May Flowers

This past month has been a challenging one in the garden with freezes, hailstorms and wind! 

I finally purchased all my annuals for my garden but haven't gotten them all in the ground yet!

I have a goal of getting everything planted this weekend even though we have possible thunderstorms on the way again.

We did take a trip to Tulsa and visited a wonderful nursery that had online ordering and curbside pickup last month.   I was so excited to get some azalea shurbs, coral bells and hostas for my new flower border.

Since then I was able to safely get to the nursery with social distancing and a mask here in Oklahoma City to purchase the rest of my annuals and perennials

 for this season.

The weather is warming and things are really starting to grow and bloom.  My roses are still blooming and the knockouts outside my breakfast window are covered in blooms.

I planted some alliums last fall to see how they would do in my garden.  The bulbs are large and a bit pricey but I love the look and will be adding more to my garden.

My new flower border is filling in nicely in just one month.  

 April

I took this photo today and it's still a work in progress but I'm pretty pleased with how it's growing.  I will add some daffodils and tulip bulbs in the fall.

Hope you are staying safe and enjoying

 some garden time! 

Perfume Bottle Vases

    I love repurposing things I've had for years.

My Mom gave me a collection of perfume bottles years ago she purchased when she lived in the Middle East.   I haven't used them in years so I decided to put them in my garage sale and not one of them sold.  

I was packing things up and I realized they would be perfect little bud vases and that I could turn something I didn't use anymore into things I would use all the time.

I love how they look in my window sill and since they only hold a few flowers they are easy to change out.

Our roses have bloomed so well this year and and I'm so happy with my little "vases".

Almost Foolproof Color

    Let's face it during the hottest part of summer most of us want plants that aren't too fussy and can 

handle stress from the heat, drought 
wind or storms. 

In Oklahoma we get a little of everything and I'm happy that I have some foolproof plants in my garden that I don't have to worry about.   Oh I have fussy plants too but it's nice to have some low maintenance plants!  
The above pictures were taken in July  a few summers ago when my sunny border was in full bloom.  Everything is a perennial or shrub and low maintenance.   

2013

The knockout roses are just the best shrubs I've ever had...I love them to pieces and they are always in bloom throughout the summer and continue right up until frost!  

2013

My Chaste tree or Texas Lilac is gorgeous and can take the heat.  It just started blooming this week and blooms before the crepe myrtles.

2013

Look at all the blooms!  I  love the fact that it drops seeds and I have  free seedlings.  This year I am going to transplant them onto the greenbelt behind my house.  They love full sun and benefit from having lots of space. 

Pink Cleome or spider plants I start from seed and it reseeds itself ..this year my seeds are just starting to pop up.  We are about a month behind our normal growing season due to late frosts and buckets of rain. 

  

I don't use sprays or pesticides in my garden for fear of hurting the beneficial bugs and the wildlife so I do have a few things that get munched on but I feel it's healthier for our environment to be as organic as possible.  These plants rarely need anything and aren't  bothered by insects.  All they need is just an occasional  pruning really just to keep them inbounds.  They will need regular watering during the really hot months of July and August but will reward with lots of pretty blooms.   

2012

Crepe Myrtles are just the best foolproof plants in the South and Midwest and mine are growing well this year but haven't bloomed yet.  Last year I planted 5 new plants.  I can't wait till 

they start blooming!

2012

Last year I added  Dynamite,  Tuscarora, Natchez and Candy Cane which is a smaller variety and they are  still getting established this year.    

via internet

Dynamite is a deep red and is named appropriately!

via internet

Natchez is the prettiest white and

 has a weeping habit.

via internet

Tuscarora is a bright pink and is advertised as one of the best bloomers with a long flowering cycle.

via internet

Candy Cane is a cute pink with white ruffled edges and I just love it.

Black- eyed Susan's and Blanket flowers are heat lovers too and give a pop of color to my border.

Summer is here and I can't wait for everything to be in full bloom. 
 Hope you are enjoying your garden! 

I'm linking with

Tootsie's Flaunt your Flowers
and 
Tablescaper's Seasonal Sunday