Patience for a Princess

True Confession ♥♥♥

My heart was captured by a gallon potted plant at my favorite nursery. 

Actually it wasn't really the pot I fell in love with, 

rather it was the image on the plant tag 

that filled my heart with desire. 

Buy me! Buy me!

At first glance, I thought this lovely bloom far too delicate 
to tolerate our extreme heat in Summer and freezing temps of Winter.

But further inspection of the back side of the tag
left no doubt that this was meant to be...
Hardiness: Zone 4-8
YES!

Hydrangea paniculata Great Star 'Le Vasterival'
from the renown French Garden of Princess Sturdza.

The flowers open to large creamy-white wavy stars 
that can be 4 inches across
and last until the first hard frost.

♥
I was smitten.
 The purchase was sealed. 
  
♥♥♥

I found the perfect spot in my gardens... sunny... 
with dappled shade in the hot afternoon.

I  planted,

I fertilized,

I watered.

And I waited patiently for the Princess to bloom.

That was way back in 2011.

The plant grew...
yet no blooms.

2012... the plant grew, yet no blooms.

2013... the plant grew, and still no blooms. 

I began to seriously doubt our relationship. 

♥♥♥

But then... (don't you just love "but thens"?)

on July 15, 2013 at precisely 6:52 AM
(and I know this because of the meta data on my image)

I discovered this...

7/19/2013 6:57AM

A delicate little bud.
Oh my heart!

I should never have doubted you.

7/19/2013 6:57 AM

I awaited anxiously for the the stars to appear...

and here they come!

They open very tiny
but grow a little larger each passing day.

7/30/2013 6:58 AM

Isn't this just dreamy?

Images captured in the early evening 
tend to take on a heavenly hue.

8/5/2013 7:30 AM

This one captured in the bright light of morning...
still beautiful.

8/12/2013 8:59:01 AM

This morning, there are new blooms awakening...

8/12/2013 7:23:59 AM

and I am most definitely in LOVE.

♥♥♥

"But who in the world is Princess Sturdza?" 

This fabulous bloom is from her gardens
and my curious mind wanted to know.

My research reveals a fascinating story...
 

Died 30 November 2009
at the age of  94

"Born Grete Kvaal on 30 April 1915 in Oslo, Norway, she grew up without a garden but with a keen interest in natural history, especially birds, encouraged by walks in the country with her father. She studied English at Oxford, where she met Prince Georges Sturdza of Moldavia, her future husband. They married in 1936, returning to Moldavia, now a region of Romania, to live."

During the Second World War she helped her mother-in-law care for orphans and was much involved with La Croix Rouge (The Red Cross). When the communists came to power after the war’s end she and her family fled to Norway and then to France where, in 1955, they bought Le Vasterival." 

"Princess Greta Sturdza was a gardener of international repute. A passionate, hands-on gardener, she was once described as a woman of demonic energy regularly rising at 6am to work all day in her gardens which, from the original 7.5 acres expanded to the present 30 acres. Her gardens, Le Vasterival at Varangeville-sur-Mer in Normandy, became a magnet for gardeners seeking to learn from her skills and gardening know-how."

Don't you just love her story?
She inspires me.
Someone should make a movie of her life!

Follow this link to read more about Princess Sturdza's life and gardens:
The Vasterival

All content created by Carolyn Bush | Copyright © 2010 - 2013 

All Rights Reserved | This Grandmother's Garden

Highland, Utah, USA

We're Blooming!

Our Gardens are finally beginning to peak after a slow start in Spring.

Mostly pastels because of the wedding reception colors... 

but there are a few hot summer blooms as well.

 Enjoy the long shots of our gardens...

 we sure are!

Patio Pastels

Hummingbird Garden

Pathway Border

Trellis Garden

Seeking Solace

Mountain View

Miracle Agapanthus...(ask me why it's a miracle)

A few of our Hot Colors!

♥ I know I promised baby Quail 

but I just couldn't miss another Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.

Next post... Babies... I promise.

In the meantime, head on over to May Dreams Gardens for more GBBD posts♥

All content created by Carolyn Bush | Copyright © 2010 - 2013 

All Rights Reserved | This Grandmother's Garden

Highland, Utah, USA

Peonies!

I wait all year for these beauties to bloom... 

but oh-h-h...

 they're so worth the wait!

 

Paeonia lactiflora 'Krinkled White'

This is my favorite.

The blooms are large... 5 to 6 inches across in the sunlight.

Then at night, they gently close. 

When I sleep, they sleep.

But as soon as the morning sun caresses their lovely petals 

they open up wide with delight.

The whole idea just tickles me.

Paeonia lactiflora 'Karl Rosenfeld'

 This is the same peony that grew in my Mother's garden...

that grew in my Grandmother's garden...

that now grows in my garden.

It always blooms the week after Krinkled White 
begins to bloom in my gardens.

Paeonia lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt'

Sarah Berhardt blooms exhuberantly.

The blooms are so large and so heavy with several on a stem

that they really do need to be staked. 

I use old tomato cages that I've cut to fit... works perfectly.

Only three more weeks until our glorious event in the gardens.

♥  ♥  ♥

Next post will highlight the containers I've planted...

including a few serendipitous surprises 

that will surely make you smile. 

Stay tuned!

We've Got the Blues...

And they're dancin' in our gardens.

Salvia 'May Night'

 Full Sun

Attracts Butterflies and Hummingbirds

Lobelia 'Techno Heat Electric Blue'

 Low Growing Mounds of Delicious Blue Blooms.
Keep them moist and they'll dance all Summer long.

Lobelia 'Hot Springs Sky Blue'

 Trailing Habit

Invites Butterflies
Very Heat Tolerant...  
(perfect for our hot Summer)

Just can't get enough Lobelia.

Blooms all Summer long...

always a star in our gardens.

And so lovely mixed
 with white.

 

Lupine

Tall elegant blooms 
tower over delicate foliage. 

Scabiosa Columbaria 'Butterfly Blue Pincushion Flower'

Butterfly not included.

Although they just may visit if you plant this little beauty.

Salvia 'Black and Blue"

This Salvia is an annual in my Zone 5 gardens.

And yes, the HUMMINGBIRDS go crazy 

over those sweet blue blooms!

Speedwell ''Royal Candles'

 This plant happily grows in my gardens 

with very little attention from the gardener.

But once it blooms... it's a real show stopper!

Delphinium

I have always loved Delphiniums.

Wherever I have lived, 

I have nurtured delphiniums in my gardens.

They belong to my heart. 

Surely a "Grandmother's Garden" kind of flower
don't you think?
 

Our grand garden event is just a month away...
almost done with the planting... 
and then it's 

GROW, BABY, GROW!

Crazy. Absolutley Crazy. May 2013 GBBD

In April, Garden Bloggers Bloom Day began with snow...

Periwinkle Peeking Out from Snow

followed by three straight weeks of low temps well below freezing.

But today on this 15th day of May... 

today...

we're having a HEAT wave.

The Hottest temperatures EVER recorded for this time of the year.

 High was 93°F on Monday.

Today only 88°F.

 

Crazy.

Absolutely CRAZY.

A very late start to our Spring, indeed,

but the SUNSHINE and hot temps of this week

have everything turned up to turbo speed.

Here's a few of the perennials blooming in my gardens 

on this May GBBD...

These blooms are survivors. 

They sleep during the harshest of winters 

then peek out from the soil when the sun warms the earth.

It really is quite amazing. 

'Chocolate Chip" Ajuga with Snapdragons soon to POP!

The dainty blue flowers of this Ajuga is a delight 

from Spring to early Summer. 

Deer resistant and prefers shade with morning sun,

it's hardy but not too invasive.

Do you know my name?

 I really have know idea what this bloom is 

but I do know that it's a beauty.

Purchased several seasons ago at a clearance sale ... with no tag.

It loves living in my gardens 

and happily blooms all throughout the summer.

Update!

Hannah from Weeding on the Wild Side has identified my little beauty... Astrantia. 

With further research I've discovered it is actually 

Astrantia 'Moulin Rouge'.

Sir James Edward Smith (1759-1828), one of the most preeminent British Botanist of the late 17th and early 18th century said this of my beautiful little bloom: “The more refined admirers of Nature” rate Astrantia among their favorite blossoms. The flowers bloom like tiny enchanting fireworks: a starburst of bracts surround the spray of small flowers and splashy groups of buds shoot out from branched stems like the finale on the Fourth of July.

Yes, that describes my little bloom to a tea 

and since it surely is a favorite bloom of mine 

I will gladly accept the title of 

one of "the more refined admirers of Nature".  ♥

'Tiny Rubies' Dianthus

 Tiny little blooms no more than half an inch

will cover this globe shaped plant through June.

Sweet and delicate, it's one of my favorites.

"Windflowers'

 Windflowers belong to the Anemone family...

their tall delicate stems sway in the slightest breeze.

One of my favorite white flowers of my gardens.

And soon to arrive... if the sun decides to stay...

Peony Buds

 Peonies will soon begin to unfurl their tight little balls of bud

to become the stars of our perennial garden.

Wait for it...

wait for it...

 

Iris Bud

 Unless the Iris beats them to it!

 Oh but there's much more blooming in my gardens... 

stay tuned for the Parade of Annuals we're planting 

for the BIG celebration coming to my gardens.

Spending all my time in the gardens 

sprucing up the old and planting the new...

it's gonna be amazing.

If my tired old bones can keep up the pace.

Grateful for GBBD that brought me in from the gardens 

to create this post.  ;)

The Promise of Spring

 Today the warm rays of sunshine melted my last pile of snow.

Just in time for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day!

 And what do we have blooming on this, 

the 15th of March?

Lilac Leaves in Embryo

The PROMISE of Spring!

 The swelling of the buds 

has finally begun!

And just when I thought 

there was only promise to behold...

Voila!

Sweet Violet viola odorata

I discover my garden's first tiny blooms of the season.

 Seriously, the snow just melted from that spot a few days ago.

The warmth of the sun's reflection from the rock 

must have enticed them to make their grand appearance. 

So tiny, they measure 1.5 cm (0.6 inches) across. 

 But to me it's a huge discovery...

Our Spring has begun! 

Visit Carol at May Dreams Garden 
to see what's blooming in other gardens around the world. 

Welcome to my gardens! 

Your visit here is cherished and your comments  

the sweet nectar that keeps me posting! 

Please leave your Blog URL so I can return the visit.

Still Got Some Dancin' to Do Here!

Looking Up From My Gardens

Almost Autumn   

Slipping into shades of orange and red and gold,

the mountain stands guard above our garden.
 Change is in the air... can you see it?

Passing our gardens as they journey southward,
 a cacophony of honking Geese fly overhead.
Change is in the air... can you hear it?

Awaking to the crisp and cool of morning
a welcome caress before the day's heat.
Change is in the air... can you feel it?

                  

Why does one leaf change before another?

But wait!
We're not ready for change here.
There's twelve more days of Sweet Summer Sun
and we've still got some dancin' to do here!

Let the LAST days of  SUMMER DANCIN' 
in the gardens begin!
                          

QUICK FIRE Hydrangea with ZAHARA Zinnias

These Hydrangea petals will darken into a deep carmine pink
as Autumn resolutely progresses... 
wait for it, wait for it.

PEPPERMINT Vinca with RIVIERA Lobelia

Vinca thrives in our 90° plus Summer days, 
while Lobelia has a bit of a struggle without a little shade.

LIMELIGHT Hydrangea with Brown-eyed Susans

and "Pretty Pink Flower" whose name I've forgotten.
 A beautiful growing bouquet!

Illumination GOLDEN PICOTEE Begonia with pink Annual Walmart Begonia

I have come to the conclusion 

that snails simply L.O.V.E. begonias.

(Think of me every morning for weeks snail hunting in my p.j.'s)

 Daisies with Orange Profusion Zinnias

Encore! Encore! Every gardener loves 

when their Spring flowers re-bloom.

BALLERINA ROSE Gaura with CHERRY PROFUSION Zinnias

Doesn't Gaura remind you of dainty little Butterflies?

Susans, Limelights, Pretty Pink Flowers and... Delphiniums

Crazy. DELPHINIUMS... another Spring flower 
about to re-bloom in late Summer.
Who knew?!

Lilac GERANIUM Peeking Out Through CHAMELEON HOUTTUYNIA

Chameleon is a favorite groundcover... 
love the heart shaped, multi-colored leaves of green, cream,  crimson and gold.
Sweet creamy white blooms delight in Spring.

HIDALGO Dahlia with ANGELFACE Blue

Back door planter beginning to perk up 
since the cool mornings came.
 And I'm perking up too...

Love the cool of the mornings with the Summer blooms a-dancin'.

 We'll be celebrating Autumn soon enough.