Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Friday, August 31, 2012

Other Summer Flowers in our Yard

Most of the Summer,  I have talked about our Roses,  Lilies and Daylilies.   I have not talked about or showed you pictures of some of our other flowers... SO---today,  I'll share some of these photos with you.  Above is one of our 4 BEGONIAS...  All of mine are in pots --and three hang in the front yard near the front porch.  The other one is on our deck..  Begonias are easy flowers to grow--and they are sun-lovers, and give any yard alot of color!!!!  Below are more --so be sure and click on them to see enlargements.




Another potted plant I have is IMPATIENS.  I love these little plants and used to grow lots of them in the round flowerbeds... After going through two years of having rabbits EAT the flowers/plants,  I gave up trying to grow them... I do love them --and they are great summer flowers to have in shady spots.




This is one plant that we are VERY disappointed with.  Our CLEMATIS just won't bloom.  The plant produces lots and lots of green leaves and looks very healthy... It did this last year also--so we went online and read about when to cut it back, etc.... We did that --but it still didn't bloom this summer (other than a very few blooms, one of which is shown above)....   Anyone have any suggestions?????




Many of our IRISES are re-bloomers ----and have continued to bloom off and on all summer.... (We hope they bloom in the Fall also.)  Here is just one of them, named CANTINA.   It just keeps on blooming... Don't you love seeing flowers with raindrops on them?   Awesome,  isn't it?




We have LOTS of HOSTAS in our yard,  and they did bloom...  For some reason,  I didn't get any pictures this summer of their blooms...  Duh!!!!!   Anyhow---the Hosta plants are prettier this year than ever before.  AND--so far,  the deer have stayed away!!!!




Do you know what this is?????  This is one of our SEMPERVIVUM  (Semps) blooming.   As most of you know,  we have Semps all over the yard...  They are called Hens and Chicks by many.  When the Mama Hen blooms,  that means she will die--and the Chicks take over and become Hens....  This Semp obviously was blooming---and will die.  Interesting how it works,  isn't it?????   (Glad most things don't die when they bloom!!!! ha)




This is another FALL favorite bloom.  This is my AUTUMN JOY SEDUM --which I have lots of around the yard.  These blooms will remain throughout the Fall--gradually changing colors... They will turn pink, then blueish,  and gradually turn rust color...  SUCH a neat plant ---and they take almost no care at all.




Finally,  here are two pictures of my favorite bush in our yard,  our CONFEDERATE  JASMINE.   We have had to trim this bush several times this summer --or else it would just keep on getting bigger and bigger... It blooms almost all summer even when we trim it....  It smells good ---and I just LOVE it...




Here is a close-up of what the little flowers look like on the CONFEDERATE JASMINE bush.  Aren't they just beautiful????

Hope you enjoyed seeing more of our summer bloomers... I sometimes neglect these --while emphasizing the Roses and Lilies and other perennials.  But--as many of my blog friends will tell me,  they enjoy some of these even more!!!!

Have a wonderful weekend and I will see you on Wednesday.  (Monday is a holiday, Labor Day,  so I won't be blogging that day.)  I have another bridal shower to attend (my future daughter-in-law) this weekend---so it will be another busy one!!!!  Sorry I have not kept up with your blogs/comments lately... JUST overwhelmed with LIFE right now!

Hugs,
Betsy

55 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Betsy, you do have a lovely yard. All of your flowers are gorgeous. Does the jasmine have a nice scent? I would love to have some jasmine in my yard. Lovely photos, have a great weekend. PS, I will get back to you on our favorite Yellowstone spots.

Ms. A said...

When I was growing up, we had a large cape jasmine growing outside my bedroom window. The attic fan would pull that wonderful smell inside! Brings back memories.

diane b said...

Well thats a good way to be-having a lot of life going on. The plants are beautiful and yes the irises are neat with the water drops. I haven't seen a Jasmine bush just a jasmine creeper which smells beautiful, Another great post from the Adam's Botanic Garden.

Big Dude said...

Great shot of the Cardinal Betsy

Sharon said...

Hey Betsy, I learned something from this posts - didn't know there were iris that were re-bloomers. That's Bill's favorite flower, so will have to see if we can find some for our yard. Yippee!! I also love the Hosta blooms - that shade of lavender is my favorite color!

Susannah said...

All of these summer flowers are beautiful, too. We need all of the flowers to make our yards look pretty. I love the iris that reblooms. That is very neat. Your photos are exquisite.

Snap said...

Lovely yard, Betsy (and lots of work for you and George -- no wonder you both are in such good shape for your hikes)!!!!

Jeevan said...

These are little joys I enjoyed viewing here... and these are no more to neglect as they keep their company alive throughout! Lovely capture on the summer flowers and leaves... Have a great weekend and wishes on Labor Day!

Hidden Haven Homestead said...

You really need to add a scratch and sniff to those pictures Betsy! :) I can almost smell those beautiful flowers and bet your yard is the envy of the neighborhood. Have a wonderful holiday weekend.

Linda G. said...

Your summer blooms are as lovely as the other flowers in your garden. Everything looks so healthy. Have a great holiday weekend and enjoy the bridal shower!

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

You have some wonderful bloomers. I love that color of your clematis and hope it will give you more blooms next year.

I have a Confederate Jasmine and it is a vine. The flowers aren't the same, yours are more trumpet shaped and the vine are stars,plus yours blooms all summer, the vine blooms in the spring. If your shrub smells anything like the blooms on the vine, then you are blessed. I look forward to our vine blooming every spring. The scent is one of my very favorites.

Have a lovely weekend there in your beautiful part of the country.

FlowerLady

MadSnapper said...

that purple Iris is mind blowing and stunning. i am a killer of begonias, i tried to grow them in Savannah and never could, but my kitchen window box was always full of impatiens

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

I sure love all your flowers Betsy. You certainly have an eye for them!

Donna said...

Thank you for the garden tour! I grew clematis at our previous cottage and they did well with a LOT of sun. Perhaps your garden spots for them are too shaded.

Best wishes for the long, holiday weekend!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Thanks for sharing these beauties as well. Have a great weekend. I do hope you get some time to relax.It's off to work for me next week. Yeah,I think.

Miss Debbie said...

Such a lovely yard! I know that requires a lot of work (and know how!) to keep it that way. Thanks for the tour!

Karin said...

I never did get the one clematis I ever had - in a sunny location - to bloom. Perhaps they needed a different kind of soil. Some folks have such showy ones, flowers big as saucers!!! Love all your photos of these lovely plants! Those hosta leaves are a fabulous addition to any garden! Have a great long-week-end and God bless!

TexWisGirl said...

you have a bevy of blooms. :) like that bright Mr. Red in your header.

Unknown said...

Ms. Betsy, I wouldn't waste too much money on begonias and impatiens as they root very well and very fast, you can have more in no time at all from just purchasing one or two plants. If that was my clematis, at the first sign of a bud or bloom I would fertilize it with Miracle Grows Bloom Booster, I keep some on hand and it really makes a difference....

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

The cardinal in the header is beautiful! Love the flowers, too. I've always been fond of begonias, although I've never grown them. The shot of the iris with the raindrops is very pretty.

Sylvia K said...

Such gorgeous flowers and glorious colors, Betsy! Your captures are superb as always! Such a delightful tour of you've taken us on! Hope you and George have a great Labor Day weekend! Enjoy!!

Sylvia

Christine said...

What beautiful blooms Betsy. I could almost smell that wonderful Jasmine!

Neal said...

All are beautiful. My mom just loved clematis vines and so do I.

Anonymous said...

Mr Red looks right at home on your header. Your summer blooms couldn't be more beautiful.
Have a wonderful weekend, Betsy.
Hugs

Catherine said...

Here we are - September only a few hours away. Enjoy your summer colors while you can Betsy!
xo C

Rose ~ from Oz said...

A visual delight Betsy!! AND I could smell the delicious scents too!! YOur header photo is AWESOME!
xx

LV said...

There will never be an ugly flowers in your yard. Beautiful presentation. The bird in your header looks as tho he might just reach out and peck me.

Fred Alton said...

Betsy, you are such a great blogger. I love reading about your home, the yard, flowers, birds, and all of your interesting trips. You and George are exceptionally good photographers. I leave Tuesday for ME and the hundred mile Wilderness! I hope to return with scores of pictures and stories to tell. I'll be thinking about you two.

Chatty Crone said...

Betsy you have a gorgeous yard and everything looks beautiful - now here is the thing - I love that big old mail cardinal on your header!!!!!!!!

sandie

Rohrerbot said...

Love your red theme!!! Pretty cardinal. Have a fantastic weekend. I'll be doing the same. I'm out of here for a nice hike tomorrow. And to answer your question it's Christopher:) In Mexico I go by Cristian as my adopted name:) But official it's Christopher:) Be safe. Hugs. Me:)

Shilpa said...

Beautiful photos on the summer flowers, Betsy! The Irises and Jasmine shrubs are fascinating.

Enjoy the holidays and as well the bridal shower :)
Hugs

Farida said...

They're beautiful and you're blessed to be surrounded with these beauties. I really wish I'd have my own house where pretty plants and trees will abound :)

Happy weekend!

Sr Crystal Mary Lindsey said...

Absolutely beautiful flowers Betsy.
You camera takes perfect shots right down to the water drops on the petals. I love them.. Have a wonderful happy long weekend.

Deb from WhatsInMyAttic said...

Love all your flowers, Betsy...but I just can't do the Confederate Jasmine! We had it along our carport in Florida, and the fragrance was so strong. It does look beautiful though and is hardy! Autumn Joy Sedum is one of my favorites, too!

Connie said...

Great pictures of your summer flowers, Betsy. I love impatiens. They were a favorite of my mother's too. Have a great weekend!

Diane AZ said...

Hi Betsy, your yard is so beautiful! I love the Hostas, I rarely see them here in the desert. And your Confederate Jasmine still blooming, the smell must be wonderful. :)

DeniseinVA said...

Hi Betsy, I am closing my eyes and trying to imagine walking through your garden. It must be breathtaking if these photos are anything to go by. Life has a tendency to take up a lot of our time but enjoy your future d-in-law's shower and I look forward to seeing what treats you have in store for us in your next post.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Your flowers are all just gorgeous- I don't know how you do keep up with all of them!

Busy Bee Suz said...

I have some jasmine similar to yours, but a smaller version. Love it.
Those begonias are gorgeous (as are all your flowers) Saying "Begonia" Is one of my favorite past times. :)
Enjoy your weekend Betsy!

Small City Scenes said...

Wow Betsy, your flowers are just beautiful. It seems you have the same animal problem we do--bunnies and deer---But we love 'em anyway. And we have a lot of the same flowers. Way cool, right. MB

Grandma Bonnie said...

I always look forward to your flower posts. I wish my jasmin bush would grow like that. I think we live to far north, The poor bush is hardly surviving.

Shug said...

What a beauty in your header photo..Beautiful red bird.
Such a blessing to see these gorgeous flowers. I have none blooming at this time. :(
Hope y'all have a super great Holiday weekend..
Shug

Small Kucing said...

I love the smell of jasmine too. Tried to plant it before and unfortunately, it had gone to plant heaven :(

MTWaggin said...

Love your blooms as most of mine are way done or burned up! :)

Rose said...

The shot of the semps blooming...for some reason I just love that shot!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I loved seeing all your other garden flowers, Betsy! Where I am moving there are rabbits and deer so I will have to research what to grow.
Thank you for all your moving tips --I will be careful to take things that are very sentimental to me, regardless of how pricey it is to move them.
Enjoy your happy times! Congratulations to you son and future new daughter-in-law!

trump said...

Happy Labor Day to you and your readers! Richard

Lynda said...

I know the feeling of overwhelmed. These last two weeks have finally had some quieter time! Don't you worry about getting to all of us. People in person always come first! Weddings are a fun time and autumn weddings are gorgeous.

A Colorful World said...

That Confederate Jasmine reminds me of Abelia...are they the same? LOVE those red and purple and pink hues all over your yard! Gorgeous summer flowers! I can't believe the iris re-blooms...that's such a treat!

HolleyGarden said...

Love your confederate jasmine! I bet it smells wonderful to walk by! And I love your reblooming irises. I didn't realize they would bloom all summer! What a wonderful addition to the garden - I've always wanted an iris walk, but didn't think it would look great any time other than the spring. But I could grow rebloomers, and it would look great all summer! :) Now maybe that little dream may become a reality! Thanks for letting me know about these irises!

Hootin Anni said...

That 'red' clematis looks like a poinsettia there for a minute. And begonias, one of my mom's favorite house plants...Colorado....would not do well outdoors.

Oh and your cardinal header just about blew me away with its beauty!!!

amy @ Life in Pink Hi-Tops said...

It's good to have a life! Your blooms are beautiful. My few plants didn't do so well because it's so dry here. Maybe I need some of that sedum that requires no care!

Carletta said...

My clematis didn't do as well this year as in the past. Every other year I seem to get more blooms.
Hope the bridal shower went well and that you had a wonderful holiday weekend!

joy said...

I always love looking at your flowers and i am impressed coz you know all the name of them which I am always forgetting. Good to have as a reminder:)

Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotte said...

You are very knowledgable about all those flowers and plants. I never made a point of getting to know them well. I was too busy keeping up terms in music and foreign languages that I was teaching. Now I try hard to learn new plant names.
Lovely photos.