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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Gardening Victories

Gardening is a challenge here.  We live at 6,880' elevation and have a 98 day growing season.  The winters are bitter, the winds howl, and we're in a drought.  Anything green is fair game to the hungry bunnies, voles and ground squirrels.  It's taken me a few years, but I am starting to discover what I can grow.

Did you know that peonies will grow at 10,000' elevation?
Mine are looking splendid.
 
 
Too bad they fade so quickly.
 
Sun Daisies (Osteospermum) aren't as flashy as the peonies,
but they've done well for me and bloom almost all summer.
 
Avalanche White
 
This spring I added the variety
Lavender Mist
It's listed as "marginally hardy" for our area,
so we shall see.  I don't know why this variety would be more tender.
 
I wintered over geraniums in the basement,
and they are doing well too.
 
The photo doesn't capture the color.
(Maybe I should say the photographer didn't capture the color)
They are somewhere between red, pink and purple.
 
Small victories, but victories nonetheless.
 
 
 

9 comments:

Calm, Forward, Straight said...

The joys of gardening in extreme climates. Your flowers are gorgeous.

Our palette for landscaping is very limited due to salt, thin soil and flooding sea water - we're at sea level. Geraniums and osteospermum do very well here, and my peonies came back from last years experiment.

There is a dark purple osteo that has been super hardy here... the yellow and orange ones are weak.

IanH said...

Your growing season is about the same as ours. Our elevation is only about 3000 feet. Icelandic poppies do well, and bloom all summer. They are basically self seeding and drought hardy. Hostas also seem to do well. I'm glad that you are finding stuff that you can grow.

Cricket said...

Had you thought of doing roses in a raised bed? We created a raised bed in the front of our house (because the clay sucks) and have eight roses growing. They are easy, require little water, and as long as you are careful with your original selection, should flourish year after year. Don't get tree roses. They die off at the splicing point because they can't handle the cold. And they will grow at elevation.

Lori Skoog said...

Looks to me like you are having a great season in spite of the drought. Do you grow any veggies?

Kate said...

Peonies are my most favourite flowers!

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Absolutely gorgeous !
I've always wanted to try overwintering Geraniums, rather than letting them die, maybe this year I'll give it a whirl !
~Jo

Lauren @ She Moved To Texas said...

Beautiful flowers! The only flowers I manage are roses that thrive in one tiny spot in my back yard :)

Ruth said...

Gorgeous.

fromsophiesview said...

Yes, flowers come so quickly and then gone in a flash. I guess that is why I take so many pictures of them from many angles. Love your garden flowers!!

Ron