Summer is in full swing at Hummingbird Cottage. My back yard has lots of blooms. The dinner plate dahlias are spectacular! This is my second year of growing them in the garden. My dear neighbor Arlene gave them to me to put in my friendship garden last year. I have admired them for years in her garden. How lucky I am to have some for my own friendship garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 What’s a friendship garden—it’s my patchwork garden of lovely plants my family, friends, neighbors and clients have given me over the years. Take a look at all the things in this garden bed and share some memories of my past.

ROSES! 

 

 

 

 

Cecil Brunner Rose

 

Cuttings from my neighbor Wanda, who passed away some 15 years ago, every time I see these dainty Cecil Brunner Roses, I think of her – they are the same color as her complexion. What a pleasure to have for a neighbor for over 17 years. I miss her dearly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Climbing Eden Rose

 

 

The Eden rose is a special gift from my sweet sister Melissa; these roses are my very favorite! They look like little rose printed curtains we had in our room as kids. Sweet and dainty just like my sis!

 

 

 

 

 

Climbing Eden Rose

 

 

 

Apple Blossom Rose was another cutting I took in a horticulture class many years ago at Long Beach City College. The rose was brought in from my classmate Karen, and was one of the first things I ever propagated. Isn’t it sweet and dainty—the blooms only last a day but worth it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FUSCHIAS!

The fuchsias were cuttings from my client Connie, we trimmed some plants a few years back and I took home the trimmings. Connie has an amazing collection of fuchsias and never gets spider mites, I am not so lucky this plant seems to be the only one I have been able to keep alive! I always under water!

 

 

 

COREOPSIS!

 

Coreopsis’ ramble though out my entire garden – they make me so happy! All are babies from a plant I acquired from Nancy’s garden.. Nancy and I have been friends for many years and is a true blue friend!. I wasn’t a big lover of this plant—at first- but now I realize what a workhorse they are in the garden–Always a burst of color for the garden. The flowers are great to put into small bottles for instant decorations and come back year after year

 

 

CERCIS!

 

This beautiful Cercis ‘Forest Pansy”- Red bud was a gift from by brother, Sonny, for my birthday. The gorgeous tree is perfect!! It blooms tiny purple and pink flowers in the spring, the leaves are purple in a heart shape (perfect for any cottage garden) and the small tree doesn’t have aggressive roots. Oh yeah the tree is low water and low maintenance- if only my husband was sooo perfect!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HYDRANGEAS!

 

My birthday is in the spring so I always get bunnies (not real ones) and Hydrangeas for presents. Luckily I love both, Blue is my favorite but I haven’t met a Hydrangea I didn’t like! I have around 20 different varieties. ( I am not ashamed to admit– I am a hoarder of plants—no a ‘collector’ of plants!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clematis!

 

The purple clematis is awesome in my garden this year – I got it last year from my friend Debbie for a Thank you gift—can’t remember what I did to deserve such a beautiful plant but Debbie’s favorite color is purple so I smile and think of her when I see it reach it stretch to the top of the trellis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

clematis on a trellis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANGELS TRUMPET!

 

The Angels trumpet was a slip from a plant in school- my how it has grown, During the day, its the favorite place in the garden for all the bees– and at night I see fruit bats taking a whiff of the sweet scented plant.

 

 

HEBE!

 

Variegated Hebe sparkle at night in my friendship garden – low voltage lights show off my plants and add another dimension in the garden. I took a cutting from Suzanne’s garden while on a visit in Vista, Ca.

 

 

 

 The little Japanese maple was given to me to place under Pewter’s memorial in my friendship garden. Pewter was my little grey cat I had for 19 years. I loved him and miss him everyday. What a great friend and family member he was to us. I smile when I see the little tree and thank God for giving me such a treasure to enjoy for all those years. Pewter we miss and love you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our sweet Pewter