purple plants | Lil's Garden Tour

For about four years running now, I’ve designed and built plant displays for the Garden Center I work at.

2010’s design

Today, as I was leaving for the day, a nicely dressed gentleman came in to the garden center and asked if he could take a couple of pictures of my display. He said he was trying to get ideas for his own garden.

I didn’t see any harm in it so I said “Sure”…

Next thing I know, he whips out this big camera from it’s case~ one with all the lenses etc. and proceeds to shoot pictures.

Hmmm. Wasn’t expecting that.
Made me wonder if he really did just want ideas or if he had an ulterior motive

and this was the only excuse he came up with…. who knows.

It’s not at all uncommon for us to see other companies walking around with little clipboards, jotting down our prices, but this was the first photo request I’ve ever had!

Should I be flattered?
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Anyway, here are some photos of last years and this years designs.

I design them on the fly, not knowing what they are going to look like until I’m halfway done.

It’s a lot of fun, and even more fun filling them with lot’s of beautiful plants from my favorite greenhouse!

~Enjoy~
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Before~ In front of the Sales Hut ~ 2010’s design

After

I love working with perennials more than anything~ so many interesting leaf colors and textures

Before ~ Main Display ~ 2010 Design

After ~ the theme was angels and woodland creatures last year!

Before ~ patio display ~ 2010 design

After ~ My fellow co-worker and friend planted this one ~ very nice!

This last set is this years designs but I didn’t have the plants available yet when I took these photos….
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Main display is a little bigger and shorter then last year

The structure on this one tends to stay the same from year to year.

In the 2007 season, my first year, I had the opportunity to work with a Merchandiser who was also a landscaper. It is his designs that inspired mine~ though I could never come close to his expertise!

Here is some of his designs of that year!

Thanks Jeff!
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May is almost over and the weather can’t make up it’s mind if it wants to be hot or cold!

Today is cold and rainy, but regardless, everything in the garden continues to progress.

( I couldn’t wait until the blooms were fully open, so here’s a preview~

sometimes the buds themselves are just as interesting as the flowers!)

I just love this little shrub’s dainty flowers~

Purple Ninebark, Physocarpus opulifolius Diablo

ready to pop!

leaf detail


I really do like the purple leaved plants! Here, my penstemon, Husker’s Red, is getting ready.

Fuzzy!

Okay, I cannot remember the name of this hosta and of course I lost the label! Sissy, help me out here! It was one of D&J’s last year or the year before!

The first bloom to pop open on my William Baffin- Canadian series shrub rose, ordered from Jung’s seeds catalouge about eight years ago. It’s a loose climber about 8 feet tall and closer to a wild rose. A bit of advice for anyone planting one~ while pretty, it can be a monster and needs plenty of room!


Here’s a clematis that I forgot the name of as well! I also forgot to cut this and all of my other clematis’ back this year- so there is a lot of dead brown vines tangled in with the new- but it’s really full this year and bloomed earlier as a result.