Sunday, April 19, 2009

Cottage Cheese


Does it get any sappier than the twining vine on the front porch? No, it doesn't. I have achieved my holy-grail gardening esthetic of the Little Cottage down the Lane. It struck me recently that this star jasmine is in EXACTLY the same spot as the star jasmine on my mother's house: front left corner. Possibly creepy or just that it happened to be the best spot.
Poor Aurora Primavera has been sadly neglected lately, blog and garden taking backseat to forced march wedding invitation production and mailing. But a MOB's gotta do, what a MOB's gotta do. Imagine my surprise when I looked up from my writer's cramp and saw that the iceberg roses had mounted their own campaign of blizzard white-out in the front garden. Apparently the combo of mild temps and fleeting rainfall is just their cuppa tea.



The front garden is finally looking remotely presentable just at that moment in time when all of the grass in the front yard has up and left the building. I go out and stare at the bare earth for long periods of time. The neighbors have probably concluded that the strange gardening lady is losing it or into the wine again. But really I'm just puzzling over whether to bother replacing it at all or do Something Completely Different. Today I saw a rose called Peach Drift, apparently some new small groundcover rose. I'm thinking I might shrink my already tiny yard to nothingness by planting deeper and deeper beds of this groundcover rose. Thoughts?



While I had planned to dig up and pot the Pink Indigo due to its water-hog fraities, it got the jump on me and roared into life and bloom and now I can't bear to move it. It has also started spreading, sending suckers to all compass points (this is its second spring in my yard). But since it's in a huge whole in my side yard this growth pattern suits my needs. But if you are concerned about spreading: DO NOT PLANT THIS SHRUB. It's definitely right up there with Port St. John Creeper for aggressive growth.



The now ubiquitous Red Knockout rose makes a nice jolt of color at the end of the backyard. The big black tub was my compost bin but either an acorn or a butternut squash seeded itself and is happily growing so I dragged it out to the sun. Maybe I'll get some produce.




I'm anxiously awaiting the bloom of this agapanthus, a division given to me by my wonderful neighbor Joe. It's the blue-violet color. It's been in this pot for a year and half with no action thus far, so this is big doin's!

5 comments:

Rock rose said...

The star jasmine looks lovely but don't be afraid to prune it or it will take over the whole porch! I love it when something starts growing in an unexpected place. It is like a little gift from the garden gods.

Unknown said...

Star jasmine is so wonderful. But it will definitely climb to new heights for you.

cotedetexas said...

its looking good! your porch is so cute!!!
Libby thanks for the comment on GG. much appreciated.
Joni

ConsciousGardener said...

I'm an avid fan of the front porch vine...I've got a pergola with an Old Blush on the right and to the far left a Lady Banksia. Nothing says home...sans "Cottage Cheese" to me more than a welcoming blossom at the front door. I love your Jasmine:)

Anonymous said...

Hi Libby.
Be happy you did not plant a wisteria around your front porch. I did some years back, a big mistake. I will be forced to dig it out soon. (I keep putting it off).
Your star jasmine will cover your house given a chance, and when it gets larger will require pruning to keep it in good shape...a great plant with a great fragrance. Plant pink jasmine for an earlier jasmine fragrance. When my pink has finished blooming, the star is just starting! Can you tell I like jasmine?
ESP.