Solar LIghts for a Garden Accent

These lights were a present some years back. They finally stopped working and I left them as markers here and there. I'm always needing something vertical to mark the spot where a sprinkler goes, or to prop a floppy plant, keep a hose out of a bed or just fill a gap.

 Along the bricks are Ghost Plants. I grow a new plant from every

little leaf that falls off and have dozens to find a home.

 

He-who-mows, looking for busy work when he couldn't sleep, picked them all up, cleaned and repaired them and put them in the poppy beds on either side of the driveway.

 

There are tiny colored light bulbs inside. In the dark, they change from red to green to cobalt blue.

 These beds are in transition. Hyacinth foliage is maturing, Brugmansias are just starting to grow. Poppies and Rose Campion in this one with huge plants of Mexican hats that may get a haircut will be replaced by Daturas under the Brugs.

Then the California poppies that this bed boasts die back along with foliage of pink Spider Lilies, Brugs and Daturas will bloom with purple daylilies. Pink Spider Lilies may make an August appearance. They are shy bloomers after they're moved until one magical year when they decide to appear as Naked Ladies. If foliage means anything, this is the year.

 

Solar lights at night.

 

 

Now That April's Here GBBD

Spring came quickly, left soonest. We had a few cool nights this week but it feels like summer. The glorious spring bloom fest is over. All the bulbs, all flowering trees are done. Summer's Hydrangea quercifolia is coming into bloom early.

Confederate jasmine Trachelospermum jasminoides hangs heavily on the air.

Maybe it's overpowering because there is so

much of it.

Pentas and Verbena bonariensis.

I've been planting out Pentas as they come into bloom. Next fall I'll label all my cuttings. I can recognize they are Pentas but forgot that I might want to plant by color. Three more of this pale pink have bloomed to add to this bed next week.

A mild winter did little to encourage fall-sown annuals. Poppies

are not as plentiful this year, except for California poppies,

here with Salvia farinacea 'Victoria' and Echinacea.

Daylilies are blooming early this year.

A daffodil walk becomes a daylily walk as daffodil foliage fades and daylilies come into bloom. My daffodil/daylily walk here has daylilies outside on the driveway side. On the inside are yellow roses, beginning to make a show with white Pentas.

Happy Bloom Day with 'Julia Child' -- my fav yellow rose.

Join the fun for Bloom day at May Dreams Gardens.