Color for the Weekend: Orchid 'Electric Orange'

Wilsonara 'Electic Orange', also known as Gay Spice

 My favorite orchid from the Phipps Conservatory's Orchid Show this winter...

Color for the Weekend

Remembering June... Our pink climbing rose on a trellis (that hides our trash cans!)

See more of June at our gardens to help you make it through the cold weather!
Have a restful weekend!
~Julie

Color for the weekend...

Orchid at Longwood Gardens

    More orchids from the world-famous Longwood Gardens. (See their gorgeous orchid wreath here!) 

I happened to get a photo of the plaque in their orchid room and thought you might find the stats interesting. Sorry, I did not catch the name of the above orchid. I must visit again soon... so sad.

 

  ~ Photos taken January 2009 ~

   With "Color for the weekend," I will be delving into the tremendous store of old photo I have from before my writing days to share with you all.  Hopefully they will be an inspiring end to your week!

Color for the weekend...

Botany Hall at Phipps Conservatory

Botany hall at Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA is off to the side from all of the newer construction, but still a great place to catch your garden-lovers breath.

For anyone who is still deliberating about which annuals to plant this year, this yellow and purple combination is worth thinking about. I love how it echoes the yellow and purples from the perennial plants planted down the path to the fountain. They let the yellow-edge yucca and Russian sage set the color scheme for this summer planting. Wonderful idea for tying it all together.

~ Photo taken in September 2008 ~

See more of Phipps' during their Spring Show 2011

and Spring Show 2009. 

   With "Color for the weekend," I will be delving into the tremendous store of old photos I have from before my writing days to share with you all.  Hopefully they will be an inspiring end to your week!

Color for the weekend...

Orchid at Phipps Conservatory

A warm punch of color for this sunny weekend. 

The orchid room at Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA is worth the visit in itself! 

A meandering walk through a room drenched in blooms. 

~ Photo taken in September 2008 ~

See more of Phipps' during their Spring Show 2011

and Spring Show 2009. 

   With "Color for the weekend," I will be delving into the tremendous store of old photo I have from before my writing days to share with you all.  Hopefully they will be an inspiring end to your week!

Color for the weekend...

 Orchid Wreath at Longwood Gardens

    Part of my family lives in Kennett Square, PA, which has made it easy for us to visit the world-famous Longwood Gardens, which is in the same town.  This wreath was hung in the orchid room of their large conservatory during the Christmas season a few years ago. I am a sucker for live wreaths, whether covered in sedums, flowers, etc. This is definitely one of my favorite treatments. 

  ~ Photo taken January 2009 ~

   With "Color for the weekend," I will be delving into the tremendous store of old photo I have from before my writing days to share with you all.  Hopefully they will be an inspiring end to your week!

Color for the weekend... Narcissus 'Hawera'

Narcissus 'Hawera'

   These are an unusual daffodil variety that bloom very late in the season compared to other daffs. They are just finishing again this year now, in late May (Zone 5). Their bulbs have behaved unpredictably as far as perennializing. Some returned and some have not. They look best in clumps of at least 10 bulbs together. 

   I planted them the first fall that we began Gilmore Gardens (2007) because the triandrus family were recommended by the Lloyd-man himself (in his book Succession Planting for Year-Round Pleasure). Christopher preferred their very slender foliage, which make less of a mess in the garden post-bloom, unlike the large trumpet varieties.  Their miniature,

sunny, dancing blooms never fail to bring inquiry. 

   A bit of daff advice: you will

not hurt them by cutting down their old decaying foliage six weeks after their peak bloom. Hooray for neater gardens!

  ~ Photo taken May 2008 ~

   With "Color for the weekend," I will be delving into the tremendous store of old photo I have from before my writing days to share with you all.  Hopefully they will be an inspiring end to your week!

Color for the weekend...

Hydrangea macrophylla

This photo was taken at the Inn at Poplar Corner, in Chincoteague, VA.

My husband and I celebrated our fifth anniversary that year by staying at this restful Inn 

and visiting the clean, natural beach of Assateague Island.

A birding paradise and oh!, there are wild ponies that live there too!

  ~ July 2007 ~

   With "Color for the weekend," I will be delving into the tremendous store of old photo I have from before my writing days to share with you all.  Hopefully they will be an inspiring end to your week!

Color for the weekend...

 

Digitalis purpurea 

I love these beauties! 

This photo was taken at our College Ave apartment.

  ~ May 2007 ~

   With "Color for the weekend," I will be delving into the tremendous store of old photo I have from before my writing days to share with you all.  Hopefully they will be an inspiring end to your week!

Color for the weekend...

     If you ever visit Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA, be sure to step out of the beaten path and view their formal waterlily gardens outside.  They have a couple dozen varieties of waterlilies to enjoy. I missed recording the name of this one, but we enjoy a print of it everyday on a blue-painted wall in our home.  ~ Photo taken September 2009.

Here are some views from Phipps' Spring Show 2009
and Phipps' Spring Show 2011.

   With "Color for the weekend," I will be delving into the tremendous store of old photo I have from before my writing days to share with you all.  Hopefully they will be an inspiring end to your week!

Color for the weekend...

More from Washington Boulevard:

Coral azalea, white and pink rhododendron...

an unidentified but beautiful  
iris on the hill near the woodland.

 ~ Photos taken May 2007








     With "Color for the weekend," I will be delving into the tremendous store of old photo I have from before my writing days to share with you all.  Hopefully they will be an inspiring end to your week!

Color for the weekend...

The garden at Washington Boulevard....
the family garden of our close friends which I have been able to design
and help maintain over the past several years.
Here is a photo from the back boarder of Allium Gladiator
in front of their wall of pink rhododendrons.
~ May 2007 ~

Color for the weekend...

The garden at Poplar Street...  

Another garden in our town that I had the opportunity to help redesign and care for a few years ago.  

Spirea, dame's rockets (Hesperis matronalis) and irises abound. 

~ May 2007 ~

 With "Color for the weekend," I will be delving into the tremendous store of old photo I have from before my writing days to share with you all.  Hopefully they will be an inspiring end to your week!

Color for the weekend...

Tulipa 'Queen of the Night', echoing the deep purple tones of Heuchra 'Palace Purple' behind it.
Also some strappy and sprightly daylily foliage (Hemerocallis fulva).

Planted by moi, in the tiny side garden at our first apartment ~ May 2007

     With "Color for the weekend," I will be delving into the tremendous store of old photo I have from before my writing days to share with you all.  Hopefully they will be an inspiring end to your week!

Color for the weekend...

Pink magnolia in bloom ~ April 2006 at Hartwood Acres

Fresh New Day...

For all gardeners, regardless of their equatorial location...

Whether it is with flowers or in the snow... 

       here is hope that you are enjoying the freshness of a new day today.

"Behold, I am making all things new." Rev 21:5

Top: Snow on the maple tree out our front door on Friday morning.
Bottom: Forced white hyacinth bloom from Ruth's bridal shower two weeks ago.

Thanks to Blotanical!

   
     I really have enjoyed getting to "meet" so many other crazy gardeners who have the need for  
            color, life and beauty
                              etched into their very beings.

There is so much Beauty in our world!... And you all have helped me to see more of it.  

          Thank you!!

Winter wonderland...

 The hunt for our Christmas tree this year took us
                                                  beyond our own garden

             into the wild 

and the beauty to be found there...