This Weekend in the Garden

“Gardens are not made by singing ‘Oh, how beautiful,’ and sitting in the shade.”  — Rudyard Kipling

Peony ‘Sarah Bernhardt’

Peonies are opening all over the garden.  I’ve added many over the past couple of years — so many I forgot where I planted some of them until they began to pop up in early spring.  Although they bloom for only a brief time, I feel about peonies the way many gardeners feel about roses; I can’t imagine my garden without them.

Peony ‘Duchess De Nemours’ with Alchemilla mollis

Peony ‘Shirley Temple’

Part of the Peony “Old Time Collection”

“The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies.”  — Gertrude Jekyll

Anchusa azurea ‘Dropmore’ with campanula

 

“Gardening simply does not allow one to be mentally old, because too many hopes and dreams are yet to be realized.”  — Allan Armitage

Penstemon ‘Pocahontas’ with bumble bee

 

Clematis are as omnipresent as peonies in the garden.

I’m not sure what this is. It was supposed to be ‘Josephine’ as well, and clearly is not.

 

Clematis ‘Josephine’

Clematis ‘Belle of Woking’

 

“I like gardening — it’s a place where I find myself when I need to lose myself.” — Alice Sebold

Peony, catmint and foxglove

 

Siberian Iris

Sweet William

Bleeding Heart

Penstemon, catmint and Rosa ‘Grootendorst’