Hello everybody! Greetings to all from Finland on this lovely, sunny Saturday morning!

It’s not been very exciting these last seven days, but plodding along we’ve managed to haul in more mulch and get beds recovered in a fresh topping up. Nearing the halfway point here soon! There hasn’t been any measurable rainfall, and to be frank, I’m not sure how everything is continuing to grow, leaf out, bud and blossom without a good soaking of rain. I guess due to our overnight temperatures dipping quite low, despite some warm daytime temps must be making enough of a difference. Of course, nothing is as good as really thorough soaking rain. I hope for our sakes, and everyone who farms & gardens that we are rewarded with drenching rain soon and those rain gods stay for a few days. Getting into a pattern of showing up more routinely would be the ideal 🙂

This week I have the following items to share, which I think are looking quite great.

One

Skirting a dirt road, our outermost property edges eek out into a pie-shaped wedge. Along the dirt road, which is actually the driveway to the old farmhouse adjacent to our place we have assorted roses, conifers, perennials, a magnolia and this lovely item. Today’s number one is Acer palmatum ‘Red Pygmy‘. We adore this stunner. It seems to really like the home we gave it and has progressively grown into a reliable and enjoyable asset to this space.

Two

This lovely tree gets a lot of attention from the dog-walkers who frequent the quiet dirt road. Lots of people have asked what it is, and where they can get one! This tree has thrived in this part sun, mostly shade space since the day we brought it home – all the way from Estonia. Ours, as you can see stays mostly white with only slight green variegation. Typically, I think it’s usually the opposite. This tree literally glows in this space, and is visible from quite a distance. It is the spectacular Acer campestre ‘Carnival‘ – yep a field maple!

Three

These fern-leaf peonies are impossible to photograph! They really are a very intense color – not red, but shocking pink. Actually, when looking for better images online – gardenia.net does show a better photo, so I will include their link. Say hello to Paeonia ‘Early Scout’. Ours has a much finer leaf than the example from the link, but the color is the same. It has gotten enormous so must truly enjoy this rather sandy, rocky soil – plenty of good drainage!

Four

Ha! These hardy geraniums where scattered wildly all around the garden, growing in singles in all sorts of places under bushes, in the fence line, etc. A few years ago, I decided to gather them all together and put them along the edge of a pathway border along this pie-shaped corner of our property. We walk past them several times a day. What were once scraggly self-seeded volunteers are now a real eye-appealing display. I believe they are Geranium macrorrhrizum. Way down this view, you can see this week’s number one item, the ‘Red Pygmy’ Japanese maple.

Five

These ‘Summer Snow’ Cerasticum Tomentosum aren’t unique or actually all that special, but what they do offer is unconditional love. Once you bring them home, they seem to do their best to keep you happy. They require little, but offer so much – in the way of cheerful flowers and much needed ground cover to areas that just need that little something. It seems before long, they have filled, and spilled over nooks and crannies adding that little oomph. Bees and pollinators love them! Once established these lovelies will even self-seed for you and you can gather up even the tiniest of pieces for replanting elsewhere. Free plants! I use this plant in several places around the garden. Rock gardens, along border edges, inter-mixed in large groupings of plants. They will grow and look great nearly anywhere!

Six

Pekka was very keen to have a dedicated rock garden, and we have no shortage of rocks! Massive boulders were already here when we arrived, so this made a natural place to start building up on. Over time, this rock garden has morphed into a much larger collection of plants. Most started off being Sedums, and drought-tolerant plants. He chose all sorts of interesting plants to start off with. some are still with us, and lots of other things have been added along the way. It’s not the usual rock garden probably, but it’s all ours! There are dwarf irises, sedums, poppies, agastache, nepeta, campanula, dianthus, and even some heather, but so many other items too. Bees are usually swarming this entire area all day throughout the summer. As the photos show, some of the items have decided to jump the confinements of the rocks and have self-seeded in the path. We just leave them be. It’s a much traveled pathway and somehow there’s enough room for us and plants to get on! 🙂

Well, that us for this week! Hope everyone has themselves a great weekend and is able to garden in peace.

Until next time, ❤ Kate @ Vanha Talo Suomi