Oriental Poppies on the Front Walk

I have a relatively small amount of experience with  
Oriental poppies (Papaver orientale)...
this being my first year with more than one bloom.

   My very first acquantaince with the Oriental poppy, was one that I killed by trying to transplant its foliage and enormous taproot. I later learned that taproot plants in general do not perform well for people who yank them up out of their original habitat. They have a resentful nature.

   They are most obliging when they are raised from seed, sown where they will lie. Another option is to buy a small budding plant with short dormant root in spring. Both of these methods were employed in the Front Walk.

This is how the bloom ends... rather a nice ending to be left for more garden interest.

And finally, a sneak-peak of the orange oriental poppy and its planting companion in the Front Walk...

Read more on the Front Walk Succession 2011

The prior combination of Allium 'Purple Sensation' with Tulipa 'Cum Laude' was on the Front Walk.

End of Tulips 'Sorbet' and 'China Pink' on the Hill Garden

More from the end of May...
I caught a few nice shots of the unwinding blooms of Tulipa 'Sorbet' amidst the sea of foliage on the Hill Garden.  These photos were taken May 20th, 2011. I love the art in Tulipa 'Sorbet'.

This is the end of a succession that began in April with Tulipa 'Ice Stick' and continued with Tulipa 'China Pink'. The blooms have totally ended for these past two weeks in this garden, but it is poised to burst again any moment with Rosa 'The Fairy',  Shasta daisies and Malva (see last years photos).

A small, short spot of "ground cover" succession (see it here in March snow). Hens & chicks (Echeveria hyb.), the dark leaved Ajuga reptans flowering with its purple spikes, some evergreen Phlox subulata and forget-me-nots mixed in.  The languishing foliage of Crocus vernus 'Jeanne d' Arc' was plucked out this week.

Allium 'Purple Sensation' on the Front Walk

Hoping to catching up from the busy end of May this week...

   Allium aflatunense 'Purple Sensation' with Tulipa 'Cum Laude' has been a fantastic succession this year (and last year) to closely follow the diminishing of Tulipa 'Shirley' (see her with 'Cum Laude' just a few weeks earlier). 

   I was surprised last year to see this allium bloom so early, as I expected it to be more in the month of June as a combination with the Dutch irises (which were were frosted apparently), and the poppies (which have finally made more of a show after waiting 2 years).  But, it has worked out quite well because I like the near match in color with this tulip, and the even more gradual change it gives the boarder.  Better, in my opinion, to change almost imperceptibly than an abrupt switch. 

I will leave these allium heads as long as I enjoy them.  By July last year, they were gone. Some gardeners enjoy leaving them into October. Maybe it is the shallow depth of this Front Walk bed that makes their yellowing in mid-summer seem a nuisance.

Looking towards Cherry Corner with the variegated loosestrife and purple creeping phlox.

These photos were taken May 20th this year. Last year the peak for this combination was a week earlier. Everything is a bit later this year, just a touch, from the late spring cold. 

Looking left toward the sidewalk and the Front Woodland (in the curb strip). 

See the Front Woodland in April this year.

 Looking right down the Front Walk, to the Front Woodland garden and towards the Hill Garden.  

Spirea 'Goldflame' gives two punches of yellow in the middle of this bed.

Update on the Front Walk coming soon... 
dianthus, Allium christophii and poppies for June! 

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!