Birthday Gifts

Birthday Presents 003

Yesterday was my birthday and my family got me this wonderful Arbor w/bench seat for the garden.  This is the spot I’m thinking of putting it.  I’ll dig out the grass so I can plant some type of vines to grow on it.  I’m still thinking about what that will be, some choices I have seeds for are:  an unknown Jasmine vine/white flowering Hyacinth Bean that Jamie and Randy sent me earlier this summer, Cypress  and Thunbergia.  Of course I could go with something more permanent such as a Clematis or Climbing Rose.  In addition, Grandma gave me some mad money (as she puts it) and I found this wonderful Ninebark ‘Coppertina’ by Proven Winners at Lowes,   otherwise known as Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Mindid’.  I saw this the other day when we went to pick up some plumbing supplies.  For sometime now I’ve been wanting a Ninebark for the garden, their foliage is gorgeous.  And you just can’t go wrong with a Proven Winners selection.  Here’s some info on this new addition to my garden:

  • Foliage emerges in spring a copper color
  • Transforms to a rich red in summer
  • Easy to care for, trim to maintain desired size
  • Hardy in zones 3-8
  • Full sun 
  • Adds interest spring -fall
  • 6-8′ tall x 5′ wide
  • Pink flower in mid-summer
  • Hybrid of  Dart’s Gold & Diablo
  • Drought tolerant once established
  • Good in mass plantings, perennial border or containers
  • Native to Americas
  • 2005 Award Winner 

Oh my Mom sent me some seed from her Zinnias that I think will look great in the Red Washtub container next summer.  You can see a picture of them here.