Showing posts with label in the garden now. Show all posts
Showing posts with label in the garden now. Show all posts

In The Garden Now….. Begonias

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Dragon Wing Begonia, Oxalis Plum Crazy


Text and photos by Victoria Gilleland

I used to think of begonias as an old fashioned plant that wasn’t a serious garden plant. My mother liked begonias and even kept a few as houseplants when I was a child. She liked the colorful foliage. Having grown up with begonias in house I initially thought of them as just another houseplant. Boy was I wrong! They’re wonderful outdoor garden plants as well.

Autumn Embers Begonia, Carex Grass
and Daphne
Begonias are easy to grow, have great foliage and many flower from May until November or the first freeze.

With more than 1200 begonia species and hybrids available there’s no end to the possibilities!

The fabulous colors and textures of the foliage alone make it worth the price of the plant.

In my garden plants have been drought tolerant and not bothered by garden pests such as slugs…. my nemesis!

Rabbit and deer have left them alone as well. 

Most varieties grow well in shade to part sun and some do well in full sun.

They thrive in containers or planted directly in garden beds. I often grow them in containers so that I can move them around the garden as they mature.

Before the first frost, many begonias can be moved indoors where they will continue to flourish throughout fall and winter while some varieties require a dormant season.

I always take a few of my Rex Begonias in for the cooler months so that we can enjoy the foliage indoors. ‘Autumn Embers’ and ‘Stained Glass’ will be heading inside soon. When spring arrives and the weather warms it’s back to the out of doors for another year of garden color.

Stained Glass Begonia
Right now many annuals have given up on blooming and are looking pretty worn. Not so the stalwart begonia.

They’re still flowering and their foliage is in good condition! Begonias could become one of your favorite garden annuals.

They are a wonderful easy to grow family of plants worth considering for your garden…. outdoors or inside.
 

Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching.

She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years.



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In the Garden Now: Autumn color

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Photo by Victoria Gilleland


Autumn Color…..

Redbud Hazel  
(Disanthus  cercidifolius)

Redbud Hazel is one of a few shrubs that consistently produce good fall color in shade. This particular plant has performed admirably under the dry shady canopy of a Western Red Cedar tree in our Lake Forest Park garden.

--Victoria Gilleland, Cottage Garden Designs




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In The Garden Now…..Giant Fleabane

Friday, September 8, 2017

Giant fleabane
Innula Magnifica

Text and photos by Victoria Gilleland


One of the showiest, easy to grow summer bloomers in my garden is Giant Fleabane. Over 20 years ago I spotted this plant at a small nursery on the Oregon coast near Cannon Beach and brought it home as a memento of a family trip there. One of my best souvenir picks ever! It’s lived in various locations in my garden and been shared with some of my gardening friends. 

This is a very dramatic looking plant with huge heart shaped basal leaves and gigantic clusters of shaggy rich yellow-orange daisy-like flowers. 

It reaches four to six feet high and will make a clump three feet wide. It blooms for many weeks ... at least eight weeks in my garden this year.

It divides readily in spring . The leaves and stems are hairy and somewhat prickly. It grows well in part shade or in a sunny border as long as it gets enough water.

Over the years I’ve grown dozens of perennials in different sizes, shapes and colors. I’ve eliminated many of them because they were temperamental, disease prone, didn’t like growing in my garden, or it turned out that I didn’t like them!

In some cases, I’ll have to admit, they just plain disappeared and I don’t know what happened to them. Perhaps they were the victims of poor location, bullying by another plant, weather, or hungry critters of one sort or another. This Giant Fleabane is a survivor! It just keeps giving year after year.

I’m always amazed at how beautiful this plant is in the summer garden. I wouldn’t be without it!

(Botanical Name: Innula magnifica)


Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years.



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In The Garden Now … Rambling Rose Kiftsgate

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Kiftsgate Rose


Text and photos by Victoria Gilleland

This has been a spectacular year for Rambling ‘Kiftsgate’ Rose. The clusters of white flowers are the size of beach balls and the honey scent is incredible.

The flower is the size of
a beach ball
Visiting gardeners have had difficulty identifying this flowering behemoth and several thought it might be some sort of Climbing Hydrangea ... on steroids. It’s definitely a rare sighting!

Maybe it was the rainy months we had last fall and winter. Who knows? But we’ve never seen a flower display like this before.

The rose is growing on a 30 foot wide trellis which is 10 feet tall. As you can see from the photo our trellis is engulfed by Kiftsgate and flowers tower another 8-10 feet above and extend another 8 or 10 feet east over the patio.

Canes will easily shoot 15 to 25 feet in a single growing season so pruning is essential to keep it in bounds. Kiftsgate has wicked large thorns that my husband and son have been known to attack with a machete. Unless you have unlimited space, Kiftsgate will need to be pruned very heavily right after bloom.

The trellis is 10 feet tall
Kiftsgate blooms once in early summer for about six weeks. After that summer blooming, clematis climb the rose canes to put on a summer display of color.

In the fall what were once clusters of white flowers become orange red rose hip berries that brighten the fall and winter garden. There is year round garden interest.

If you have a very large space, a sturdy structure, and are not afraid of pruning, this vigorous rambling rose is worth consideration.

But be realistic. When I saw it growing in the UK several years ago at Kiftsgate Gardens it appeared to have covered a group of trees and an area at least half the size of a soccer field. Think about that!

(Botanical Name:  Rosa filipes ‘Kiftsgate’)

Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years.



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In The Garden Now…Deutzia ‘Magician’

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

‘Strawberry Fields’ Deutzia



Text and photo by Victoria Gilleland

Here’s another fabulous old-fashioned flowering shrub developed by French hybridizer Victor Lemoinei back in 1925. This is a medium to large shrub that will be 6 feet high and wide.

The plant will stay more compact in full sun and stretch to a larger size if grown in a shadier location.

Keep it smaller by pruning immediately after it finishes blooming in summer. If you wait until spring to prune you will be removing wood that would have produced flowers. This plant flowers on old wood.

‘Magician’ produces masses of pink and white flowers … even in the shade. My plant is nestled among taller shrubs and is actually shaded on each side by evergreen trees. And yet it blooms beautifully!

Consider this easy to grow beauty for you garden!

(Botanical Name: Deutzia Magician)

Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage GardenDesigns, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years.



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In The Garden Now…..Mock Orange

Saturday, June 24, 2017

Mock Orange ‘Snow Dwarf’ 

Text and photos by Victoria Gilleland

There are dozens of scented shrubs that can be grown in Northwest gardens, but Mock Orange is among the easiest to grow and one of the most fragrant. With many varieties to choose from you can probably find one for your garden or to grow in a pot. There’s even a native that might be a nice addition to your garden if you have the space.

Mock Orange bears its common name for good reason. The scent of the flowers is a lot like that of orange blossoms. Since few of us in this area have flowering orange trees, it’s a real treat to get a whiff of that heady scent on a stroll through the garden.

Like many fragrant plants the scent is more intense when the air temperatures are higher and the air is still. This shrub is typically in bloom for four to six weeks in May and June depending on the weather and location in the garden. Bees and butterflies are attracted to the flowers and deer tend to leave the plant alone.

Mock Orange ‘Innocence’
My personal favorite, ‘Innocence,’ is in full bloom right now. This is a very fragrant single flowered variety developed by French hybridizer Victor Lemoinei in 1896.

It’s been flourishing in my part shade garden for about 15 years and has been kept a reasonable size by pruning each year right after the plant has finished blooming.

If left to reach its potential size it could easily end up 8 feet tall and wide. It produces masses of very fragrant single flowers that are set off by stunning variegated foliage.

My shrub has been disease and pest free for its entire life in my garden.

I have to confess that I’m a sucker for beautiful variegated foliage and ‘Innocence’ has it in a rather delicate looking green, yellow and white pattern. This is such a wonderful contrast to garden green. I’d be tempted to grow a beautiful shrub like this for the foliage alone!

If you’re interested in a smaller plant consider ‘Snow Dwarf,’ a lovely very fragrant double flowered variety that will stay quite compact at about 3 feet tall and wide.  The foliage on this plant is a soft green.  This one could reside comfortably in a large container for many years.

If there was a “Garden Fragrance Competition” adding Mock Orange to your garden could earn you a Blue Ribbon! And besides, you can’t have too many fragrant plants.

Botanical Name:  Philadelphus lemoinei ’Innocence’
Philadelphus ‘Snow Dwarf’

Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years.  vjgilleland@yahoo.com  

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In The Garden Now…..Anemone Clematis

Friday, June 2, 2017

White Anemone Clematis
Queen of The Climbers

Text and photos by Victoria Gilleland

I’ve always been fond of white flowering plants especially those that are particularly floriferous. They provide such a wonderful contrast to garden green with their bright white blossoms. An outstanding white climber is brightening my garden right now….. the beautiful Anemone Clematis!

Clematis Montana is easy to grow in northwest gardens and has a long bloom season. The massive display of crisp white flowers lasts for weeks in May and June. Over the years I’ve added many different varieties of Montana Clematis to my garden including pink flowering varieties such as Clematis Montana ‘Mayleen’ and Clematis Montana Rubens. Only the white varieties remain. It’s possible that the pink varieties have reverted to white or simply died out. Various plant varieties do revert to the species from time to time.


Clematis enjoys being planted so that roots are in the shade and flowers in the sun. Also, this is one of the few plants that actually wants to be planted deeper than it was growing in its nursery pot. When planted two or three inches deeper more roots form to support the plant.

Clematis appreciates being overplanted with some shallow rooted groundcover and/or mulched to keep the hot sun off the root area and to help with moisture retention. This is typically a long lived plant so prepare the planting area with good soil and compost. A generous serving of compost or manure in spring is much appreciated by these robust climbers.

Clematis Montana is an easy to grow very vigorous flowering vine. It will grow 20-30 feet high and easily cover an area 15 feet wide. It can be trained over arches, pergolas, fences, hedges, sheds, or posts. I’ve grown Clematis Montana up and through the 80-100 foot Douglas Fir trees on our property. It’s quite a sight to see those fir trees in bloom!

When to prune? If you prune right after the plant finishes flowering you will not interfere with next year’s blossoms. This plant can be sheared to remove heavy growth right after it finishes blooming. It’ll grow quickly during the summer and fall and will be ready to bloom come next spring.

This clematis grows and flowers well in full sun to half shade and even blooms quite nicely in fairly heavy shade. The plants get larger and stronger each year, but may take a year or two to get settled in the garden and really take off. An added bonus is that they are “deer resistant.” This doesn’t mean “deer proof,” only that deer might choose another plant over this one if there’s a tastier morsel nearby!

If you’ve got the space and structure to support a vigorous vine like this it’s definitely worth adding to the garden. Pollinators will thank you, butterflies will come to visit and the vanilla fragrance will draw you into the garden. You all win!

 (Botanical Name:  Clematis montana)

Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years.  




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In The Garden Now….. Sorbaria Sem

Sunday, April 9, 2017

False Spirea or Ural False Spirea

Text and photo by Victoria Gilliland

The most colorful plant in my garden right now is Sorbaria ‘Sem.’ And it isn’t the flowers …. it’s the fabulous texture and color of the fern-like foliage! Even in my shady garden these deciduous shrubs have been leafing out over the last 8 weeks, first slowly with just a hint of color and then with knock out bold enthusiasm. Foliage is produced in shades of orange, red, pink, chartreuse and yellow. Plants seem like refugees from the autumn garden, but I’ll take this intense color in my garden any time of year!

False Spirea will grow just about anywhere. It will grow in sun or shade and can make a showy container plant. Color is more intense in sun and it’s quite drought tolerant once established.

Plants grow to about 4 feet high and wide. In summer white flowers are produced that look a little like plump astilbe blossoms. Most gardeners grow "Sorbaria ‘Sem” for foliage color and texture not the flowers. I cut my plants back periodically during spring and summer to get plenty of that colorful foliage and don’t worry about the flowers that are less than stellar. Plants may be deer resistant, but who can be sure about the changing cuisine preferences of our deer friends?

This is a suckering shrub so it does spread by underground runners. It’s pretty easy to control, by lopping off errant offshoots with clippers and pulling up stray roots. In my sandy loam garden roots tend to be near the surface so little digging is required to remove them.

Some gardeners have commented that this plant was “invasive” in their garden. Over time and under the right growing conditions it could well be. So, be warned! If this is a concern, consider planting your false spirea in the ground in a black nursery pot to keep the roots contained. Alternatively, make your plant part of a container garden.

If you venture out into the neighborhood you may find some of these showy plants mingling with natives and other ornamentals in the garden. Enjoy the colorful display!

Botanical Name: Sorbaria sorbifolia ‘Sem’


Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years.


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In The Garden Now ….Winter Beauties

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Fatsia japonica ‘Camouflage’

Text and photos by Victoria Gilleland

At the end of each winter I walk through my garden looking for the newer plant additions that held up best in spite of harsh growing conditions the previous three months. With our prolonged cold spells and heavy rainfall this year, I was particularly interested this year.

Typically newly installed garden plants are the most vulnerable to extreme winter weather and I’ve noticed that hybridized varieties with variegated foliage are often severely damaged or killed in harsh winters. But of course, in the end hardiness depends on the particular plant and specific weather conditions in a given year.

 I’m happy to report that two of the best looking plants in my garden right now are newly planted variegated Fatsia plants. They were planted last summer in shady, somewhat sheltered areas of the garden in hopes that they would brighten otherwise boringly green areas. They’re doing beautifully! The foliage is bright and clean in spite of repeatedly being hit by freezing temperatures, snow, hail, rain and wind. I’m impressed!

Fatsia japonica ‘Spider’s Web’

Like other Japanese Aralia, ‘Spider’s Web’ and ‘Camouflage’ Fatsia can be grown as an evergreen shrub or small tree. The variegated foliage on these plants is stunning in the shade. It truly brightens the garden! Fatsia Flowers are typically produced in winter and are rather unusual white fuzzy looking globes held above the foliage.

Plants may grow to be 6 to 8 feet high and wide or can be kept smaller with regular pruning. They like full shade to partial sun and ample water to start but are quite drought tolerant in our area once established. Fatsia make good container plants and can be grown indoors as well.

Call me “The Eccentric Gardener” but I’ve always enjoyed growing plants that have animal associations. When I first heard about ’Spider’s Web,’ I knew that it was just a matter of time before I tried growing one in my garden. It’s been a wonderful addition! An added bonus is that this plant came with its own special song: “Itsy Bitsy Spider.” You guessed it! Whenever I see one of these lovelies in my garden or elsewhere the ‘Spider Song’ pops into my head. At least I won’t forget the name of this plant!

I would recommend ‘Spider’s Web’ or’ Camouflage’ Fatsia as dramatic additions to most any part shade to shady garden in need of a light bright accent. If you don’t have an outdoors garden try growing one of these showy plants indoors in a pot. They are striking!

 (Botanical Names:  Fatsia japonica ‘Spider’s Web’ and Fatsia japonica ‘Camouflage’)

Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years.


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In the Garden now ... Danger lurks

Monday, January 30, 2017

'Yellow Jacket' or wasp
Dept of Healt
By Victoria Gilleland

Beware! Our wasp friends are still in the neighborhood, but semi-dormant.

Last week while picking up debris in our garden I was stung by a wasp that looked a lot like the yellow jackets pictured here.

I was stung on the hand through my cloth garden glove probably because I had, so to speak, "Put the squeeze on the Little Guy." For several days my hand was red and swollen at the sting site.

When I mentioned my wasp encounter to some of my gardening friends, several shared their personal stories of having had similar unpleasant experiences. Some were surprised that wasps could be disturbed and sting in the cold winter months. It can happen!

Many told stories of bees and wasps hiding out in the wood pile and emerging in their house once firewood was taken inside and temperatures climbed. Others discussed having been pursued and stung by aggressive wasps that had inadvertently been disturbed indoors or outside. There were those who had severe reactions to stings they had sustained. My recent sting was no fun but not nearly as bad as some I’ve heard about.

For more information take a look at this informative article on Bees and Wasps produced by Washington State Department of Health:

So, all of you who venture outside to enjoy our brisk winter weather and/or want to get a head start on gardening in 2017 need to remain vigilant. You never know what you might encounter.

Stay safe!

(Scientific Genus & Species: Vespula vulgaris)

Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years.



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In The Garden Now…. Elaeagnus Shrubs

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Golden Elaeagnus
Text and photos by Victoria Gilleland

One of the easiest ways to liven up the winter garden is to add a variegated plant or two.

With that mission in mind Variegated Elaeagnus shrubs can add a light bright blast of color to your garden in the coldest darkest months.

These evergreen shrubs are fast growing, drought tolerant and easy to grow. They do well in full sun to shade. They can be pruned to form hedges or screens of various heights or used as focal points in the mixed shrub border.

Growth tends to be dense and twiggy with some spines. Plants are more open when grown in shade. Elaeagnus can be pruned into a wonderful evergreen variegated espalier. I treasure them for the strong contrast to green foliage and deciduous plants they provide year round.

Yellow Edge Elaeagnus Shrub
Elaeagnus shrubs grown in full sun will produce small but fragrant white flowers and red berries.   The same plant grown in shade is unlikely to produce flower or berry. Shrubs can reach 6-14 feet, but can easily be kept smaller and denser with pruning. They’re easy to grow in containers as well.

Chase the drab from your winter garden with the addition of a Variegated Elaeagnus shrub or two! You’ll find it’s a worthwhile garden addition year round.

(Botanical Name:  Elaeagnus pungens ‘Maculata’ and Elaeagnus pungens ‘Variegata’ )

Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years.



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In The Garden Now….. Carriere Hawthorn Tree

Friday, November 18, 2016

Lavalle Hawthorn 
Text and photo by Victoria Gilleland

I turned the corner and there it was … a Lavalle Hawthorn Tree loaded with big beautiful clusters of striking orange-red berries.

Berries can be seen from the lowest branches up into the canopy of the tree. The fruit, also called haws or thornapples, is typically held well into February in our area if the birds don’t get the berries first!

Shiny green leaves turn a bronze red and then drop from the tree. Spring brings large clusters of lovely white flowers.

This is an attractive, interesting tree year round.

Hawthorn trees do have thorns but Lavalle’s Hawthorn has fewer than most. Trees typically reach 20 to 30 feet high and 15 to 20 feet wide after many years.

Trees are sometimes used as “Street Trees” since they tend to have non aggressive root systems that don’t interfere with drive and walkways.

When you’re in the market for an easy to grow tree offering year round color check out this handsome option!

(Botanical Name: Crataegus, x lavallei )

Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years.



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In The Garden Now….'Shaina' Japanese Maple

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Dwarf Red Japanese Maple, with witch


Text and photo by Victoria Gilleland

She’s back! Once again what looks a lot like ‘The Halloween Witch’ has returned to our garden just in time for the holiday. This time she’s landed in a bright red dwarf Japanese maple. ‘Shaina’ is a beautiful small tree that sports intense crimson leaves from spring through fall … a worthy addition to most any garden.

Most gardeners would love a tree that’s easy to grow, compact, provides color in the garden for an extended period of time, and that grows well in a variety of growing conditions. ‘Shaina’ Dwarf Japanese Maple does all of this!

Petite purplish red to crimson leaves appear in spring. Exact color is dependent on the amount of sunlight, water, type of soil, growing conditions, and the time of year. Our ‘Shaina’ provides beautiful color for 8 months of the year in a semi shady bed of our garden.

‘Shaina’ is a compact globe forming Japanese maple that seems more like a medium to large shrub. It typically reaches 4 feet wide by 6 feet high after many years and can be tucked nicely into a smaller garden.

Because she’s a dwarf tree ‘Shaina’ can be grown beautifully in a container for many years. If you can find a spot for this eye catching tree in your garden plant one. You’ll love It!

(Botanical Name: Acer palmatum ‘Shaina’)

Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years.




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In The Garden Now ... Clown Flower

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Bouquet Blue Torenia


Text and photo by Victoria Gilleland

This little beauty has been blooming since early summer and shows no sign of slowing down as fall marches along. True blue flowers are hard to come by at any time of year and those with such a long bloom time are to be treasured.

The intense blue petal color intensifies next to the bright white and yellow in the throat of the flower. When you look down into the face of these little flowers you’ll see how “Clown Flower” has become a popular common name.

On top of all this Hummingbirds love these blossoms and the plant tends to be less than tasty to deer. Slugs and other pests have left my plants alone as well.

Torenia grows and blooms well in part shade and is a compact mounding annual reaching about 6 inches high and 15-20 inches wide. It looks great draped over the edge of a pot or can be grown in a garden bed. It’s a very versatile easy care plant.

Give this long blooming annual a try in your garden next year.

Botanical Name: Torenia Bouquet Blue

Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years.



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In the Garden Now: Hardy begonia

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Begonia grandis posing for its close-up

Text and photos by Victoria Gilleland

This Hardy Begonia is blooming its little heart out in a very shady part of my garden. Plants come back year after year, come into bloom in late summer when we need a burst of color, are seldom bothered by garden pests and bloom nicely in the shade. A true winner in my book!

Begonia grandis in the garden

Although they thrive in the shade, in the Seattle area they do quite well in a fair amount of sun. Be aware that Hardy Begonia can self-propagate and as they say “naturalize.” This means that you might have new plants popping up in unexpected garden locations. They’re not difficult to remove and it’s kind of fun to share with neighbors and friends.

Even without flowers the shiny green wing shaped leaves are very attractive. Wispy clusters of pink flowers bloom in late summer and may rebloom if spent flowers are removed. Plants will form a clump about 2 feet high planted in a garden bed or in a pot. Stems usually are self-supporting and need no staking.

If you’d like another late blooming easy to grow perennial for your garden this could be the one!

Botanical name: Begonia grandis

Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years.



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In The Garden Now …. Double Delight Star Gazer Hydrangea

Thursday, August 25, 2016

Hydrangea Star Gazer double blossom

Text and photos by Victoria Gilleland

What a gorgeous hydrangea! There are hundreds of different Hydrangea varieties available but not many as beautiful as this stunner. The variegated color pattern of the blossoms makes a truly unique statement in the summer garden.

Star Gazer has gorgeous variegated flowers that may be blue or pink and white depending on the soil in which it is grown. In the Northwest our soil is usually acidic so flowers will likely be blue.

Double Delight Star Gazer Hydrangea 
Blossom color varies widely depending on growing conditions. Some shrubs produce blue or pink pastel colored blossoms while others have intense blue, purple, pink or reddish variegated flowers. 

Star Gazer is usually around 4 x 4 feet and blooms reliably on both old and new wood throughout summer. Like most hydrangeas locate this shrub in a shady spot. More sun is an option if the plant is watered regularly. 

Double Delight Star Gazer Hydrangea would make a fabulous addition to most any shade garden!

Botanical Name: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Kompeito’

Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years.



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In The Garden Now ... Firefly Hydrangea

Friday, July 8, 2016

Mop Head Hydrangea  ‘Firefly’

Text and photo by Victoria Gilleland

Many people have memories of old fashioned mop head hydrangeas growing in their grandmother’s garden. They were often large flowering shrubs six to eight feet in diameter covered with masses of globe shaped flowers blooming their hearts out through summer. If you saw them growing in the Pacific Northwest they were probably blue due to the fact that our soil is quite acidic and promotes that color in a plant that could produce either pink or blue flowers.

‘Firefly’ Mophead Hydrangea becomes a striking four foot high shrub bearing dark reddish pink and cream colored semi-double florets that become a more intense color as they mature. The foliage also takes on a reddish cast which adds to the drama. I’m always attracted to red flowers and those on ‘Firefly’ are striking.

This hydrangea likes part sun and will bloom from late spring through autumn adding color to the garden when temperatures are pleasant and you’re most likely to be outside. Hydrangeas like plenty of water so be sure to provide for them especially while plants are becoming established. Give this beauty a try in a container or planted in the garden!

Note:  Be aware that there is another Hydrangea ‘Firefly’ (Hydrangea anomala ‘Petiolaris ‘Firefly’).   This is a climbing hydrangea growing 10 to 20 feet high with white flowers and green and yellow foliage. It’s a nice climber but looks and performs nothing like our mop head Hydrangea ‘Firefly’ (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Firefly’). Select plants carefully to be sure you are getting the one you want. In the plant world there are often very diverse plants with the same common name.

Botanical Name:    Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Firefly’ (Horcos PPAF)


Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years.
         


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In the Garden Now: Columbines

Saturday, May 21, 2016


Columbine Seedlings
Text and photo by Victoria Gilleland

Columbine are cheerful spring blooming perennials that are” foot loose and fancy free”. The first year or two in the garden you’ll probably have flowers that resemble the one you purchased at the nursery. After that watch out! These little beauties have a way of hybridizing among themselves, so that gardeners end up with additional flowers that little resemble the plants selected for the garden in the first place. Some gardeners might consider this a problem but I consider it a bonus. With Columbine you never know what’s coming your way. A lot like life!

I love the unexpected colors, shapes and forms the flowers and plants take on. They tend to cross pollinate and seed themselves popping up in the most unexpected locations where they thrive.

You’ll often see them tucked in among other perennials and shrubs or on the edge of a path where they greet visitors. The “seedlings” are often the best looking columbine in the garden! I love their laissez faire attitude and determination.

I even like the seed heads. They look like dainty candelabras dancing in the wind …. which of course would remind anyone of Liberace. All these associations…

Columbine start blooming in early spring and continue into summer.  The array of flower colors, flower styles and plant sizes available is amazing.  They come in lovely pastels as well as rich blues, purples and white.   These perennials return reliably and are easy to grow in northwest gardens in full sun to light shade.

Columbine bring a sense of frivolity and fun to any garden they grace. Watch for this colorful spring bloomer in neighborhood gardens.

(Botanical Name:  Aquilegia)


Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in  Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years.  vjgilleland@yahoo.com      






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In the Garden Now ... Common Lilac

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Purple Lilac

Fragrant Common Lilac
Text and photos by Victoria Gilleland

One of the unforgettable mother - daughter memories I have of my childhood is of walking down the perfume aisle of a department store with my mother, Minnie. She always managed to find the most intensely fragrant flowery scent in the store. That scent was often Lilac. She would splash it on her wrists or spray it on her lapel with glee. And if I wasn’t careful she’d hit me with a spray or two. Everyone in the family knew they had to beware when walking through the perfume department with Minnie! A whiff of the flowers of these blooming lilacs took me back to that place and time.

Lilacs were introduced to the Americas in the 18th Century. Over the years they have been hybridized so that there are hundreds of varieties available in a variety of colors including purple, burgundy, blue, white and creamy yellow. Scents vary from lightly floral to rich and spicy. If you’re choosing a lilac for your garden you might want to check them out while they are in bloom so you can experience the scent. Lilacs tend to flower heavily in alternate years. They may bloom more consistently if blossoms are deadheaded when spent.

White Lilac

Remember that lilacs bloom on wood from the previous season’s growth. They should be pruned immediately after flowering in spring so that the shrub has time to regrow and form flower buds for the following year’s bloom. If a plant becomes overgrown gardeners sometimes remove 1/3 of the largest and oldest stems at the plant base. If the plant is not pruned regularly and becomes very tall with most of the blooms appearing on the plant above the 6 feet where they can’t be easily enjoyed, plants can be renewal pruned to ground level. You may not have many flowers for a couple of years after this severe pruning, but you will eventually have a much more attractive shrub with flowers you can easily see and enjoy for their scent and color. It’s hard to kill a lilac bush so if your shrub needs pruning go for it!

This easy to grow spring flowering shrub likes sun and is drought tolerant once established. In fact lilacs are often among the surviving plants at an abandoned or neglected homestead. Exactly when a lilac will bloom is dependent on variety, the weather, and growing conditions both in the region and within the garden.

If you love the look and scent of lilacs but space is limited consider growing a dwarf variety such as “Miss Kim” or “Tinkerbell” in a container. These wonderful plants are essentially miniatures of the original Common Purple Lilac but with their own unique scents. In my garden “Miss Kim” has grown to 4 x 4 feet in 15 years. Very compact!

Lilacs are one of the most fragrant flowers in the spring garden. Breathe deep. The scent of spring is in the air!

 (Botanical Name:  Syringa vulgaris)

Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years.  



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In the Garden Now: Rhododendron ‘PJM Elite’

Sunday, April 3, 2016

PJM Elite Rhododendron

Text and Photo by Victoria Gilleland

Rhododendrons tend to be healthy, easy to grow shrubs in the Northwest, so we don’t always give them the respect that they deserve. After all they are reliably evergreen, put on a fabulous flower show in spring and are available in a wide variety of flower colors, plant sizes and habits. On top of that they actually thrive on our acidic soils and mix well with the native plants we like to include in our gardens.

This PJM variety blooms earlier than many rhododendrons with smallish clusters of intensely colored lavender pink flowers. Shrubs maintain a compact shape and form and may grow to 5 feet tall and wide although this one has been kept more compact by regular pruning after flowering. The small leaves of this variety are a glossy dark green which takes on a purplish cast in fall ….. an added color bonus.

Grow this handsome shrub in a container, mixed border, or even as an informal blooming hedge. I’ve noticed that many more flowers are produced and fall and winter foliage color is better if plants have at least part sun exposure. Some PJMs I’ve seen growing in shade are pretty stingy with their flowers.

Consider this gorgeous easy to grow early spring bloomer for your garden. You’ll love that extra burst of color in the garden.

(Botanical Name:  Rhododendron ‘PJM Elite’)

Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years.



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