Yellow/Orange Garden

When I moved into this house, the neighbor whose yard borders my back fence was infamous in the neighborhood for neglecting his yard. He had allowed the strip that ran along our shared fence to become completely overgrown. Very little sunlight penetrated the weeds and saplings which also grew through the chainlink fence. Twice a year I trimmed everything that was growing through the fence. Amazingly, two Blaze rosebushes and some daylilies were managing to survive on my side of the fence. I tried all kinds of flowers but nothing else would grow there.

Then he decided to run for town council. Down came the dead tree that everyone had been sure was going to fall down and destroy our houses. The brush along the fence magically disappeared. An actual lawn appeared. I was thrilled. In celebration, I planted a lot of bright yellow and orange flowers in what had formerly been a gloomy spot in my yard. The first year they didn't do too well. The neighbor sprayed herbicide to rid his yard of the poison ivy that has plagued me since moving in (I'm very allergic) and all the plants on my side of the fence either died or were stunted. But in the years since I've had great success growing different kinds of flowers in a spot that had been barren for so long.

Along with the usual Bright Lights cosmos, Double Dwarf Jewel nasturtiums and calendulas that I always grow there I am trying some new flowers and retrying some others. Zinnias have always done well for me there. Of all the heirlooms I have tried, I am partial to the Persian Carpet variety. I know, not terribly old, but I still like them. I am trying the Tri-Color Daisies again. This is the third time, third location. If they don't work out again, I swear I will never plant them again. For a few years at least. And I am trying the Chinese Lanterns again. Second time, second location. Besides being heirlooms, I have fond memories of them from my childhood.

New this year are Harlequin marigolds from the 1870's, Blackberry lilies which aren't really lilies but a form of iris and saffron. I can't for the life of me remember why I ordered the saffron. I know I had a reason at the time. Just for fun, I am trying Medusa Ornamental peppers. They are really wild looking. I don't expect much from them because I have the worst luck growing anything remotely edible. Earlier this spring, I threw some Corn poppy seeds into the bed that I got for free and decided to make part of the great poppy experiment. They have germinated and are growing quite happily. My first poppies!

Tomorrow I will be tackling another of my color gardens, the Green garden.