Four O’clocks

18 Jul 2020

Four O’clocks

by Crafty Gardener | posted in: Plants, Seeds | 20

4 o’clocks or Marvel of Peru or Mirabilis jalapa is an annual plant where I live in Canada. The blooms of many colours usually open in the late afternoon, all night and close up the following morning. The plant likes … Continued

5 Apr 2020

It’s Growing

by Crafty Gardener | posted in: Plants, The Garden 2020 | 7

The daily walks in the garden are discovering more and more plants growing. The peonies are poking through the ground, such a delight to see and the promise of gorgeous pink/white blooms in the weeks ahead. Look at the rhubarb … Continued

30 Mar 2020

Signs of Spring

by Crafty Gardener | posted in: Plants, The Garden 2020 | 4

According to the calendar spring is here. However the first day of spring isn’t always the first spring day. Spring seems to be overshadowed with the spread of this world wide virus. While we are in self isolation during this … Continued

19 Jun 2019

Iris

by Crafty Gardener | posted in: Plants, The Garden 2019 | 11

I love the spring when the perennial iris blooms. There are a few different varieties in the gardens from the early blooming mini purple to the mid height yellow to the tall purples, maroons and yellows. Each has their own … Continued

17 Jun 2019

Daylilies

by Crafty Gardener | posted in: Plants, The Garden 2019 | 3

Daylilies are the perfect perennial for the garden as they require very little care, will grow in hot, sunny locations with little water and seem to tolerate most soil conditions. Daylilies belong to the genus Hemerocallis and they come in many … Continued

2 Jun 2019

Equisetum Horse Tail

by Crafty Gardener | posted in: Herbs, Plants | 9

Horse tail is a wild plant that grows in the damp, wild area of the garden. It is also known as snake grass, scouring rush, bottle brush or puzzle grass. It is considered a a living fossil and a prehistoric … Continued

9 Aug 2018

Rose of Sharon

by Crafty Gardener | posted in: Plants, The Garden 2018 | 7

A few years ago I was given a cutting from a Rose of Sharon bush and this year it is finally big enough to bloom. And not just one or two blooms but it is going to have lots of … Continued

8 May 2018

Rhubarb

by Crafty Gardener | posted in: Plants, The Garden 2018 | 12

Seeing the rhubarb poke through the ground on a chilly day is always a good sign that the garden is awakening after the long winter. Technically rhubarb is a vegetable but we tend to treat it as being in the … Continued

27 Mar 2018

L is for Lady’s Mantle

by Crafty Gardener | posted in: Plants | 16

L is for Lady’s Mantle – alchemilla mollis. This beautiful perennial plant is best known for its leaves. I love to photogaph the cup shaped leaves after a gentle rain. The rain drops will bead up on the leaf and … Continued

4 Mar 2018

The Plant Nanny

by Crafty Gardener | posted in: Plants, The Garden 2018 | 12

I love the challenge of recycling and reusing, and wine bottles is a favourite thing of mine to use in the garden. It takes awhile to collect the blue bottles but the green is fairly common for wine bottles. … Continued

28 Mar 2016

Growing Ligularia

by Crafty Gardener | posted in: Plants | 0

Ligularia, a perennial plant, was added to the garden in May 2015. This plant has yellow daisy like flowers dark green leaves with a purple/reddish underneath. It seems there are different varieties of ligularia. The plant came with the tag Ligularia Praewalskii on … Continued

20 Mar 2016

Purple Hyacinth Beans

by Crafty Gardener | posted in: Plants, Seeds, Vegetables | 1

Purple hyacinth beans or lablab purpureus. This is an ornamental, annual vine that I grow for the lovely flowers and coloured beans. Plants like full sun and will grow well on a south facing wall. Soil should have good drainage. The … Continued