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.
Perennial Garden Lover 
Posted by LindaLunda on September 24, 2009 at 2:07 am
HAPPY Birthday!!!! Ok.. not on the BIG day… but anyway!
That was a great birthdaygift!
What a famaly!
Lucky You!
Linda
Posted by Victoria on September 24, 2009 at 3:39 am
Happy birthday, Racquel! It sounds like your presents are going to be a huge source of enjoyment in the weeks to come. Best wishes, Victoria
Posted by kilbournegrove on September 24, 2009 at 5:27 am
Happy Happy Birthday Racquel. What great birthday presents. I have the Coppertina in my garden, it has the most amazing fall colour. You made a great choice.
Deborah
Posted by Kanak on September 24, 2009 at 5:37 am
What could be better than this gift for a gardener? And I think a sweet-smelling jasmine will be wonderful. I know you had a great b’day:)
Posted by fairegarden on September 24, 2009 at 5:45 am
Hi Racquel, now that is an excellent gift! The Coppertina should be fantastic in your garden too, I have Summer Wine and love it. That copper foliage made me wish I had gotten that one instead. Have fun with that arbor birthday girl! 🙂
Frances
Posted by Les on September 24, 2009 at 7:11 am
I hope you had a great birthday, and I like what your family got you. If you just plant annuals on it you can change them out if you end up not liking them. Whereas perennial or woody vines are a commitment and you would certainly want to be sure you like them before you put them in. (Can you tell I have been through this before?)
Posted by Joy on September 24, 2009 at 7:21 am
Racquel girl I love that bench arbor .. there is nothing like beautiful wood to compliment our gardens with eh ? I have Coppertina ..my luck with it has been bad .. it has suffered (along with Center Glow) from powdery mildew (I hate that stuff) .. so make sure you have this in a well “aired” area to keep that from happening .. I have 4 Ninebark .. and I absolutely love them but these two have given me problems. I just want make sure you keep an eye out for that ? .. other wise my two good ones are BEAUTIFUL .. and if you have no problem with Coppertina .. you will be amazed how gorgeous it will be for you !
Happy Birthday again girl : )
Joy
Posted by Linda at Meadowview Thymes on September 24, 2009 at 7:37 am
Love it Racquel! I have been trying to talk hubby into getting an arbor for the back, but there is just not enough room. So, I will enjoy yours!
Happy Birthday..and sorry I am a day late with my wishes. My life has gotten way too busy! 🙂
Posted by tina on September 24, 2009 at 8:18 am
Beautiful and a happy birthday to you!
Posted by Susie on September 24, 2009 at 8:29 am
What a nice birthday present Racquel! I think anything you put on it will look great!
Posted by Monica the Garden Faerie on September 24, 2009 at 8:29 am
Yay! It’s nice when family understands what gifts you will like and doesn’t give you crappy gifts like, say, diamonds, LOL! (Seriously.)
Posted by Janet on September 24, 2009 at 8:41 am
Great Arbor!! What a great gift. I know you will find the right vine to put on it.
I cannot believe you found a Coppertina at Lowes!!! GREAT bush. It almost sparkles. Sounds like you had a good birthday.
Posted by Marnie on September 24, 2009 at 9:35 am
You have trained your family well. Gifts for the garden are always my favorites. We have a ninebark here at work and it’s a great shrub.
Marnie
Posted by Building Materials Supplies on September 24, 2009 at 10:24 am
Happy Happy Birthday Racquel.
Posted by Gail on September 24, 2009 at 10:53 am
Racquel, What a thoughtful family! They chose an absolutely perfect gift for you and your garden. It will look beautiful covered in flowering vines! Climbing roses with clematis climbing over them is classically beautiful! gail
Posted by Darla on September 24, 2009 at 11:34 am
Happy Belated Birthday Racquel!!! Great gift!!!!!! Can’t wait to see how beautiful your choice of vines makes it!!
Posted by Daphne Gould on September 24, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Happy belated birthday. It looks like a wonderful gift.
Posted by Miss Daisy on September 24, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I hope you had a wonderful birthday and how spectacular to get an arbor as beautiful as that! What a wonderful gift! You will always remember this birthday each day you walk under the arbor.
Posted by Racquel on September 24, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Thanks everyone for you wonderful birthday wishes. I can’t wait to get this area planted next spring with the vines I choose for it. It’s going to make a beautiful addition to my garden. Even though I won’t have time to respond to each & every comment today, I will be around shortly to visit all your blogs.
Posted by Rose on September 24, 2009 at 9:16 pm
What a lovely gift, Racquel! This will look beautiful wherever you put it. I bought myself a metal arbor and bench a week ago with a gift certificate I received for my birthday in June. Now I’m trying to figure out where to put it! Maybe we should compare notes about what types of climbers to plant. I am definitely leaning toward some Sweet Autumn. You’ll love that ninebark, too. My non-gardening son and daughter-in-law planted one last year, and it’s really grown this year; it’s a lovely shrub.
Posted by Kathleen on September 24, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Happy Birthday Racquel!!!! Looks like you had a fabulous day. The arbor is gorgeous ~ you will really enjoy it in your garden. If you want to try an annual vine on it, consider the Cup & Saucer vine ~ it is a vigorous grower and the blooms can’t be beat. Coppertina is another great choice. I’ve been admiring it at our Lowes too but don’t know where to put one?!! I bet it will do well in your garden. Gifts for the garden are great, aren’t they?!!!
Posted by Sue on September 24, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Happy birthday, Racquel,
I meant to come tell you as soon as I got the email from blotanical, but if I don’t do something right away, I may end up forgetting.
Well, I’m glad you had a good one! What great gifts! You did great with your mad money.
Posted by Racquel on September 24, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Thanks Rose, Kathleen & Sue for the Birthday wishes. Looks like we both got what we wanted for our gardens Rose, it will be fun comparing what we choose to plant. I think SAC would be a lovely addition to yours, it needs to be sturdy though cause it’s a massive vine. Thanks for the suggestion of Cup & Saucer Vine Kathleen, I’ve been admiring the blooms on other blogs all season. I think I know exactly where I’m putting this Coppetina. It will be a surprise for the rest of you.
Posted by Ginger on September 25, 2009 at 12:51 am
What an awesome gift! Happy belated birthday!
Posted by Balisha on September 28, 2009 at 10:02 am
Hi Racquel,
i want to wish you a happy belated birthday. The gift is over the top. Can’t wait to see pictures next year. Hope you had a wonderful day.
Balisha ((hugs))