How can I choose just six? Reviewing my photo file was a good experience to evaluate last year’s garden efforts and set a few goals for 2020. But there were so many things I loved.
I’ll start with this pink Knockout Rose. It’s a dependable bloomer during most of the year in our climate. You can see a red sport that appears frequently on one top branch. I’d love to trim that part, but I don’t want to lose that little freaky anomaly.
I made a collage of white flowers, which I favor in the garden. They seem to be a wonderful foundation, with the other colors filling in around them. I have to credit my maternal grandmother with this idea. She was fond of white flowers glowing in the moonlight. You can find something white during most of the year in my yard.
I enjoy my hydrangeas all summer. Even after the blue fades to a ghastly purple and green, they are still interesting. Then after frost turns them to crispy brown puffs, they accent the fall garden with some bare structure.
I originally bought three of these Gumpo azaleas about 30 years ago. I’ve been able to propagate several more from them to spread around the yard. I can’t remember if the name is Dreamsicle or Orange Sherbet, but I love the white centers surrounded by a peachy-pink color. In another area, the blue walking iris blooms at the same time as these azaleas, and the contrast is beautiful.
Another variegated flowering shrub is Prairie Lace crepe myrtle. You see the white around the edges, hence, the lacy effect. It has remained a well-behaved medium size in my front yard for many years.
Only one more? I may have to do this again next week.
Back to a white example, I can always depend on the Butterfly Ginger to bloom during the late summer and into fall, when many other flowers have wearied of their job.
I want to give credit to the guy who founded this fun Six on Saturday idea. He lives in Great Britain, and his Twitter handle is @cavershamjj You can find his blog at: https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/
Shalom, Dottie
Dottie Lovelady Rogers 
Lovely!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.
LikeLike
Dottie, my favorite color for the garden flowers are white also! We have very similar tastes and climate it seems!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It took me a few years to realize my Coastal South climate zone wouldn’t grow things my family loved in North Alabama. This region has its own beauty, but I have to plant what’s happy here. Thanks so much for visiting and commenting.
LikeLike
What beautiful flowers and greenery Ms. Dottie. Your yard must be such a serene and peaceful place ma’am. No wonder your writing is such lyrical. God’s blessings ma’am.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, J.D. But you know we only show our best on social media. 🙂 I do enjoy the serenity of our back yard. Have a great week.
LikeLike
Beautiful! I love flowers and gardening too. We have lived in Southeast Texas for 7 years and I’ve adapted to different flowers than the cooler Pacific Northwest. I tried hydrangeas here the first year and had no luck. Glad you can grow them where you live.
LikeLike
Wow. That’s a big change from sultry Texas to the cool NW. Every area has its beauty, and you have to use the plants that are happiest in your climate. Thank you for commenting, Meghan. I’m continuing to pray for you since your loss is still fresh and raw.
LikeLike
I’m quite taken w/the butterfly ginger. They’re touted to be hardy in Louisiana, but am not so certain they’d do well here. What’s the scent like?
LikeLike
They’re certainly worth a try. Louisiana is coastal south too, so they should do well, depending on your soil. They have a lovely sweet scent, maybe like a spicy honeysuckle, but not strong like gardinias.
Thanks so much for commenting
LikeLike
O, Dottie, I didn’t mean to suggest I live in Louisiana, just that the only info I could find was for that state. I’m currently in the UK. With a scent like you describe, more research is required – there may be ginger lilies that can survive here.
LikeLike
My mistake. I see such lovely gardens from those of you in the UK. You can do things we can never do where I live, so I have to confess to some English Cottage Garden Envy. You’re probably right, since gingers are more of a tropical plant. Everywhere has its beauty and we have to accept our limitations, whereever we live.
LikeLike