My Garden of Earthly Delights
75
Take time to smell the roses!
I worked with a landscaper for 2 years. He worked for woman who had 5 acres of manicured lawn, horse corrals and 2 pastures. It was incredible. The house had 5 flower beds that combined were twice the size of my 1400 sf home. Money was no object. If she wanted it, it went in her yard. I got to see the best.
We also have access to the best botanical gardens anywhere.. (except for you in BC), The University of Washington Arboretum, Bloedel Preserves on Bainbridge Island are quite wonderful places to explore, read, play and, of course, sniff!!
So to ask about "favorite flowers" needs to be broken down in categores. Annuals, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Vines, Ground cover, Bulbs.
Lobelia
Annuals
Annuals need to be replaced every year, sometimes two - Love Lobelia. All colors. makes great filler for pots, window boxes, Sweet peas have wonderful fragance and are so pretty.
Yellow Gerbera Daisy
Perennials
Perennials come back every year - I love the regular, every day daisies, but also the
fantastic colors they come in.. black eye susans etc. The way they sway
in the breeze is hynotic. For fun "texture" I like Ladies Mantle.. and
of course Hasta for its big leaves, some varigated varieties. But for smell I love Phlox - all kinds, but the tall variety smells beautiful, and butterflies love it!.
Vinca Minor
Ground Cover
Vinca Minor. I adore the periwinkle color, I love the way it climbs up walls, I love the way it covers large spaces without overwhelming.. altho it can get out of control. Oh, I nearly forgot sweet woodruff! It also goes great in containers..I almost perfer it in containers because it gets kinda wild.
Lilac - White
Two-color lilac
Bushes
Here in West. Washington we get to enjoy Rhododendrons. My Favorites are the purples and whites.. but this category was tough because I also adore Lilacs - all colors. Also I would have to add Roses. I have to add roses. What is a garden with out them?
Oh,
a note on roses: If you like Heirloom roses, and if you can possibly
find one.. check out the Cecil Bruner.. Its got smallish light pink
blooms that smell divine. It's kind of a bushy rose if left unpruned
will drape over and climb across and fills the air with the most
lovely, almost spicy scent. I've included a picture of this rose at the top of this hub.
Clematis
Vines
I have to vote for Mock Orange and, again a tough one because I
love Clematis. I had a "double blue" clematis that was spectacular. Also in this category, that I love, are climbing hydrangeas.
Tulip - Varigated
Bulbs
Bulbs is my favorite category of all of them. If I had to just pick one category this is it, but I can not pick one bulb. (That's like having a favorite toe, or tooth. I like the middle, top, front tooth best. The rest are ok, but that tooth is exceptional!!) Tulips, daffodils, narcissus, lillies. Incredrible.
**a special note on bulbs.. Bulbs require leaving the green leaves long after the flowers are gone. This is the way they 'reenergize'. So if you have a row of daffodils (can be others, just cut the stems off at the ground) it can look really shabby waiting for them to wilt. Trim of a long leaf.. Then starting at one end of the row, french braid the leaves. At the end, grab around the bunch (like you would a pony-tail) and tie it off with the leaf you saved from the beginning. This cleans up the row, saves the leaves, and makes an interesting design in your garden.
Rhodedendron
Magnolia
Trees
My vote goes to Magnolias. The blossoms are huge and smell heavenly. "Snow Ball" trees are great with the large white blossom balls that cover the ground with little white petals and looks just like snow.
Also in this category are Rhodedendrons. The come in a large variety of sizes (both the size of the trees and the size of the blossoms.)
Azalea
Shrubs
I have to go with Azaleas.. also all colors. No, wait, Lavender.. esp. spanish lavender. Ok, maybe heather or heath.. these also come in white.
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To Summarize..
I think if I ever get the chance to have my own home again, I will plant an entire section in white plants. All of these categories have "white".
I was recently asked what my favourite flower is. So if I may bend your question a little, I would say
my favorite flower is white. For me white flowers quite my mind and
soul. They are uncomplicated, sophisticated and yet so very simple.
Thank you for asking, it got me wishing I could get my fingers in the dirt again! Good stuff!
And since you asked, I shall load you up on some pictures of my favorites, though I don't have some of them in white..
I wish this hub was "scratch and sniff"!!
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Comments
You are first Larry, just got it done.. You know they make special spray paint florists use for flowers.. get yerself some white and spray them blue!! My second favorite is purple..
Thank you for answering my request, you did an outstanding job. Colours are the determining factor for me too. I love blue flowers the best.
D - You got me feeling all wistful and missing digging in the dirt..I was in a car accident and had to quit the job..couldn't do it for a long time..now I can and I have only 1 pot with the most amazing deep orange lillies - 5 feet tall incl medium pot. You'll have to tell me which blue ones you prefer!
Lucky you Candie V! I love flowers- second only to seashells. In no particular order right now right here would be daisies - so simple and straightforward, gerberas - the rich colours, and magnolias- smell good and so out there!
Hi LBD! - There is something so great about Daisies to me.. and they are "no maintenance" which i l.o.v.e.!!! I had quite a collection of scallop shells for a long time.. love the pink!! Got them on a dive trip.. to watch them "flutter" by was so funny, flooded our masks bad that trip!!.
You dive? Hey, come to think of it, seashells, a little like an underwater garden. doh! I've heard that sooo many times and I finally linked the two! :)
My gosh, there are a lot of similarities! I used to dive, I was a dive master for a number of years..before my son, when I was fearless and mortality didn't exist in my brain..we were wild. I got to dive with the best in the area, but we were crazy. Between 8-9 a week.. nuts!
I love flowers a lot specially those that smells good. But sad to say some of them I only have seen of photos. I like roses alot of different colors too.
Lady - what area do you live in? Where I live we have 2 beautiful mountain ranges on either side of me and the Puget Sound..I can not imagine living with out the mtns and water and the green and flowers. I will never take it for granted.. wish the books of flowers were "scratch and sniff!"
My favorite flower isn't on here but these are all so beautiful. Exquisite pictures. Rated you thumbs up!
thank you Lesley.. what is your favorite flower,, and why?
Wisteria. They look so pretty in in a hanging pot. Or maybe I like them because they grow "upside down". Kinda like me. ;D
I'd have to say calla lilies. They're just so elegant :D
Jama, I forgot about Wisteria.. Yummy smell!
Chris A - Calla lillies are elegant.. see I cannot pick just one..I need a garden again! Thank you!!
For me there will only be one flower, YOU : )
BadCo, Be still my beating heart... You...know...
Candie told me I reminded her of a flower....I was so humbled....."yes" she said....."a Blooming Idiot"
Ahhh...Magnolia and Gardenia
R..so help me BadCo I never did.. he's just.. blooming.. Ah, I forgot gardenia's..man where is my brain.. BadCo, can I have a planter box on the ship? And maybe one small trellis?
My favorite....Stargazer lillies.....love the fragrance!
KCC - I thought about them, too, they are great, I also remembered Bird of Paradise, there are way to many to pick a favorite!!
Unfortunately for me, I'm allergic to lilies...=(
i love reading what you have to say. it makes me smile
I go with the bulbs. Its as if no one dares to pick one up to smell it cuz its so pretty! BTW, what type of flowers are the butterfly bush?
I appreciate them all , as I love flowers but if I had to choose it would be violets, apple blossoms and lavender my goodness that is a hard choice. :)
I love my Paw Paw flowers. And the butterfly that pollenates them. Next would be apple blossoms and honeysuckle.
May! My friend! The butterfly bush looks a lot like a lilac but a little more cone-like and I don't think it smells as good..You gotta watch them, because the kinda take over. You can prune them way back in the fall and you'd be good!
Amy, you light up my world, I know you have allergies.. plastic flowers my girl! I won't tell
AEvans - I was trying to remember apple blossoms.. I sure wish they lasted longer, they are so pretty! Thank you!!
2Cs - I had a pink/white honeysuckle that was spectacular, you're right they are amazing! I've never seen a Paw Paw, gotta look that one up!
Thank you both and welcome to my little hublet!
I love quite a few different flowers, but tulips win it for me, hands down. They're so clean and organized, it makes me cry. Okay, it doesn't make me cry but it makes me want to stare. :p Good stuff, thanks!
Hi Amy! Welcome to my little corner of Hubville! Ah Tulips!! We have an area of NW Washington that's kind of like "little Holland" only it's huge.. 1000 x1000 of all kinds of bulbs.. Overwhelming. If you want to check out their link.. www.tulipfestival.org
The lilac does smell wonderful but the iris is such a beautiful intricate flower.
Dan - Lilac has it for trees, for sure.. I will put the iris in the "bulb" category, I know it's really not, but for the sake of my "categories" that's where I put it.. that said, they are exquisite..so many sizes and colors and styles.. You are right! Thank you for visiting my little garden of hublets!
I love roses. A black rose. Nothing is more beautiful
Blondepoet - that is a wonderful choice!! Roses are perfect..black is a fun color. Everybody has such great ideas, thank you for stopping by!
Hi Sumon! Welcome! Red roses are fantastic! My fav roses are the Tropicana varieties. Around here roses get all kinds of funguses because of the rain/moisture, so you have to take special care of them. But I can't imagine a garden with out them!
I am a white flower fan, Magnolia Blossoms big enough to stick your face in, YES!
This hub got me out of the dumps, good karma, thanks, now I owe you one.
C - increadible flowers to be sure! Thanks for joining us, glad you're here!
Magnolia trees are something quite special in spring, I love them. And proper roses (which smell) and narcissi, and stargazer lilies
LondonGirl! Hi and welcome to our hub garden! You have it soo right! For roses with great smell, to me, nothing beats a Cecil Bruner, if you can find one, snag it!! Narcisses are the best, specially in a pot in the house..ohhh the fragrence is amazing..I use that word way too much, but it fits! thank you!
Narcissi in pots is how my mother does it. It's a wonderful fragrence, couldn't agree more!
Enjoyed looking at your great selection of flowers. I once grew a Tree peony with 60 blooms on it. Absolute flower heaven. The fragrance was overwhelming. Thnx
Gypsy, welcome! I have never seen a peony tree! Around here they are more "shrub" ish. I would love to see a picture of it, what colors were the blooms?
I have always said I never saw a flower I didn't like. My favorite today are the purple larkspur that are blooming so beautifully right now.
D - I only have 1 flower I can say that, but it's not the flower's fault it's the smell.. Have you ever smelled Skunk Cabbage? Around here that's what's we call it because it smells rotted, bad, nose burning bad.. yet the flower is beautful. So I'm conflicted.. Larkspur is one of my all time favorites and I thought about putting it in, but didn't. Delphinium, I had 5' tall white ones. Gosh I miss my garden!!!!
Thank you for visiting!
Like you said, picking a favorite flower would be like picking a favorite tooth.
My list would be a very long one including ones we grew up north and cannot grow down here. Lilacs, peonies, tulips to name a few northern favorites.
Azaleas, camellias, impatiens, roses, periwinkles, ginger, honeysuckle, begonias, indian hawthorne, humingbird shrub, chenille plant and more are all in our southern yard / garden. And that would not be the end of my list of favorites. Just TOO HARD an assignment! LOL
Hi Peggy - I know.. why did I ever respond to this question? Impossible. Thank you for visiting my garden of earthly delights!
Very nice flower talk, and made me smile - I love all the flowers you mentioned, but four-o-clocks are about my favorite scent second only to roses. I have four-o-clocks progeny from about 25 years ago, and they change every year because of the 'intermingling of the bees'. Don't think I could choose A favorite flower either. They bring such beauty...Thanks for sharing!
Frogy - wow, four-o-clocks? I will have to check them out, they are new to me! If you could send me a cutting I'd me most appreciative and would give you a hub all your own! Thank you!
Larry Lathrop says:
7 months ago
MsDuckiegirl Gee am I first this time. Flowers, shrubs,trees,vines----sooo many to choose from. I think color is the determining factor for me too. In flowers I like blue,blue,blue yes pansies, irises, your lobelia also. My "favorite" flower doesn't come in blue though, but Mums the word.