My new flower bed is done

[CornField]

Yeah! It took two days, 40 pavers and umpteen pounds of soil, but it is done... and it's lovely. I bought a bleeding heart to be the centerpiece and flanked it with two Anthony Waterer Spirea; planted some gerbera daisies between and to the front; then added a few Salvia along the pavers. I've still have room for maybe two more perennials and several flats of annuals. :)

The only bummer about the day was learning that I couldn't have a crepemyrtle. My mother planted one when I was young and I loved that bush. Of course, that was in Oklahoma and they simply aren't hardy enough for Iowa winters.

[wildeyed]

1. Too bad about the crape myrtle.

When I moved south, I was really impressed with two plant you can grow here with no effort. Crape myrtle was one, and the other, camellia. The clay soil and hot, hot summers are a trial, but the crapes and camellias somewhat make up for it.

The rest of the garden sounds lovely. You should post a picture when you finish.

[Ecumenist]

3. Crape myrtles and Camellias grow here in northern California

VERY well. Camellias don't grow in Iowa? I thought that they are comon in China and Japan, areas where there are serious winters.

[LeftCoast]

2. Pictures! We demand pictures!

:D

Sounds lovely though! :toast:

[CoffeeCat]

4. Cornfield, I envy you!

Your flower garden sounds just lovely!

Have you been gardening and planting flowers for many years? It sounds like you really know what you're doing.

We just bought a house in Iowa last August, so I am learning about flowers. We just dug out TONS of river rock from the northwest corner of our backyard. We plan to do some landscaping and plant flowers. I don't know what I'm doing, but you've definitely provided inspiration!

Do you mind me asking...did you buy the flowers or did you plant the seeds and grow your own?

Thanks for any info.

I think I need go buy a good flower-garden book!

Keep us posted on our garden's progress. Many happy blooms to you. :)