Buffalo Garden Walk - 2010 - My Neighbor's Garden

My neighbor Bruce is an artist and he displays his talents

in his garden and around his home.

A beautiful Hibiscus painted directly onto the window screens.

Each window has a window box filled with pink geraniums

A creative display of flower pots that most of us would just discard

Bruce has painted roll down bamboo screens with gorgeous floral

scenes that pull in the colors of the woodwork around the house.

They are a joy to anyone who happens to be passing by.

There are also tree planters that bring color to the garden and objects of interest (marbles, coins, teaspoons,in fact - anything that happens to be laying around is included) are cemented into the pathway along the side of the house.

Buffalo Garden Walk - 2010 - The Hope Blooms Garden

This vehicle is provided free of charge to walkers who wish to

explore all areas of the expansive Garden Walk in Buffalo New York.

The 'Hope Blooms' garden is located alongside the AIDS Community

Services Victorian Mansion.

The garden was started seven years ago and has become a place of serenity and

refuge for those infected and affected by AIDS.

A bee is gently pausing on the Echinacea Purpurea

Liatris Spicata - Blazing Star: Gayfeather

One can walk along the 'Memory Path' that runs through the garden -

the bricks

record the names of those who have gone before us.

Monarda - Bee Balm and Mint

photos by peacesojourner

Buffalo Garden Walk - 2010

The 16th Annual Buffalo Garden Walk is the largest garden tour in the United States

It is a free, self guided tour of more than 350 gardens.

Allentown is a local section of Buffalo known for its Arts and Crafts and

colorful, eclectic flavor.

As people exit the local underground public metro transportation they are

greeted by the beautiful floral display pictured here.

Held annually on the last weekend of July, the Garden Walk has become one of Buffalo/Niagara's most anticipated summer events.

Russian Sage, Echinacea Purpurea, and Black-Eyed Susans are in full bloom.

Welcome to Buffalo

photos by peacesojourner

Blooms in July - 2010

Shasta Daisies

Botanical Name: Campanula carpatica

Common Name: Bellflower, Harebell or Canterbury Bells

Sweet William attracts butterflies

Chicory and Day Lilies

Chicory is an herb and considered a weed by some gardeners, however, I like to see them interspersed among the perennial flowers. They are beautiful to the eye and the color is magnificent.

Chicory

Common chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a bushy perennial herb with blue, lavender, or occasionally white flowers. It grows as a wild plant on roadsides in its native Europe, and in North America and Australia. Common chicory is also known as blue sailors, succory, and coffee weed.

Herbal use

Chicory (especially the flower) was used as a treatment in Germany, and is recorded in many books as an ancient German treatment for everyday ailments. It is variously used as a tonic and appetite stimulant, and as a treatment for gallstones, gastro-enteritis, sinus problems and cuts and bruises.

The chicory flower is often seen as inspiration for the Romantic concept of the Blue Flower.

Chicory and Day Lily

photos by peacesojourner

Tomato plant, Cleome Spinosa, White Clover - July 2010

Grape Tomatoes

growing in a hanging basket.

I am trying something a little different this year. I usually plant tomatoes in patio pots.

These seem to be thriving well and are certainly easier to maintain.

A cluster of blooms -

Montauk Daisy, Heuchera (Coral Bells) and Russian Sage

Cleome Spinosa

I plant very few annuals but I usually have a bed of Cleome Spinosa (Spider Flower)

Those above are just blooming but as the summer progresses they can get to 4ft tall and need no special attention.

They are propagated by seed. They love full sun but can thrive in half-shade also. Originated in Tropical America and were introduced into Britain in 1817.

They have a very strong odor and are sometimes referred to as the Gas Plant

White Clover

When I moved here I had an entire fallen tree laying on the total area of the small lawn.

The tree had been there for some time (since the October Storm). When it was finally removed all of the grass was gone and only a few weeds survived.

I threw down some random grass seeds and little by little the lawn showed up. What I wasn't expecting was so much clover. As you can see it covers a very large area. What I have discovered is that it is a terrific substitute for grass. It aerates the soil, regulates nitrogen, and doesn't need fertilizing. It is also attractive, needs less mowing, attracts (good) pollinators, stays green during the heat of the summer and it is drought tolerant.

I will let you know how it progresses.

My organic magazine suggests 8 ounces of seed per 1,000 square feet.This perennial is sown in Spring or Summer so I am planning to add more seed to the still barren areas and will see what happens.

If you like to walk barefoot White Clover is also easy on the feet.

A small bouquet of the Shasta Daisies

*****

July Chores

• This is the perfect time to bring those seedlings outdoors and transfer plants from pots into the ground.
• potted roses, shrubs, trees, ground covers, vines, and perennial and biennial herbs. Flowers, shrubs, trees, ground covers, and vines should all be planted now.
  
• Sow perennial and biennial herb and flower seeds outdoors.
• Sow seeds outdoors for succession plantings.
  

photos by peacesojourner

More Blooms in June

Hello dear readers - I have finally returned to the Peace Garden Blog after a long winter.

In the Spring the flowers started peeping through the soil but we have had so much rain that most only lasted a couple of days and were gone. Due to the rain the weeds are thriving and I have not spent enough time tending to the garden.

So, I am taking time to post this blog and will start to write at least weekly.

Purple Columbine -

Aquilegia

Iris

Dogwood Tree

White Japanese Iris

Bleeding Heart

Bearded Iris

Purple Japanese Iris

Blooms in June

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Bearded Iris – Iris (hybrids)

Iris – the word alone conjures up visions of brilliant spring flowers.

This large genus of about 200 species is native in the North Temperate regions of the world.

Iris have orchid-like flowers. 9 to 12 buds are usually found growing on short side branches on each stem. Each blossom lasts about three days.

Principle Iris colors are lavender, blue, white, purple, rose-red, pink, brown or various combinations and blends of these colors.

The two major requirements for successfully growing all classes of bearded iris are full sun and good drainage.

It is important to dig and divide every three to four years under ordinary culture.

Purple Columbine or Granny's Bonnet (Aquilegia x hybrida)

Columbines are very hardy perennials, and they thrive throughout the United States. Their nodding flowers vary in size from one to three inches across, and blossoms range in color from delicate pastels to deep, vibrant colors such as purple, yellow, orange, and red. The foliage is lacy, and attractive even when the flowers are not in bloom.

Most columbine flowers have backward-projecting spurs that contain rich nectar that can only be reached by hummingbirds. They can tolerate full sun in the North and require no special attention from me. Another gardener gave me some cuttings last autumn and they have established themselves well - they are magnificent!

The Blue False Indigo Plant

The blue false indigo, Baptisia australis, has been one of the most reliable and beautiful herbaceous perennials of them all. The leaves are unique and handsome, the flowers are purplish blue with a touch of gray, and the seed pods, at maturity are jet black and can be used in flower arrangements.

A native of the south central and eastern United States, this plant will grow in zones 3 – 9 However, it prefers fill sun and moist, rich soil. The blue false indigo plant features indigo colored flowers that in form resemble the lupine and annual sweet pea, but are not fragrant.

Additionally, the plants attract bumblebees and the seeds will feed the birds in winter. The Baptisia is deep rooted, long lived, slow growing, and will never invade the garden. The foliage is remarkably pest free and disease resistant.

Plant it all by itself in the garden so its special appeal can best be appreciated.

I have this one planted in the center of the lawn in the front garden. Passersby often stop to admire it and ask me what is it's name.

Chives

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are the smallest species of the onion family.

The Ancient Chinese have used chives for thousands of years, and it is reported that Marco Polo brought them to Europe from China.

An herb is a plant whose leaves, seeds, or flowers are used for flavoring food or in medicine. Referred to in the plural, as chives. Culinary uses for chives involve shredding its leaves (straws) for use as condiment for fish, potatoes and soups. It has insect-repelling properties, which can be used, in gardens to control pests.

The mauve colored flowers are also edible.

Chives are hardy perennials, they prefer sun and well-drained soil and require little attention.

A fellow garden lover gave these to me. I have several clumps of them around the garden & I love them because they provide attractive color and require no care whatsoever. You can’t get any better than that!

Clematis

I have had good results with the Nelly Moser Clematis. It is a flowering vine that can reach as much as 12 feet in length, with off-shoots from the main vine reaching out 3-4 feet. Best displayed on a trellis, arbor, or other climbing fixture, the blooms start in late May and can continue all summer long. Clematis are easy to grow, fast growing, and suitable to USDA hardiness zones 4a to 8b.

Water weekly unless there’s a soaking rain.



If you are fearful or are uncertain about pruning, you can skip it. The purpose of pruning is to neaten up the plant and to encourage new growth. In time, even an unpruned clematis will fill out. This plant is beautiful.

My garden is on a small city lot (28' wide). The main colors in the garden are purple,lavender, yellow, pink and white. The flowers that you see above are the first to bloom this year and it is interesting that they are all in shades of lavender to purple, which has a very pleasing effect.

I brought the iris and false indigo with me from my garden in Massachusetts.