A bump in the road and a look back part 3

DH was on vacation this past week, but this hasn't been the best time... I got clocked in the head last Friday. Prince spooked and gave me a glancing blow with his head as he whirled around to gallop off in the other direction after I put down his morning hay. I don't encourage a horse to shadow me like that on his own for that very reason, but I didn't even know he was that close to me until I was struck. Typically he follows several paces behind.

As a result I've been on my back, feeling exhausted, nauseous, and with a bad headache for an entire week. At least DH was home to take care of the horses. Until I can get back in the garden, here are more views of the side garden from last spring...

from left to right: Mockorange, 'Foxi Pavement', 'Crepuscule' and Delia's Purple, Ozark Phlox, Goldflame honeysuckle, 'Aloha', rugosa rubra and rugosa alba. 'Marie Pavie' is in the foreground on the right.

Ozark phlox, Rugosa alba, and 'Homestead' verbena

The Mockorange was grown from a cutting. It's big and needs
water during dry spells, but is worth it for the spring show.

'Foxi Pavement', Delia's Purple and Mockorange

'Crepuscule' and Delia's Purple

Amsonia Willowleaf/Hubricht's hybrid in foreground

At one point I had briefly entertained the thought of planting another Rosa palustris scandens near our parking spot next to the house, but elected not because that rose just gets so big. Instead I planted a couple more Amsonia seedlings and some divisions of summer phlox 'David' and 'Robert Poore' as well as a 'Laura' that I picked up at the NC Botanical Garden. ('Laura' is exquisite, btw. A lovely light lavender with a white eye.)

As you can see more height difference is needed among all of the daylilies and violets. I planted more phlox divisions in front of the Japanese beautyberries as well. This garden is mainly a rose garden by spring, then a daylily garden by summer. I never thought I'd have so many daylilies, but I got hooked on them after littlewing posted so many gorgeous pictures of her daylilies. I have to love them too, considering how much time I spend spraying them every evening with peppermint extract to keep the deer away.

In addition to Blue Violets, daylilies, and Amsonia, Ozark Phlox makes a great companion for the roses. I have to go to some effort to keep a lot of it going. Despite its being a prairie phlox it likes moisture and tends to get overtaken by bermudagrass if I'm not diligent. But its spring blooms make it well worth the effort. More thanks to littlewing for this phlox.

Prairie Phlox and rugosa

Pink oxalis, yards and away the best oxalis I've ever had, from a trade.

One day, my plan is to just start foxglove, beardtongues, and things for the vegetable garden from seed every year, rather than growing the equivalent of a small nursery each year.

This lovely blue geranium is a seedling of 'Brookside' and looks much like its parent. It's never been covered in flowers but the flowers are so lovely I don't mind.

Here's looking forward to a better week than the last. ;)