GIANT ALLIUM: MY NEWEST GARDEN ADDITION

Last Fall I purchased  allium bulbs from Holland Bulbs.  I planted two under the windows on either side of my chimney and a third Giant Allium in a side garden.  They did not disappoint.  This first image is before it bloomed.  I planted it in front of a vintage chimney pot.  I use chimney pots as tall planters in my garden. 

GIANT ALLIUM BUD

You can see it in the lower left corner of the side garden.  I can't wait for it to multiply.

GIANT ALLIUM IN THE SIDE GARDEN

This is what it looked like in full bloom in front of the chimney pot.

GIANT ALLIUM IN FULL BLOOM

MIXING IN WITH FERNS

Do you add to your garden every year?  

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Garden Architecture

 For the last few weeks I've been re-posting some of my most pinned posts while on my "August recess".  Enjoy this one from 2013.


You know I love my garden, but I like something even more than the blooms----vintage planters, building fragments, spheres, and statuary to embellish my garden design.   These additions add dimension, texture, interest and most of all uniqueness to my landscape.

Have you ever come across old cement planters?  They never rot like wooden planters and when they're in a shady spot they weather with patches of moss and develop a fabulous patina.  I have three matching planters in front of my garage doors.  I usually fill them with flowers, but this year I added some metal topiaries and planted some climbing hydrangeas among the flowers.  They'll need some time to climb to the top, but the support is there for them.

Cement Planters and Metal Topiaries

To the side of the garage, my gargoyle frowns.

My Gargoyle

I have more cement planters in a grouping at the base of my side walkway.  The tall planters are actually chimney pots.  They originally were on roof tops, but they are perfect as tall garden containers.  They're indestructible.  Check out how they're weathering.  My husband wanted to power wash them.  Oh no!!!

Cement Planters and Chimney Pots

I consider my pergola garden architecture too.   I hung a wrought iron candelabra from one of the supports and covered the chain with burlap.

My Pergola Framing the Walkway

I have another chimney pot near the porch.  It's perfect with a fern.

Chimney Pot with Fern

I painted a sphere yellow and suspended it in the tulip magnolia tree.  I have a fern in an urn beside the other side walkway--one of a pair flanking the path.  The garden bench with scrolly iron sides has traveled with me from house to house. 

Sphere, Urn, and Garden Bench

You've already seen my huge iron sphere that is supported by a tall planter in front of the other garage.

 I found this lady statuary and the pagoda at an estate sale near my home.  She was the center of a broken fountain.  They both are cement and very heavy.  I had to be very sure about their location because I was afraid to ask any of my helpers to move them a second time.  My Home Goods sphere is in the foreground.

Lady Statuary, Pagoda, Sphere

This photo is from last year, but I wanted to share the perennials that bloom around my statue.

You've also seen this building fragment before but it's one of my favorite architectural pieces.

Building Fragment in My Garden

This weathered iron bird bath is now a planter.  The architectural piece in the lower right corner is a broken fragment from the lady's fountain.  I scattered the broken fountain base pieces into the garden.

Bird Bath as Planter

We received a sundial as a wedding gift.  I found a cement base to support it.  It's probably part of a bird bath.

My Sundial

Near my screened porch entrance I have a tall lattice obelisk.

Lattice Obelisk

This little squirrel can confuse the real ones in the yard.  He's next to another bird bath.  Have you noticed that I like to scatter rocks in my garden so plants can crop up in their crevices.

Squirrel and Bird Bath

My Buddha bounces around the yard.  Currently he's resting against the pear tree surrounded by a field of liriope.

Buddha

This rusty metal cupola is another favorite.  It's next to a chippy garden chair.  A section of iron fencing is a back drop.

Cupola, Bench, Iron Fence

Hydrangeas are blooming in front of a planter.  To the left is a textured cement orb.

Hydrangea, Orb, Planter

I have a garden arch at the entrance to the walkway to the back yard.  I lost one of the finials and replaced it with an iron bird.  He seems very happy among the trumpet vines.

Iron Bird and Trumpet Vine on My Garden Arch

So, do you decorate your outdoor spaces?   How do you embellish?

It's A Fern Explosion In My Garden

One of my favorites---and the easiest to care for----plants in my garden are my ferns.  

I have both perennial ferns and annual ones that I purchase each year and 

place in different containers scattered all around the yard.  They all thrive.

These perennial ferns along my patio wall started out as four small plants. 

 In only a few years they spread out into an explosion along the wall.

Perennial Ferns Along My Patio Wall

They're a wonderful border for my garden path.

Perennial Ferns Line the Garden Path

Recently I divided them and added them to the garden bed on the opposite patio wall.

I always use architectural salvage to add interest to the beds.  

In the foreground is a piece from an old fountain.

Perennial Ferns in Another Bed and a Fountain Fragment in the Foreground

My annual ferns are pretty easy to plant and to maintain.  I don't even remove them from their pots.  

I just plop them into my containers.  No digging involved.

This one ended up in one of a pair of large urns at the foot of the path to the patio.

Annual Fern in an Urn

This other fern ended up inside a chimney pot.

At its base are perennial begonias.  Another of my favorite blooming ground covers.

Annual Fern in My Chimney Pot Surrounded by Perennial Begonias

The black lattice is a perfect back drop for another annual fern in another chimney pot.

Annual Fern in Front of Black Lattice on the Side of the Garage

My last annual fern rests on a tall planter inside an iron garden sphere.

Fern Inside an Iron Garden Sphere

I love my iron sphere.  I change it seasonally.  To see its other transformations, go here.

Fern Peeking Through My Iron Sphere

What plants do you have in your garden that never disappoint?

Kathy

Two years ago I shared the ways I incorporated architectural pieces into my garden.

If you missed it, please check it out here.