A Day of Sun and Showers

Finally--the sun appeared!  And when it did the temperature soared and thunderstorms formed through the afternoon.

Weigela blooming this evening as the skies cleared

We had only a few sprinkles and some thunder for our trip to the garden centers.  My neighbor and her granddaughter and I went looking for plants for my neighbor's garden plan I put together.  She and her husband were the high bidders at the Kentucky Derby Party and Auction for the garden design and installation offered by my husband and I and another neighbor couple. Last weekend, my neighbor and I went to the the CT Daylily Society's plant sale in Avon to find some daylilies for her new border garden.  She found some lovely shades of pink and lavender to incorporate into the design for the back border. We are looking for low maintenance plants with all summer bloom. Daylilies are perfect for that.  We found some early and late bloomers at good prices since they are from members' gardens.  The colors range from pale pink to raspberry and mauve, coral and apricot to orange, as well as red to burgundy.

Daylily border just planted

Today we headed to Home Depot where there was a special on hydrangeas and Knock Out roses. I also had a coupon for $3.00 off Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Garden Soil to use when planting the perennials.  As a member of the Home Depot Garden Club, you receive special coupons by email. Very handy today to have that coupon! We found a lovely pink hydrangea and a pink rose.

Home Depot locally grown Pink Hydrangea

Knock Out Pink Rose

Silene 'Rollies Favorite'

we found a new pink perennial (Silene 'Rollies Favorite') we were not familiar with and decided to try it. 

You can probably tell that Noel chose the plants.  She's four (not free, as she claimed when she heard us talking about a deal we found ) and loves pink.  Purple is her second favorite color, it seems.



Japanese primrose



We bought a purple Japanese primrose at Jessica's Garden, but could not find a perennial hibiscus. 

Jessica said it's too cool for them yet. I would love to find a 'Moy Grande' Perennial Mallow for its dinner plate size blooms.  It should remind my neighbors of Hawaii where they spend the winter months--if we can only find it in Connecticut.  Maybe a Flare or a Lady Baltimore...

We stopped back at Jessica's Garden on the way home to let my neighbor's granddaughter swing on the rope swing by the pond and eat some ice cream.  As she swung, thunder began and then a light rain.  I told her we should be getting off the swing and not be under a tree when it thunders.  I showed her the sprinkles of rain making ripples on the pond to prove to her that it was going to rain harder.  She said, "They look like sparkles!"  I looked again--and they did.  The thunder stopped and only a light rain continued.  She watched her dress flow out behind her as she continued to swing under the tree.  Another garden moment...