Gardenia jasminoides
Soon after moving here in May 2001 my sweet former neighbor Jean shared two gardenias she had rooted in little plastic yogurt cups. The plants grew well and eventually Jean gave me one more instead of adding it to her own garden. Today I discovered they are bursting into bloom.
Gardenia jasminoides
The flowers are pristine at the moment and carry gardenia’s unmistakable signature fragrance.
Gardenia jasminoides
I planted Delphinium elatum ‘Cobalt Dreams’ in early April and finally can say I have had a delphinium bloom in this garden. It is supposed to be particularly hardy and come back every year. I need to find a better location, it needs to be in a sunnier spot.
Delphinium elatum ‘Cobalt Dreams’
After posting my arranged flowers yesterday for In A Vase On Monday, I took a couple more photos as the sun’s glow highlighted the redbud and lily.
Cercis canadensis L. (Eastern Redbud)
Lily ‘Royal Sunset’
We are in for a hot, dry week so I have been out watering every morning, and weeding.
pbmGarden 
I’m glad you had success with the Delphinium! I’m envious of the gardenias. Although I still have one I planted years ago, it’s a sad specimen that I should replace with something that wants far less thirsty.
Gardenias are planted everywhere in this area so I tend to take them for granted a little, but I turned the corner and saw them this morning and I think I gasped aloud.
The Delphinium is really beautiful! And I love how you used the Redbud foliage in your vase!!! (I may have to borrow that idea…) We broke heat records today but the rest of the week promises to be much more seasonal – perfect for the mosquitos…:)
Thanks Chris. Hope you do get a chance to use Redbud foliage sometime. Let’s start a trend. Mosquitos had quite a feast this morning as I was watering the garden. Stay cool.
Envious of your gardenia hedge, Susie – the fragrance must be heavenly! And cobalt delphinium… what’s not to love? 🙂
Thanks Eliza, yes the gardenia make a great hedge. The delphinium has quite a ways to go to match the picture in the catalog but hope it get better each year.
It’s the staking they need that deters me. I have enough that already need that assist!
I don’t like staking either and am terrible at it, usually doesn’t get done.
There’s nothing like the heavenly scent of gardenia – lucky you to be gifted yours by a nice neighbour. I would have thought your climate was too cold for them – is G.jasminoides more cold hardy than other varieties? Love the colour of your delphinium – it glows.
My garden zone is 7b so the area technically is borderline for gardenias and camellias but they do ok.
It’s always special to have a lovely plant like a gardenia that was a gift from a special neighbor. Plants with memories are a good thing.
I so agree, Judy.
I always like passalongs and to think of the people who gifted them. I didn’t know gardenias were easy to propagate. I would not have bought a new one.
I have a tiny gardenia that needs transplanting right now. Three stems of from a Monday vase rooted in water. I waited too long to do anything with them but looks like the one has a chance.
Also, I’ve never tried bending a stem down to the ground and putting a brick on it but that is supposed to work with azaleas.
How lovely to have gardenias in the garden. 😃 And good luck with the Delphinium. They never come back for me, but I think that is due to slugs.
The gardenias are a treat. The Delphinium exceeded my expectations by producing one small flowering stem, but looking back on how grand and huge it was supposed to be I am not optimistic it will stay around.