will be a warm one, getting close to 90, but overall those days have been outnumbered. The rain situation or lack thereof is dire and with the exception of a few sprinkles in the forecast, we remain dry. At this point, a rainy day is only a distant memory. I try not to think about the water bill. Michael spends about two hours every morning watering pots and the plants that look like they need it. Once a week sprinklers are turned on and the entire garden is watered. That takes all day. So we use a lot of water here. We also spend a lot of money on birdseed. We have a to...