I've Come To Appreciate Parking Strips . . .

I took my camera to town the other day (when dropping off my computer)in search of blooms since nothing was blooming up here so I could enjoy some color. On my way I looked off to my left and there was a parking strip just a bloomin' and I thought I'm going to come back and get that picture and send it to Karen over at GREENWALKS Gardening where the sidewalk ends to add to her collection of posts on these really great strips - parking strips, hell strips, garden strips - apparently they have a number of different names.I did my business then headed back down the main street where I had come in and since there was traffic behind me I turned and figured that strip display was probably on the next block or so. Well it wasn't but I found another one . . ..
and another . . .
and another.
This little section of town was loaded with them. I never did find the one that was only 1 block off of the main street. But I found so many more. This one had such a nice variety of color, size and textured plants and shrubs.
A month ago I probably wouldn't have even noticed these strips unless they were so brilliantly colored with blooms ya couldn't help but see them. But reading GREENWALKS posts has brought them to my attention and heightened my awareness to a level of wanting to see more of these delightful strips people have taken upon their own to landscape.
I told her I had wanted to take just this one picture to send to her and then ended up taking a whole camera full because this neighborhood had so many. She very graciously told me since I had so much fun taking these pictures I should go ahead and enjoy doing the post myself.First let me say I'm not as knowledgeble as she is about the trees, shrubs and flowers so I'll just show the pictures and if you want a real treat be sure and visit herblog for more strips and much more informative posts.
Some Yucca plants on each side.
This one where the 2 streets come together looks like it's filled with Sedums.
This looks like their yard but it does have sidewalk going through.
Each tree has it's own planter built around it with a variety of flowers in each one.

I thought all 3 of these trees were very interesting.
A close up of the 2 strangest ones.
And some decorative stairs with white Heathers blooming.

Fun with Sedums

This is Sedum Cauticolum on each side of what I think is a Sweet Potato Vine 'Blackie' and some Ice Plant in front that hadn't filled in at the time of the photo. Cauticolum looks so much like October Plant I can hardly tell them apart when doing starts because of the beautiful blue green foliage trimmed in pink that they both have. In the background you can see my 'bloomin' stairs' that I planted in Thyme. I have one on each side of the bank for easier access farther up in the back of the yard.


My only 2 tall Sedums so far. Autumn Joy on top and Linda Windsor, my newest. I thought the dark wine colored foliage would be a great contrast with all of the greens around here. The bloom is almost the same color as the foliage.



The 3 planters above have similar plantings in them of Hens and Chicks, Cape Blanco, Tri Color, Vera Jamison, I think some Purple Form, Cauticolum, October Plant Sedums, an Armeria, Viola and Johnny Jump Ups. Another nice green one you can see on the top right I'm not sure about the name. I haven't decided if I will stick them here and there in the flower beds or sell them if I decide to do some markets this summer.


3 old canisters my husband riveted together to put Sedums in. The large one has Purple Form, on the left is Babys Tears and I don't know what the third one is. The picture below shows them in bloom. The yellow bloom sure matched the flower on the canister

Flowers Blooming For Fertilizer Friday

It's Fertilizer Friday and everyone is flaunting their flowers
so when ya get done here be sure to link over to Tootsies place at the bottom
and see what she and everyone else is up to.

I realize I'm pretty late posting but I'm still dragging here
- I don't seem to come home from vacation after 2 weeks and snap back like I use
to. You'll forgive me please. ;-)

One of my Lilac trees is getting ready to show
off.

And another . . .
This one is Miss Kim my new little dwarf Lilac tree. It's only about 2 or 3 feet tall
and already has lots of buds.
My Meadow Rue is showing color FINALLY after years of having it and never seeing it
bloom because the critters kept it chewed off.
Finally some tulips are going to bloom in the tub. They fizzled last year I think.

My new sweet little Crabapple Tree.
Paper Whites?
Not Sure
Heather Medeterrenean and purple violas

My irst Columbine to show color. It would be nice if I could remember the
name.

Aubretia

This was a pleasant surprise because I thought I lost my wild Bleeding Heart last
year and as it is now it's bigger than my big one.

Some Forget Me Nots have planted themselves in a pot with a maple tree of some kind
that someone gave me. Or the other way around.

My Clematis Josephine has buds! HOORAY!!!

A big Peony bud.

English Bluebells that my neighbor gave me.