Update the Wishing Well

By SkeeterHere you see my small Wishing Well Planter I added to my Georgia Garden last fall. When I started this planter, I knew it would grow larger in time. All I had originally were the cute Well, Cannas and some Sage. You may remember my cat being mesmerized with a Visitor to the Sage before it was placed into the ground last fall. The two Salvia Greggii, "Wild Thing" Sage have thrived in this area and gifted me with lots of blooms such as above.

This year I added some new things to this Planter. I put the last of the 12 Bargain Serena Angelonia's I told you about a while back. I also added some Lilies.

The Spring Rains were nice to us but not so nice where weeds in the Garden are concerned. I had a lot of weeds to pull out of this planter as well as other planters and gardens. Here is a closer peek at that bright Lily that popped out first for me. I don't know her name as she was a bargain Lily with no name for $1.00. I have two of these side by side but this is the only one which bloomed for me.Another Bargain Lily with no name! I think the law should be all plants should have tags with names on them even if bargain finds. I am joking of course, but it would be nice to know what I have here. I found 3 of these for $2.00 each.
Ah, now this one I did not find on the Bargain Shelf.
Meet the lovely Minnie Pearl, the Lily Bloom and not the Hee Haw regular we all knew and loved from the old TV show.
Here is something that Lola passed along to me last fall with some Canna's. I had the Zingiber Zerumbit/Shampoo Ginger in a pot inside during winter and it was growing well. In Spring I put it into the ground in a spot where too much rain was turning it yellow in color. I took it out of the ground and in the process, I broke off every stem of the plant! I was devastated to say the least. I put the rhizomes back into the pots and in time it started to grow for me once again.
This time, I very carefully planted it in the center of the right side of the planter behind the thriving Angelonia. A Banana Tree was planted here once. Tina was so kind to pass the nanner along to me but the poor thing bit the dust from what I assume to be too much rain in the winter months. Sigh, we do not like droughts nor do we like too much rain. I long for a garden with perfect rain fall conditions. Does anyone know where that place is located? The Ginger grew nicely but no blooms this year as it was late going with the earlier mishap.
The main thing Lola was sending me last fall were some Canna from her Florida garden. I was after a certain one and she sent me a huge box full of goodies. I was like a child at Christmas opening that package!
Here is one I recall being known as Tropical. It never bloomed for me this year but I am holding out for blooms next year!
This one I believe to be Durban but not sure. I had so carefully tagged them each and put the tags into the ground only to find faded names when I peeked at them for this post. She did not get as tall as my other canna but taller then the Tropical.
The colors to this canna are just beautiful.
I was only lucky enough to get two different bloom times from this canna with the most recent being October 2. I am hoping for many more blooms next year.
The colors were just awesome to my eyes!

Lola also put some Caladium in the goodie box! They did not do too well and I doubt they will return next year but I can cross my fingers and hope though. A Fromosa Lily did not make it either. It started out with such growth then died once planted in the Beach Themed Planter. However, it did produce a second small plant so I have hope for the lily next year.

Here is one of last years canna showing its bright red colors again this year.
As did the Orange Canna from last year. This canna has given me many babies and this single plant bloomed all summer long with its last bloom being October 2.
Here is a close up of a bloom after a nice rain fall.
This picture was snapped on Aug. 18. All three colors of Canna were blooming along with the Butterfly Bushes, the Periwinkle and Crepe Myrtle. I was so thrilled!Look at how full the planter is getting now! The Ginger really filled in and I can hardly wait to see what happens to this planter next year. Notice that tall banana tree in the planter by the water hose!
When starting this post a few days ago. I was going to end it here by saying more would be added next spring.
From the birds-eye view, you can see where something needs to connect this planter to the swing.
Well, why wait until Spring when you have nice weather in early Fall? I took out some of the baby Banana plants from the Beach Planter while the Saint dug out some grass to extend the Planter for me! A bale of Pine straw will finish off the look for now.
Now the birds-eye view tells me to move the Wishing Well from the center and place it else where while connecting the walkway from this planter to the Butterfly Bush Island Garden! And to also make a pea gravel base under the swing. Ah, the ideas, they are a flowing...
Oh, how exciting it was to UPDATE THE WISHING WELL, In the Garden...

Thank you so much for the gifts from your Florida Garden Lola! I give you full credit for giving me the motivation to make this once small planter into something special!

Round Planter has Changed

By Skeeter
I was recently saying how I don't have much color in my Georgia Garden and look at this! I believe I do have more color then I had originally thought. It is amazing what some sun and rain can do to transform a dull area to a spot of beauty...
Here is how I transformed the Round Planter this year. I took out all the Periwinkle (Vinca Minor) from last year but am still today pulling seedlings as they pop up from reseeding them self. If you look closely, you will see a few Periwinkle that I did not pluck, blooming in the color of Pink.
To the back of St. Francis, you will see 2 more of the 12 Serena Angelonia bargain plants I picked up in early summer. You will also see Dusty Miller mixed in with Purple and White Petunia. There is one more Serena planted elsewhere and you will see that one at another time. I am waiting for a certain item to bloom for me.

As with yesterdays planter, I like the way in which the ROUND PLANTER HAS CHANGED, In the Garden...

We all want to wish a very Happy Birthday to Boy #1 and to my great niece Samone!

Changing the Planter

By Skeeter

Last year was my first try at growing lilies in my Georgia Garden. The Saint brought them home to me after running an errand at Lowes. What a Saint indeed...
You all know I am a "Learn as you Go" type gardener so I was not sure if the Lilies would return this year. To my delight, they arrived and still show me a bloom or two even though the Dog Days of Summer. I do believe this is Stella.
Since I had luck with the Lilies, I decided to add more to my Semi-Formal Garden. I selected a planter and put in 2 Darling Deception, 2 Pandora's Box and 2 Blueberry Candy. They never bloomed this year but seem to be growing well.
I planted 5 of the Serena Angelonia that I talked about a few weeks ago to the back of the Lilies. I thought they too were purple but a lighter purple almost lavender or pink instead. I recently noticed the difference in colors. Duh, you would have thought I would have noticed that sooner. But with them being further away, I just did not notice until snapping pictures. We have spent less time sitting in this garden and more at the patio this year. That is my story and I am sticking to it. lol. To the front of this planter is Dusty Miller, Red and White Begonia. Here is a close up of the pretty flowers that have pleased me all summer long with their beautiful blooms.
The Lilies only give me green foliage for now so Serena is a welcome to the area. Tomorrow, I will show you where two more Serena's are located. I really do like CHANGING THE PLANTER, In the Garden...

Serena Angelonia

By Skeeter

The name Serena Angelonia caught my eye on the Bargain Rack at Lowes. I thought that was such a pretty name and bloom to boot. I have never heard of this plant before but at a dollar each, (BARGAIN) maybe my Georgia Garden would like some.

The tag read, annual and my normal annual additions are pretty much petunia and marigold each year. I decided it was time to broaden my horizons and add this annual this spring! I picked up a dozen Serena Angelonia in colors of white and purple. Yep, 12 plants for $12.00. Now where to plant them? I am bad about picking up plants and then deciding where they will go. I know I am not alone in this as I have heard many gardeners say, "I will decide where it goes once I get it home." Does that sound like any of you? hee hee... This pot above was empty except for the spike plant which over-wintered in the pot in the yard! I was shocked it survived the winter but we don't get too many freezing days in the deep south. I planted 2 white and 2 purple Serena Angelonias in the pot.

Here is the pot now! To my surprise, the Wave Petunia from last year popped back up as well. I am glad I left it in the pot when planting Serena. So this pot only cost me $4.00 this year!

Remember the 3 I had planted in the ground on the second picture above? Well, here they are now!

I am so confused as the tag read "Spring Bloomer"! It did not say blooms all summer long or until frost or anything like that. I thought I was getting a spring only bloomer! Don't we just love surprises? Here it is intermingling with the Yellow lantana which returns each year. The tag also reads, "Cold Hardiness to 32 Degrees" I sure hope that is incorrect as well as I don't want to lose this beauty this winter. Maybe it will return next year, I say with fingers crossed.

I put the remaining plants in other planters that you may see in the future. I don't have as much color in the Garden as in past years but this sure is a nice colorful view. Purple, white, yellow, gold, [ink, etc. Let's move in for a closer look in the distance.

Ah, the pink and yellow coreopsis I planted last year giving quite a show indeed! It is great along with SERENA ANGELONIA, In the Garden...

Note: We are still away helping our friends so we're off the Internet. Hope you all are having a Great Day!