Thursday, June 5, 2014

Floral Fridays....foliage...the backbone of the garden

 I look closely at foliage in the garden.  It supports the blooms and remains when they fade, so for that alone, I think that foliage deserves praise and attention.





~my redbud forest pansy transplanted to a sheltered area and thriving~



~sedum after the rain~



~knotweed with its striking variated leaves~



~the fuzzy texture of coreopsis against the dwarf viburnum and weigela~  



~lungwort~



~jackfrost~



~Creeping Jenny~



~swaths of green on a garden walk~




~coleus supporting the back of this flower bed~





~mass plantings to create a serene feeling at a local park~



Happy Gardening!



Floral Fridays is a monthly photography project with different themes each month. This series is about fun and taking time out to smell the flowers. To play along, please email Trishie (trishie@underlockandkeyblog.com) for next month's theme.





41 comments:

  1. You said it so well Nicole! Foliage certainly deserves praise and glory. You have showed off just how beautiful leaves are with their many different shapes, colours and textures. Great post!

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  2. Your garden is lush this time of year with all the different shades of green foliage. It reminds me of the garden at my old address. It was a large plot over 100ft long and unattended for 10yrs. Over the 13 yrs I was there I filled every type of space with ground covers shade loving plants. Basically put in hundreds of plants.
    One thing i could never grow where hostas but theres nothing stopping me admiring yours x

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  3. Lulu is getting better and better about leaving my plants alone so maybe my garden will soon be as lush as all the greenery you showed.

    Summer is just around the corner and your garden must be looking wonderful!

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  4. Wow you really captured some beautiful foliage and so many different shades. love the photos with the water droplets. have a fab weekend ! x

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  5. You are so right Nicole, foliage is the backbone, the most important the garden. This is a very good and interesting post in which you show us the possibilities. Some striking combinations, different shapes and colours. Very well done!
    Wish you and your family a wonderful happy weekend!

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  6. Wow- It is really looking good in your garden. I love all your foliage but have never heard of knotweed. Everything looks great!!!! xo Diana

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  7. What beautiful foliage. I especially like that unusual sedum, I've never seen one like that before. It makes mine look positively tame! I hope you have a lovely weekend Nicole, with a little gardening. CJ xx

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  8. I love all the plants. Making a list for next homes plants. Just finished planting shrub in our yard.

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  9. Beautiful photos, Nicole! Foliage can be so interesting, both their color and texture. You've done a great job capturing thisr beauty!! Enjoy your weekend, Friend!!

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  10. Beautiful foliage! Love the color, shape and pattern. Very nice!

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  11. You are so right foliage really never gets the top billing it deserves. Hugs to you,Meredith

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  12. oh Nicole, i've been away from Blogland for 3 weeks b/c I started my prac, but gee its lovely to see your Spring garden flourishing again!
    I hope you are well my dear xxx

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  13. So many people go for the wow of the blooms, they miss out on some of the neatest color and textures from the leaves. Your garden is certainly full of interesting foliage, just spectacular! Have a great weekend with the family!
    Liz

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  14. so much green and prettiness right here! loved how we got to give some foliage the attention it deserves for this months floral friday :)

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  15. You're so talented, Nicole. I never get tired of seeing shots of your beautiful, well-planned garden.

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  16. Gosh Nicole, the beauty of your garden never ceases to amaze me. Your photos really highlight the interesting variety and beauty of foliage and I love how you described it as the backbone of the garden. Have a wonderful weekend sweet lady!

    Rowena @ rolala loves

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  17. i am amazed at what a beautiful garden you have. You are so kind and encouraging too. Have a wonderful weekend.
    Arathi

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  18. Love the variety of foliage. Were all of those in your yard? My favorite was the sedum. I think that's why I grow herbs even though I rarely use them - I love the colors and variety of foliage they give. Beautiful photos.
    Cindy

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  19. Hi Nicole,

    Yes, you said it so well - I love all your wonderful plants in your garden and they are always there even if there aren't flowers blooming.
    Have a wonderful weekend dear friend
    hugs
    Carolyn

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  20. Oh how I wish my garden was as green as yours! You are such an inspiration to me in SO many ways! I don't think I can grow any of those plants in my zone.

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  21. Ooh...and the knotweed! Oh how lovely it would be to see your garden in person! xoxoxo Jen

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  22. Wow, that clump of Solomon seal is fantastic! Great selection of foliage pics overall. I have a soft spot for creeping jenny.

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  23. Really nice post, Nicole. I love all the different shades of green in my garden as well. Your photos are really delightful.

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  24. Hi Nicole,

    Such beautiful photos of fine foliage, pattern and textures!

    Happy weekend!

    Visiting via Floral Friday,
    Poppy

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  25. Everything is really lovely Nicole! Hope you're having a good weekend xx

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  26. So true - cant notice the "pretty flowers" without a complimentary background! So lush and green and calming!

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  27. It is so great to see what you have growing and what is growing locally to you. Interesting too to read the different names that you have for plants! I hope that you are having a good weekend in the garden!! xx

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  28. When I first started gardening I was just in love with all the flowers. But I've come to appreciate and love the foliage, as well. What you labeled as spiderwort (tradescantia) is actually pulmonaria, commonly known as lungwort because someone thought it looked like a lung. Geez, if my lungs look like that I'm doomed! Love the coreopsis against the viburnum. :o) Have a great week!

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    Replies
    1. Daaa thanks lady! HA! I got mom brain over here!!! I changed it! Happy day to ya!

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  29. your gardens are so gorgeous! just love seeing your garden

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  30. I'm a great fan of plants with beautiful and unusual (to me) foliage. Love your choices.

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  31. I'm not at all green fingered but I do love these gorgeous floral friday posts Nicole! I love the big green leaf with pink veins, so pretty and sure to brighten up a garden when the blooms are hiding! Wishing you a wonderful week, xxx

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  32. Dear Nicole, I have been so busy with life's happenings and have missed so many posts of yours and other of my favorite bloggers. Your gardens and flower beds are looking fabulous. I don't know how you keep things looking so good all the time with the growing family to care for and everything else. You amaze me!

    I hope your family will have a delightful summer

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  33. Hello Nicole! So I am a little late hopping along. I have had a busy weekend! The foliage in your garden is looking great. My mom has the variegated knotweed and it is such a cool plant. What did you plant in place of your red bud? I remember it was in your new front garden bed. I hope you have a great week!

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  34. I'm so green with envy. How did you manage to keep them so healthy and lush without any signs of pest or disease. Keeping a beautiful garden like that must take a lot of time and planning. Very impressive.
    Visiting through Floral Friday.

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  35. Hi Nicole, I am just catching up on my blog reading as I have been away for a week! The foliage in your garden is looking great, you do so well keeping everything in tip top shape. Isn't knot weed hard to control? It is just something I heard and have always avoided it...but it looks so pretty! I have never seen the plant before and imagined it to be an ugly thing. How wrong I am! we are trying to build up our foliage really, everything take so long to become established, but we are getting there slowly! Have a great week! :)

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  36. Great photos. Your coleus are doing great. Mine are SUCKING, as usual. I don't know why I can't grow the dang things. And that sedum. I need that sedum in my life.

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  37. Wonderful looking plants.

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  38. Your garden is so lush and full of life, you must be soooo proud of yourself Nic xxx

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