Our Driveway Garden this Week at Gilmore Gardens

The Driveway Garden at Gilmore Gardens

Everything is blooming like crazy this week at our house. The Driveway Garden sits between our pavement and the back yard. Its flowers make our daily coming and going much more pleasant!

I am really happy with the white Allium multibulbosum that I added this year (see more below). It really gives a focal point to the blue froth of Geranium 'Orion' on the left and adds to the charm of the rose pairing on the right. And the classic rose and clematis pairing is just as stunning this year as it has been the past three years.

Wisteria at Longwood & Thoughts on Wisteria in Small Gardens

Wisteria on the pergola in Longwood Garden's Wisteria Garden.

Longwood Garden's Spring Show 2012 was full of pretty things... (See the tulip borders if you missed them!) But I think that I was most excited to get to finally see their Wisteria Garden in bloom. Wisteria has such a decadence about it and reminds us that purple is the color of royalty... though of course white, and even pink varieties exist (see Wisteria floribunda 'Kuchi-beni’).

Views from the Shade Path Garden

Shade Path Garden at Gilmore Gardens, May 2012.

The Shade Path Garden is in our side yard. It is 32 feet in length with the left border being 5 1/2 feet wide at the widest point, and the right border being 7 feet wide.  The grass path is wider at the Circle Lawn to create a longer looking perspective down the length of the path to the gate.

Campanula 'Tinkerbell'

Longwood Gardens' Spring Show 2012 - Long Border and Container Displays

Longwood Gardens' Spring Show 2012

Our April visit to Longwood Gardens was a bit rainy, but water always makes bloom color more intense for photography. After having visited this grand garden several times in the winter and summer months, we were excited to get to see what they plant out for spring. We were not disappointed!

Container display in the circle of rose arbors looking toward the emerging tree foliage.

Clematis 'Nelly Moser' near the Circle Lawn

Clematis 'Nelly Moser'

Clematis 'Nelly Moser' (sometimes spelled Clematis 'Nellie Moser') is blooming profusely this week in our Pennsylvania garden. I thought I would share a few of the photos of this Clematis, which is quite common but still a beauty.  

Clematis 'Nelly Moser' is hardy from zones 4-11, blooms in June and sometimes a re-bloom in August. It flowers on old wood, so do not prune it in the springtime like I did last year. (oh, well... live and learn.) Like all Clematis, it is happiest with its feet in the shade and its head in the sun. This one tops off its growth at 6 to 10 feet tall and 3 foot wide, making it ideal for a large sized trellis.

This trellis is free standing along the edge of our Circle Lawn. This view looking to our Shade Path Garden with a foam of blue forget-me-nots.

Gardening in Pennsylvania ~ GBBD May 2012

Our picket fence covered in a red Clematis 'Earnest Markham' and heavenly-scented dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis). Potted Allium 'Purple Sensation' on the steps.

There are tons of late spring blooms for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day in our Pennsylvania, Zone 5 garden. We are at least three weeks ahead of schedule, with many plants blooming now that usually do not have their day well into June. Most of the tulips are gone as of about a week ago, though the late single Tulip 'Cum Laude' is just dropping its petals this week. The phlox scents the whole yard right now.

One of my favorite large-flowered Clematis, C. 'John Warren' on the flower trellis in the Driveway Garden.

Mother's Day Presents for a Gardening Mommy...

New Boston ferns, to replace the ones that I meant to save from the cold...

Pennsylvania Garden Bloggers' Meeting

Garden bloggers from three corners of Pennsylvania: from left, Carolyn, Pam and Julie - that's me :)

I had the treat a few weeks ago of getting to meet my first "garden bloggers." Of course there is much more to these two beautiful ladies than just garden blogging, as is true of all of us. And by chance, these two also happen to be wives, mothers and gifted gardeners... and wonderful people with whom to spend the day!

Tulip 'China Town' in Cherry Corner Garden

Tulip 'China Town' in Cherry Corner Garden with dark Heuchra 'Palace Purple' and variegated loosestrife, Lysimachia punctata 'Alexander'.

Another new tulip this year, Tulip 'China Town'. This one is in our Cherry Corner garden. (See map for garden location in our small town lot.)

Tulip 'Princess Irene' and Tulip 'Cum Laude' with Spirea 'Goldflame' in the Front Walk Garden

Tulip 'Princess Irene' and Tulip 'Cum Laude' with Spirea 'Goldflame' and forget-me-nots (Myosotis)

We are living in decadent color these weeks at Gilmore Gardens in Pennsylvania. I cannot seem to keep up with taking photos enough to capture all of the changes. Here are a few vivid photos of the tulips in our Front Walk garden, which is situated in full to part sun.