Linderhof


Gardening, Cooking and Decorating on the Prairie of Kansas


Welcome to Linderhof, our 1920's home on the prairie, where there's usually something in the oven, flowers in the garden for tabletops and herbs in the garden for cooking. Where, when company comes, the teapot is always on and there are cookies and cakes to share in the larder.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

A Bounty At The Garden Center

Come Spring, the outdoors is a lot more fun. The world is greening up, pots are being filled with cool annuals and perennials. Join Susan at A Southern Daydreamer, for Outdoor Wednesday. It's fun to see what the outdoors is around the country.

Last Wednesday, friend Sally and I headed north to my favorite garden store, Red Cedar Gardens just a mere hour away from Linderhof. Along with us was a pot for Sally and two pots for me -- it was Red Cedar's "Plant a Pot" class and we were eager to fill the pots with spring flowers under Ricki's expert guidance.

My two pots were twins, cast iron pots that are in the herb gardens at Linderhof. And since the pots were twins, the plants had to be as well.

In the center a lamb's ear. It is sometimes considered an herb and I love the fuzzy greyish green foiliage. On either side purply blue pansies. Not an herb but they are edible. And we love pansies at Linderhof. The outside of the pot was filled with two varieties of creeping thyme that should fall over the pot rim and a cascading oregano that should do the same. The pansies will be replaced come summer with marigolds -- again not herbs but definitely edible.
The pot, in place, in the herb garden -- surrounded by lavender and sage.
And who can resist primroses? I would love to have a primrose path, but alas, the prairie gets too hot in July and August for primroses. These will grace my garden during spring and then come summer will be brought inside to "summer" and "winter" over in the breakfast room.
A whim of a purchase is this rabbit topiary form. Planted with thyme and I think that it will be perfect in the "fountain of thyme" bed in the center of the herb garden. But first, it will be the centerpiece for a mother/daughter luncheon that I'm doing in May.

I love watching Linderhof's garden green up. The daffodils are now gone but the tulips are abloom. Some of the lettuces are growing well in pots and soon we will have a lettuce harvest. Plans are being scribbled on napkins and newspapers as to plantings in these pots when the lettuces are gone.

We've moved a few plants in the herb garden and can't wait until it's warm enough to plant the basil and tomatoes.

We've got bags of daylilies to plant and hopefully will get that chore done this week.

We've signed up for a couple of other classes at Red Cedar and can hardly wait for it is just a fun place to be!

We love to be outside in the spring, planting and planning. It's nice to see bloom after the bareness of winter.

18 comments:

Judy said...

Your herbs and flowers are beautiful. Love the rabbit topiary. My herbs are really starting to grow now that the weather is warming up. The sage is ready to bloom with beautiful purple flowers, and the chives are quickly filling out. I've taken photos, but haven't had time to post them. Thanks for adding me as a friend. I've added you to my blogroll and am looking forward to more of your posts.

Valerie said...

Hi Martha!

Hope all is well. I've been busy with sick little ones and with the Easter holiday haven't been able to make the rounds and post as much as I'd like! Anyway, beautiful pictures of your herb garden; I love that little rabbit topiary! Hurry up spring...we've been waiting such a long time here on the prairie!!!

Blessings to you,
Valerie

Mary-Laure said...

Yes I love being outside too, with that fresh spring air and so many wonderful flowers..

the wild raspberry said...

Hi there Martha...so good to see you again!
I really like your urns...they are going to be gorgeous when they are all filled out!!!!
have a great day.
chasity

Chandy said...

Your urns are lovely! I have the light ones. They are a twin as well, but I haven't had the chance to use both. I'm working on it. Your sage is precious! That is one of my fave herbs!

Kim @ Forever Wherever said...

Love the rabbit! We have vegetables growing in our square foot garden and in every pot we could find. I didn't want to waste any of my seedlings!

Kim

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

I love the gray lambsear with the violet pansies, just lovely!

Light and Voices said...

Your urns are so lovely and so unique.
Joyce

Crystal said...

Hello Martha,
Love your post. I am glad you are seeing signs of spring. I can't wait to get out and start some gardening myself. Thank you for visiting my blog and I am add you to my blogroll.

Have a great day!
Crystal
thehummingbridcottage.blogspot.com

Painter's Place said...

I love the urns! I also love primroses, but it gets too hot here for them also. I need to plant something soon. I've been slacking in that category!!!

Nancy Yoakum said...

Can't wait to see you home surrounded in it's full glory of blossom and blooms. Hope you had a nice day filled with sunshine yesterday up here. The plants and birds sure love the sunshine. It's fun watching everything turn green and one day, it will be like a like switch was flicked on and suddenly all the trees will have there leaves again!

Barb said...

Hi Martha, everything is so lovely....so springtime!

Happy Outdoor Wednesday.

Barb

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

I think I would have chosen the very same plants :) I think I saw the first pansies outside at the store yesterday so I'm anxious to get some pots planted also.

I adore your little rabbit topiary!

Cathy~Mille Fleur said...

Martha,
I love your urns... they are beautiful!!! The bunny is my favorite!!! Spring is the best!!!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!!!
XOXO
Cathy

SmilingSally said...

I've always loved lambsear.

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

Happy Outdoor Wednesday Martha..
Sorry I haven't been around as much lately..... I haven't felt good. Thanks for sharing your photos.~ Susan

Anonymous said...

Plant a pot is such a great idea for a class. I would go to one. Your results are so sweet. It is too warm here for primrose, already but I did have quite a few.

Marja Rijnsburger said...

The gray lambsear and the violet pansies are lovely.