In response to all the interest and questions about my new rainbarrel, here are the details. My Very Indulgent Spouse (VIS) ordered this rainbarrel from Gardener's Supply Company and gave it to me for Christmas.
We had to wait until spring to put it up. As with any rainbarrel, it's best to have it slightly elevated so that it is easier to get a watering can under the spigot near the bottom. This 65-gallon rainbarrel also has a hose with a shut off valve attached to an outlet on the bottom of the rainbarrel. VIS sawed off the downspout and helped me attach the hose. The top of this rainbarrel has a small planter into which I had to drill drainage holes.
I don't think I'll put any plants in there unless it is a succulent, as the planter isn't very deep. I haven't had a chance to try out the spigot or the hose yet, as it's been raining. Often. All that rain has benefited the woodland garden. It is now filled with flowers and foliage.
The native wildflower Dodecatheon media alba (Shooting Star) is in bud.
Next to it, the native Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) is in full bloom.
I wish it wasn't ephemeral, as it has such wonderful foliage. The other Dicentras have also started blooming. This is 'King of Hearts,'
and this is 'Zestful.'
Neither of these is ephemeral, but instead will bloom throughout the summer.
The last of the Daffodils have bloomed.
Pictured here from left to right are 'Mt. Hood,' 'Stainless,' and 'Honeybird.' Under the Crabapple Tree, which is full of buds, is the latest of all, Narcissus 'La Vie En Rose.'
I hope it fades completely before the Crabapple blooms, as the color of the cup clashes horribly with the pink of the Crabapple flowers.
The pink of the foliage of Polemium reptans 'Stairway to Heaven'
matches the stem of Clematis viticella 'Venosa Violacea.'
Epimedium 'Lilafee'
The native wildflower Dodecatheon media alba (Shooting Star) is in bud.
Next to it, the native Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) is in full bloom.
I wish it wasn't ephemeral, as it has such wonderful foliage. The other Dicentras have also started blooming. This is 'King of Hearts,'
and this is 'Zestful.'
Neither of these is ephemeral, but instead will bloom throughout the summer.The last of the Daffodils have bloomed.
Pictured here from left to right are 'Mt. Hood,' 'Stainless,' and 'Honeybird.' Under the Crabapple Tree, which is full of buds, is the latest of all, Narcissus 'La Vie En Rose.'
I hope it fades completely before the Crabapple blooms, as the color of the cup clashes horribly with the pink of the Crabapple flowers.The pink of the foliage of Polemium reptans 'Stairway to Heaven'
matches the stem of Clematis viticella 'Venosa Violacea.'
Epimedium 'Lilafee'Some people think them weeds, but I love the little Violets in the lawn.
After all, it's our State Flower.What is turning out to be a weed is Anemone nemorosa.
A very pretty thing, but it chokes out other plants, and then goes dormant, leaving a large blank space in the border.Out front, the Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa unknown) is, well, flowering.
I drastically cut it back early in spring, and I'll be training it into an espalier (hopefully). It was already here when I bought Squirrelhaven, and had become massively overgrown.It's fitting that it is raining as April takes its bow. This has been a very good April here, one of the best. I'm sad to see it go, but there's much to look forward to in May, which Carol considers the best month of the year here in the Midwest.
32 comments:
Neat rain barrel.......your gardens are filling in nicely.
I leave the violets, too, though I accidentally pulled out the one blue/white one I had. Doh!
The rain barrel is awfully cute. I'm so glad the manufacturers are getting away from the utilitarian shapes.
The Dicentras are lovely! My spectabilis is starting to bloom and eximia is poking its head above ground, although getting rather soaked today...
Yah, wildflowers! I wouldn't put any plants in the top of the rain barrel; you will get water overspill there and succulents would probably drown. Having a NES (non-existant spouse), I made my own rain barrels. :)
We are told a bit of rain is on the way, but I fear it will be sprinkle & be the last rain until next fall. I'm still getting used to the rhythm of California gardening compared to Chicagoland. And so, your Anemone nemorosa turns weedy, while mine is getting ready to go to sleep for the next 7 months. (Love the rainbarrel!)
It is a good looking rain barrel! I have a black utilitarian type from Whole Foods! MMD, your woodland is delightful...I still love the green fence! gail
Your Flowering Quince looks really nice on the trellis. I had never thought of doing that. What a space saver. The last half of April has been good for us too. Lots of nice rains and no serous freezes. It's hard to believe tomorrow is May day. Winter lasted forever but the spring is flying by.
That first photo with with all the blue is just lovely.
Marnie
I love the water butt. Nice blog.
I've been looking at those rain barrels in Gardener's Supply. Will have to get one someday, though I haven't found one that I like the looks of yet. Lovely pictures of your yard, too!
Yep, that is a dandy rain barrel. I wish I had a rain barrel. Like you say though there hasn't been that much need for one yet. There will come a time you will be thrilled to have it.
Your garden looks so pretty with those dainty blooms. Of course the Quince looks robust. It will be interesting to see how you train it.
Quite jealous of your rainbarrel. Very jealous of your VIS.
Very encouraging: all the flowers blooming for you have yet to open for me. It's a taste of what's to come!
That rain barrel is wonderful! We are getting ready to get one to with a rain chain to feed the rain garden instead of the downspout we have now. You do indeed have a Very Indulgent Spouse.
What really piqued my attention was the Epimedium. I have one of those (different variety) in my garden and it is performing nicely. Maybe I'll get some more kinds.
I have very mixed feelings about violets. They are beautiful, they smell divine, they taste good and look cool in salads. They make a wonderful ground cover. But they have delusions of grandeur in a spot with good soil (like a perennial bed) and will quite effectively stifle all other competitors if you let them get away from you. If that happens, you can kiss your hostas and other shade loving perennials goodbye. They are similarly detrimental to day lilies, although it takes a little longer for them to completely kill them. "A little violet goes a long ways," is my motto.
On the other hand, I love them in my lawns, I enjoy the little faces looking up at me from amongst the grass, clover, plantain, bluets, creeping charlie and all the other things that comprise my "lawn". They don't mind being mowed, and in that venue the other plants can fight back very effectively.
I really prefer your rain barrel to my more utilitarian green one from Gardener's Supply. I may yet sell it and get a more attractive one!
Wonderful rain barrel, but I managed to tear my eyes away and admire your garden too. Beautiful.
That is a very handsome rain barrel you have at Squirrelhaven. You also have some outstanding blooms right now. I love the violets, too, and don't consider them weeds at all.
Carol, May Dreams Garaden
Three cheers for your VIH! :-) I so would love a rain barrel or two!! Something to dream about for the moment. I love the photos of what's happening in your gardens. I finally have a polemonium that has returned after having been planted the year before. It's not variegated, but I don't care!! We have had a wonderful April. Happy Spring!
Your rain barrel is very stylish, coordinating well with many of your flower pots, no doubt. Your woodland garden is looking very nice in April.
Your woodland looks great - so many lovely plants in there. We've hardly had any rain at all for a month, unfortunatley. We could do with some!
Anemone nemorosa grow in our forests here during April.
Katarina
MMD: I applaud your use of the rain barrel and it is such an attractive one! Things are popping up all over here and we share that great Dicentra which is one of my personal favorites.
Thanks for the info on the rainbarrel, MMD. I've noticed lots of garden centers are carrying them now, but yours has to be the most attractive one I've seen. Of course, there isn't much need for a rain barrel right now...parts of my garden have very wet feet:)
Your garden is looking so lush and green! The dicentras are beautiful; I'm hoping I have better luck with them this year.
Those of us who have a VIS are fortunate in and out of the garden. Everyhthing is looking great.
Very attractive rain barrel. I bet it is getting lots of use lately with all this rain. I simply adore your woodland garden plants. Those celadine poppies are most happy! Your white quince may be 'Jet Trail', the white ones are very nice! Now on to May and more happy gardening for you.
Darla - it's that time of year when I realize that I don't have as much space left planting as I thought.
Diane - it's about time we're getting choices in the style of rainbarrels.
ROR - it's so weird, my lawn actually squishes. A week and a half ago there were cracks in it.
Monica - I've decided against using the planter. I'm imagining soil washing into the barrel & clogging up the works.
Alice Joyce - I hope you get some rain out there. We have more than our fair share.
Gail - taking a page from the Chicago Flower & Garden show, you could wrap that barrel in chicken wire & grow climbers on it to hide the utilitarian nature.
Marnie - the Quince, thorns & all, was encroaching on a path. It was either pull it to the wall or pull it out.
Hi, Garden Tips, thanks for visiting!
VW - I'd say buy more than one. This one is full already. (It has been raining a lot, but still...)
Lisa - yes, I will be using the barrel. Even last year, when it rained all spring & summer, it failed to rain for about 3 weeks in August.
LGF - VIS is definitely a keeper!
Kathy - I know that feeling, when I was looking at photos of these things on Gail's blog.
HMH - I like your maxim, "A little violet goes a long way." I am constantly restraining them in the garden.
Cindy - keep it and just add on a better looking one. I'm starting to think you can never have too many rainbarrels.
Victoria - thanks!
Carol - should we form a Violet appreciation society (VAS)?
Shady - you should give Polemium 'Stairway to Heaven' a try. Much easier to grow than 'Brise d'Anjou' or 'Snow & Sapphires.'
Jan - sometimes it all comes together. (Not very often.)
That is a super fancy rain barrel!
MMD, if it took the purchase of a rain barrel to get a wet spring, get another next year. :) All of your spring flowers are so luch and lovely, they must bring you lots of joy. I am so with you on the wild violets. I enjoy them almost as much as the 'planted' flowers.
A very nice looking rain barrel MMD. Mine are more practical than attractive. Lucky you to be getting ample amounts of rain. I would love some right about now. There is a chance this week for some, cross your fingers! :)
Hi MMD, thanks for showing us the details of your rainbarrel. It is so much more attractive than the others I have seen, including my own Christmas present. I like the hose attachment too. Your garden is certainly vibrant and full of beauty. Personally, I love orange and pink together. :-)
Frances
What an impressive group of plants nicely combined! I've found that Lilac Fairy (Lilafee) Epimedium to be the most prolific of all my various varieties. It has been divided multiple times and every group seems to attain a mature size in the blink of an eye.
Tina - thanks for the tentative ID of the Quince. I'll look it up.
Ms. Wis - I wish my Lilafee Epimediums were prolific. They've gotten a bit bigger over the years, but not enough to divided & spread around.
Your husband is very generous and has good taste in rain barrels. This is one of the nicest ones I've seen! I've seen a few, and most of them are all elevated and now I know why!
I enjoyed seeing photos of your garden, especially the flowering Quince- that is a gorgeous plant.
Shirley
Your spring is in full swing for sure! LOVE that rainbarrel...you are a lucky gal to have such a thoughtful hubby!
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