Serbian Bellflower

Serbian Bellflower

Campanula 'poscharskyana'

Height: 9-12"

Spread: 24"

Care: Plant in well-drained, rich, sandy soil.

           Water well until established.

Location: Full sun, partial shade 

Hardiness: -34C (-30F) Zones 4-9
Type: Perennial 

I invested in two different bellflower plants this year. This is the second. Like the Dwarf Bellfower I am enjoying it very much. Honey bees seem to really love this guy. I have this growing in a pot on my deck along with the other bellflower. It's bloom time is from April to June according to the tag but mine started blooming in June and is still blooming strong. This is a trailing plant so needs room to hang down. Great for rockery garden, tall containers, and hanging baskets.  

Dwarf Bellflower

Dwarf Bellflower

Campanula 'Birch Hybrid'

Height: 10-15cm (4-6") 

Spread: 20-30cm (8-12")

Care: Plant in average, well-drained soil.

           Water well until established.

Location: Full sun, partial shade 

Hardiness: -34C (-30F) Zones 4-9
Type: Perennial  

This is a new plant to me this year. I have not owned a Bellflower before. My focus right now is more so on perennials than annuals as I love to see them come back every year. So far I am really liking this one!

This is a dwarf selection popular for rock gardens, edging and mixed containers. I also think it would look stunning in hanging baskets. I am very happy with how much it has grown in the sort time since I bougth it. It will flower for many weeks through the summer. Mine started flowering 2 weeks ago and is growing beautifully in a pot on my back deck as seen below. It should be divided every 2 years in fall or spring. I myself like to divide all my plants in early spring to give the roots a change to become well established before frost.



Back in the Garden!

Finally I am back in the garden! It feels so good!
Since my last post in June 2010 I became pregnant with our 3rd child. I had a lot of morning sickness so this cut my gardening season very short last year. Our son was born via c-section in late March there for I had a late start to this season too. But I am recovered and well and here to make the most of the season I have left, with what ever time I can find to do so. Life with 3 children under 5 is wonderfully busy.
I have began a new garden in the front yard that I'm eager to boast about in posts to come. Plus I have bought a few new plants here and there that I am very happy with and want to share. Also I have a few woes in plants that have not been doing so well and I'm fighting to keep alive.
I'll have my next post up with in the week hopefully!

Divide, Share and Trade!

Buying plants is pricey. I love to going to the nursery and drool over all the plants I want. It gives me ideas of what I like and how I can get it cheaper. I hit sales when I can and hold out if I know I can buy it cheaper else where.
Another great way to save money is to divide perennial plants when you can. Your plants may be smaller for a year or two than had bought them but who cares. Think of the money you're saved.
Also share plants with friends or neighbours when you are doing your dividing. I have baby Hosta that I got from my neighbour's Hosta last year. It is still growing in a pot as I need to find a special home for it this summer (I am planning a shade garden). I have an Aunt who is a gardening goddess. Her garden is AMAZING. She has given me many plants over the years that she created when dividing her plants. Some that she gave me last year I have already been able to divide again!
I look forward to being able to share some of mine in the years to come as I build up my stock. Not only are these divided and gifted plants free but they hold more meaning. They each tell a story and give you good vibes as you walk around enjoying your garden.

Dividing is a new thing to me. I've always been scared of killing the plant. A couple years ago I started with Day Lilys and went from there. I divide my plants very early in the spring when they are just coming up. As far as I know this is the best time to divide all perenials. This year I divided a fern, and some asters (both from my Aunt last year). I also divided my sedum for the second time. I took one baby from it last year and past that over to my sister. I took four more babies from it this year.




Above is the Sedum. It gets bunches of bright pink flowers in late summer. A large sedum was here when we bought the house 5 years ago. It has doubled in size now even though I have taken five babies from it. I have planted one of the babies, gave one to my sister last year, another two are for a drought tolerate garden I am planning. The fifth is going to my neighbour that I got my baby Hosta from (though she doesn't know it yet...ssssshhh).
Also in the picture is one of the divided Day Lilies from last year.


This is a divided Day Lily and the baby Hosta I got from my neighbour's Hosta last year. These will be going into a shade garden I'm planning.

All of these perennials are divided in a very easy manor. Dig around the roots and pull away a chuck of the plant, leaving both parts with a good root system. Get roots back into dirt and water right away to avoid the roots drying out.

So go out and divide, share and trade!

Journal of My Learnings

Over the past few years I have read many gardening magazines (Gardens West is my favourite), a few books and spent many hours googling. I have admired many gardens built and maintained by others. Yet none of this knowledge really means anything unless I can apply it. That is what I am trying to do now.

Five years ago my husband and I bought a home on the South West Coast of BC, Canada. There was not much to speak of in the way of gardens, a clean slate you might say. Which is exactly what I wanted to start with. I have done a bit over the years in between getting married, work and having two babies. I'm proud of the results so far and day-dream about how to add to it.

I wanted to start this blog to share my learnings and maybe even inspire. My gardening does not come easily. I have ended the life of more then a few plants over the years, due to wrong placement, soil, or winter treatment or lack of, oops! SO, now I research before I buy, plant or transplant. Through this blog I will share what I have learned and want to learn. Please comment if you have insight into what I post and/or ask questions.

Thanks for reading!