Wordless Pollinators on 'Summer Beauty' Alliums

Rusty-Patched Bumblebee

Mining Bee

Two-Spotted Bumblebee

Orange Wing Moth

Sweat Bees

Western Honey Bee

Bumblebee and Sweat Bee

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Bumblebees

Western Honey Bee

Bumblebees

Bumblebee and Honey Bee

Rusty-Patched Bumblebee

* Help save the endangered rusty-patched bumblebee. *

Springtime Six: Flowers and Foliage

Spring isn't speedy this year in my part of the world, but it's slowly and methodically moving forward. Every year is different, and I'm trying to enjoy the labored unrolling of warmth and little bits of beauty. I'm joining in Garden Ruminations' Six on Saturday meme to share this week's highlights.

First, we have the Daffodils (Narcissus spp.), shown above, beginning to show their stuff. The collection I have combines a mix of varieties from Colorblends and other beauties added over the years. One of my favorite things about Daffodils is that rabbits don't eat them.



Second, the Tulips are getting ready to bloom. These are 'Red Riding Hood' Tulips (Tulipa greigii). Unfortunately, rabbits DO eat these beauties, so I've had to place them behind fencing, or mix them in with rabbit-repellent powder and/or Alliums or other plants the little hoppers don't like.



Third, speaking of Alliums, the 'Summer Beauty' Alliums (A. tanguticum) have emerged around the mailbox. I have some new Tulips planted among them...fingers crossed the rabbits will leave them alone.



Fourth, I have a tiny grouping of Winter Aconites (Eranthis hyemalis) tucked in a small corner of a shady bed. They bloom later than most others in the area. And in my garden, they seem to be the only Aconites that survive from year to year. Maybe I need to try an entirely different spot, with more sun for an earlier display.

Fifth, the Hellebores (Helleborus orientalis) are about to pop, which is definitely a favorite event for me in the spring garden. :)



Sixth, the larger Dutch Crocuses (Crocus vernus) are joining the tiny Tommies (C. tommasinianus), and all their colors are bright and cheery.

It's a colorful, happening time in the garden. For horticultural highlights from around the world, head on over to Garden Ruminations for "Six on Saturday."

Garden Miscellany in a Vase on Monday

Here we are at the start of July, and the garden is full of choices for vases. Just on a whim, I toured around and grabbed elements that caught my eye. They're not necessarily elements I'd usually pot together, but they seem to work.



The Lily hybrids (Lilium spp.) are beginning to bloom, including this magenta one that serves as an anchor for the arrangement.



The ivory Lilies are great fillers, and oh so healthy.



I added several foliage items. The mixed Calla Lilies (Zantedeschia spp.) are finished blooming for now, but the foliage is great for framing potted arrangements.



I inserted an Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) branch, but it didn't last long--I guess they aren't the best for cut arrangements. It worked for a few hours.



Also, a pot of Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) needed thinning and complimented the Calla Lily foliage, so the cut branches were perfect for the arrangement.



Hosta flowers are budding and beginning to bloom: I think this might just be my favorite stage with this genus.



Drumstick Alliums (A. sphaerocephalon) are dotting the potager garden, and I picked one for a quick focal point in the arrangement. Maybe I'll add a couple more on the sides.



False Sunflowers (Heliopsis helianthoides) add a golden touch and tie in some of the brighter elements.



Purple Coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea), a pollinator favorite, are just starting their months-long display.



And, finally, 'Zowie! Yellow Flame' Zinnias (Z. elegans) carry over the bright gold and reddish highlights from some of the other blooms.

In different light and minus the fern frond...I expect this little composite will last a few days and brighten its little corner.

I'm linking in with Cathy's In a Vase on Monday meme over at Rambling in the Garden. Head on over to see some amazing arrangements.

Wordless Wednesday: 'Ozawa' Allium Before the Frost

'Ozawa' Allium (A. thunbergii)

Wordless Wednesday: Endangered Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee on 'Summer Beauty' Alliums

To learn more about the endangered rusty-patched bumble bee, visit xerces.org.
To report a sighting, visit bumblebeewatch.org.

Please avoid pesticides.

The Latest-Blooming Alliums

The garden is sleeping now, but some plants, and even blooms, are holding on to bits of color during the transition to winter. One of those plants is the late-blooming Allium (A. thunbergii), 'Ozawa.' The photo above is from earlier in the season (mid-October), but this is the latest-blooming Allium in my garden. 'Ozawa' is hardy to USDA zone 4.



It's a petite little variety, only about a foot tall, and it forms a compact clump that comes back every year, but doesn't spread much (I have two clumps). Unlike my other Alliums, this one must be caged; if not, unfortunately the rabbits will eat the buds and blooms. Although there are fewer pollinators active when it's blooming in October and November, I have seen some on it; particularly honeybees and some flies.



It's even pretty and colorful after the blooms fade and the seeds start to form. At this point, it tends to shift from a light lavender color to bright pink.

Last week, after our first snow (which is melted now), I noticed the Allium's sweet spot of color. Beyond the rabbit challenge, it's any easy addition to the garden for late-season interest.

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I hope my American friends had a Happy Thanksgiving, and Happy Holidays to all in the weeks ahead!

Hope for True Spring

Finally, we seem to be turning the corner on "wintry" weather. The Snowdrops I included in my last post, two weeks ago, are still blooming with abandon. I guess longer bloom time is one benefit of a cold start to spring.

Now, with a slight warm-up, the earth is awakening.



Alliums are making good progress.



Rhubarb is emerging.





The Hellebores will bloom very soon.

And the Crocuses are now the stars of the show.

They all bring hope that true spring weather is just around the corner.

Wordless Emergence

Allium 'Globemaster'

Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum)

Daffodil mix (Narcissus hybrids)

Allium 'Ambassador'