Today we’re off to the Mohawk Valley in central New York State to visit Lee’s beautiful garden.
It’s midsummer, and I do believe we have a “bloomfest”! At times I’ve seen easily over 300 blooms at once. We’re heading toward the peak, with many buds remaining and the phlox and Maximilian sunflowers yet to start their show. Lots of colors, BIG hand-size blooms, and lilies towering over 7 feet tall! In a previous post (Lee’s Garden Through the Eyes of an Ant) I showed all of the plants starting their push, and now those little lilies that looked like mini-palm trees are 6-footers of a light pink.
I’ve gone through 75 bamboo sticks (which are virtually invisible) and a number of “lumber sticks” (which aren’t invisible); the lilies taller than 4 feet love to be supported due to the weight of the blooms. I even used two expandable tarp poles to string-support the 7-foot red lilies along the rear of the vegetable garden. A storm came through and that wasn’t enough. I almost lost a few to breakage down the stem, but I quickly got some paint sticks and duct tape and made splints. Gotta do what ya gotta do!
Towering lilies (Lilium hybrid, Zones 4–8) carefully supported
A piece of lumber keeps this trumpet lily standing up.
Bright flowers under stained glass
An Asiatic lily with dark petals
Bright rudbeckia (Rudbeckia hirta, Zones 3–8) and coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea, Zones 4–9) mix with lilies.
Seven-foot-tall lilies are carefully supported with a line of string.
Looking toward the pool, which is surrounded by flowers
Lilies and more blooms around the pool
This picture shows the first and probably only painting I have ever attempted. I painted the entire fascia board on the back of the garage with every imaginary flower that I could think of. I painted “panels” from 1 to 2 feet in length and called that a session. I’d come off the ladder and take a break. I’m surprised that I didn’t run out of ideas for flowers.
I certainly hope people enjoy the pictures, maybe tickle their thought-processes in a way that keeps them thinking forward with a vision of their own. My wife and I are quite pleased with my continual effort to make the next year even better. She says that I succeeded. Why disagree with her?
Have a garden you’d like to share?
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
XLUX Soil Moisture Meter
Gilmore Rubber Hose Washer 10pk
Rain Bird PATIOKIT Drip Irrigation Patio Watering Kit
Comments
Beautiful lilies.....i am trying to put more in my garden!
Those lilies are so pretty!
Beautiful!!! I love all of the lilies!!! The stained glass and painted fascia really add to the scene! You have quite an artistic eye!!!
The lilies and fascia board painting are really something! I can understand about needing supports for top heavy plants, too. Thanks for sharing!
Very pretty garden, the lilies and the painting are wonderful. You should definitely try another painting! tzgarden.blogspot.com
By the way, I just noticed if you can post here, you can post at https://www.finegardening.com/discussion-forum
Like if anyone has a single flower photo they would want to share at:
https://www.finegardening.com/forum/blooming-now-in-our-garden
Wow - my eyes are filled with colorful happiness! Your garden and your painting prove that your wife is correct: You succeeded!!! Thank you for brightening up our Monday.
Beautiful! Love it all!
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in