My little patio garden has been featured in the Before & After section of Apartment Therapy!

I'm so excited to have been featured.  I love this web site!

Click HERE to read the article, "Before & After: Plain Patio to Secret Garden"

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, June 2015

I'm behind again on updating for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day hosted by May Dreams Gardens on the 15th of every month.

I'll start with some photos of the rose garden in the front of my bungalow.  I still have the same ones I had last year and have not bought anymore due to space.  Here is Heirloom, the lavender ones in the back and Ketchup & Mustard (floribunda), the red and yellow ones in the front.

On the left is Sparkle and Shine (yellow - floribunda)  next to Sugar Moon (white - hybrid tea).  You can also see a bloom from my white Angel Trumpet tree in the lower left corner.

Here is a another view which shows Iceberg (left front corner)

I also have two more potted rose on the front porch.  They are Sheila's Perfume (left) and Fragrant Plum (right).  At this point they are now touching the top of my front porch!

I won't go through every plant on the front porch, but here are just a few that I took pictures of with my phone:

Red Geranium and Gerbera Daisy

 

Pincushion Flower

Catmint in a hanging basket.  I absolutely love Catmit.  So do the bees!

 Purple Cleome (sorry -- horrible photo)

 Some random plants:  Yarrow, Lavender, Gerbera Daisy, Lisianthus in the back, my faithful Rosemary protecting the door and in the little barrel are some growing flowers I planted from a seed packet by Botanical Interests.  They are from a packet of "Grandmother's Cut Flower Garden".  I had the same seed compilation last year along with "Fairy Meadow" and they provided me with beautiful blooms all Summer long.  Since I can't plant in the ground anymore, I thought I'd put some in a pot so I could still enjoy them.

 Martha Washington Geranium still flowering.

 More random plants, right side of the porch with my Fragrant Plum Grandiflora Roses behind:  Yarrow, Dusty Miller, Lavender, etc.

 Left side view of the porch with Sheila's Perfume rose in the back:  Yarrow, Bee Balm, Red Geraniums, Gerbera Daisy, etc.

Closeup of my white Yarrow, Achillea Millefolium

 Behind the roses I have a pot of Valerian, Garden Heliotrope that is blooming.  I love the unique smell of its flowers.  I actually saved this from the herb bed that my landlord paved over last summer.  I wasn't sure if it would survive in a pot because it had gotten so big in the herb bed but it has and it is flowering!

Oragami Blue Columbine, Granny's Bonnet is now blooming.  I had these in the shade on my patio, but they were not happy so I moved them between the rose bushes where they get more sun and now they are making flowers.

Onto the patio...

I won't go through every single potted plant.  Last I counted there were at least 82.  I will just share some highlights:

Borage is blooming.  The flowers remind me of fireworks.  I can't believe how tall this grew in a pot.

Nasturtium - This has been blooming non stop for moths.  It's also making lots of seeds.  I've been a bit lazy about planting them.  Every time I see one on the ground I've just been tossing it back into the pot.

Canterbury Bells - This bloomed for the longest time.  It started to look a little tired, so I finally had to say good bye.  I will just get another one next year to enjoy.  The bees really love them.

I've been saving the best for last and that is my collection of Scented Pelargoniums/Geraniums!

In my previous entries, I posted some images of my collection so far so I won't go back through all of them.  I have over 25 now.

On June 16, The Los Angeles Geranium Society held their June meeting and I, now being a member, attended.  It was so much fun!  We got to take a tour of the Scented Pelargonium section at the Los Angeles County Arboretum.  We also saw a slide show presented by Tom Glavich:  Geraniums and Flowers in the High Drakensberg Summer, Eastern South Africa.  

Since I was a new member, I was given a new Scented Pelargonium.  This one is Apricot and it came from Matt Dell Tufenkian of Dominus Plantarum.

There were also door prizes.  Here is the one I choose from the "opportunity table".  I am not sure what this is but it looks and smells a lot like my Nutmeg Scented Pelargonium.

 I also purchased this little Denticulatum, Fern Leaf Pelargonium.

 And one more new addition which I actually picked up at a plant sale at the LA Arboretum a week or so ago from Dominus Plantarum.  This one is Golden Lemon Crispum.

The below Pelargoniums are not new but they are blooming so I took some photo photos.  This is a nice phone capture of Attar of Roses in bloom.

And the large blooming flowers of Sweet Mimosa.

 Dainty white blooms on Nutmeg Scented Pelargonium.

 And this stunning foliage of Charity. 

 I can't tell you how magical these Scented-leaf Pelargoniums make my little patio garden.  It smells heavenly!  So many deliciously aromatic flavors!  I am hooked!

 Last but not least, I should mention my guest caterpillar turned into a butterfly.  I came home one evening and he was gone.  I was hoping he'd come out of the chrysalis when I was home, but sadly, I didn't get to see him to say good bye.  I understand though.  He has things to do and not much time!

So that is what's blooming in my Pasadena, California potted garden.  

What's blooming in your garden this June, 2015?

New Scented Pelargoniums for my Collection

In my quest for more of these wonderful scented plants, I found an online nursery in Northern California called Geraniaceae  The plants came quickly - within just a few days!  I am very excited to share the new arrivals.  Note these had just been potted up after spending 2 days in a box so in a few weeks they will be back in tip top shape.

Mint Rose

Candy Dancer - Rose scent

Fragrant Frosty - Rose lemon? scent

And the following two I already have so now I have doubles of:

Peppermint

Charity - Such a beautiful leaf and unique aroma.

Scented Pelargoniums

I had an appointment this morning to visit, Dominus Plantarum, a local nursery that had many of the Scented Pelargoniums I have been drooling over ever since I discovered the new Scented Pelargonium Garden at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden.  Matt, of Dominus Plantarum, is responsible for this magically fragrant garden.  I was so excited to bring home 9 different varieties of Scented Pelargoniums!  I've also become a member of the Los Angeles Geranium Society and am looking forward to participating in their upcoming meetings and learning more about these wonderful plants that were so popular during the Victorian era.

Below is a photo my husband took of me enjoying the Scented Pelargonium Garden at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden

Lime-Yes it really does smell just like lime!  Yum!

 Strawberry-Love this variety!  Sweet and fruity.

 Varrigated Nutmeg-Pretty and Spicy!

 Lemon Fancy-The most potent Lemon fragrance I have found besides Mable Gray.

 Rose-Not sure what variety of rose, but it is very strong!

 Charity-lemon rose fragrance.  Beautiful fancy foliage!

 Rose-I think this may be Skeleton Rose "Dr. Livingston".  

Very strong fragrance!

 Peppermint!  Just like a candy cane.  Delicious!

 Another Rose variety.

So happy with all of these and a big thank you to Matt and his wife Rebecca at Dominus Plantarum

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - May 2015 - My Scratch 'N Sniff Garden

I am a little behind for Garden Bloggers' Bloom day hosted by May Dreams Gardens, but better late then never.  Here's what's going on in my 4'x10' Pasadena, California Zone 10B Patio Garden...

Scented Pelargoniums!  Pelargoniums!  Pelargoniums!  Or if you rather, Scented Geraniums.  This obsession all started because I asked the nice young man at the garden center if he had a smaller pot of "Attar of Roses" Scented Pelargonium.  He didn't, but he offered me half off this beauty!  How could I resist!  The fragrance... WOW!  I was in heaven.  He said they weren't selling very well.  Most people don't understand that the fragrance is in the leaves and NOT the flowers.  They may be old fashioned, but I am utterly spellbound by their many enchanting fragrances.

Attar of Roses - Scented Pelargonium

This of course put me on a quest... I want to collect them all!  Okay, obviously, that's not going to happen.  There are too many varieties and let's face it... I have NO room!  While that totally sucks, I can still make the best of the space I have.  I have started a small collection, and here they are:

Orange Fizz - Strong Orange fragrance.

Sweet Mimosa - People say this smells like roses.  I think it smells like champagne, but that's why the fragrances of Scented Pelargoniums are so subjective.  This one makes lovely pink flowers.

Next is Rober's Lemon Rose.  It definitely smells like Lemon Rose!  And pretty pink flowers too.

Lemon Fizz - Not a very strong scent, but still pretty anyway.

Aroma - Smells like... apples?  VERY strong scent!  Delicious!

True Rose - Very fancy.  Strong rose scent and beautiful leaves to boot.

Nutmeg - Another one with a VERY strong scent.  Dainty white flowers.  Spicy!

Chocolate Mint - Large fuzzy leaves and a strong Minty fragrance.  I'm told this one prefers shade.

Gray Lady Plymouth - Her leaves are elegant and fancy.  To me, she smells like minty rose.  One of my favorites in the garden with dainty pink flowers.

Since the Victorians used Scented Pelargoniums in many recipes, I thought I'd give it a try.  It was a chilly overcast day, so I decided to bake some Attar of Roses leaves into a vanilla cake and... Wow!  Can I just tell you how amazing this this made the house smell while it was baking.  The taste has just enough hit of the rose scented leaves.  Delightful!

Besides my recent obsession with Scented Pelargoniums, here is a run down on the rest of the patio garden, much of which is also fragrant.

Bee Balm is beginning to bloom.

Top hanging pots:  Ivy, Lavender-Munstead, Catmint and Spanish Lavender

Maidenhair Fern, Clematis and Attar of Roses Scented Pelargonium

Bottom far left:  Spear Fern, Bird Cage:  Rabbit Foot Fern

Bottom shelf:  Dragon Wing Pink Begonia, Yellow Rigers Begonia, Catmint

Front pot right:  Gray Lady Plymouth Scented Pelargonium

Bottom row between shelves:  Helleborus (which is about done blooming for the season).

Bottom Shelf:  Chocolate Mint Scented Pelargonium, Pink Elf French Hydrangea

Two Miniature Roses (I've had these forever.), 

Dusty Miller - I love the silvery gray foliage.

Thyme, Rosemary, Catnip

Sweet Mimosa, Lemon Fizz and Orange Fizz Scented Pelargoniums

Helleborus at the end of its bloom.

Campanula - Canterbury Bells in between bloom cycles and Tuberous Begonia

Middle shelf:  Thyme (on shelf hiding behind the long Mugwort branch), Parsley, Chocolate Mint

Peppermint, Cilantro, Catnip

Foxglove (I cut the spike since it went to seed after its bloom time.), Rober's Lemon Rose Scented Pelargonium

Sweet Peas - This was a large potted vine but I cut it back and noticed that it had set seed and had already started to grow a new vine.  We'll see how long they last.  I image when the heat comes, they won't be very happy.

In the basket is Lily of the Valley, Fuchsia, English Primrose, Oregano

Two Miniature Roses, Fairy Primrose, Mugwort and Patchouli

Foxgloves, True Rose Scented Pelargonium, Foxgloves

Hanging Pots:  Lavender-Munstead, Lavender-Munstead and Mandevilla

On the Potting Table back to front:  Yarrow - Apple Blossom, Yarrow - Moonshine

Aroma Scented Pelargonium, Dill

Lemon Verbena, Nutmeg Scented Pelargonium

In the front Foxgloves, in the background against the doors, Hollyhocks - "Henry Eight Pink"

Lemon Callas are coming up in the pot with Feverfew and there are some Forget Me Nots hidden in there too that sprouted up from seed.

On the ground:  Two Lavenders (I think they are Hidcote), Borage

Basil, Sweet Marjoram (I love the smell of this herb,) Rue and in the front is Chamomile

Provence French Lavender, Lavender Grosso and English Lavender

White Sage, Lavender Lady, Bee Balm

And here are some other views of the patio in both directions:

I should note that under the potting table is a basket full of Nasturtium.  

I didn't get a good photo of them.

This is a Freesia bulb I stuck in with the Foxgloves.  I guess it found it's way out and decided to bloom.  Very fragrant!

And lastly, here is a picture of the swallowtail caterpillar who has decided to make a buffet out of my Dill.  To date he is now in the Chrysalis stage, soon to become a beautiful swallowtail butterfly.

If you have visited my blog and made it this far, I'd love to hear from you, especially if you are a small space urban gardener like me or if you love Scented Pelargoniums!