I’ll admit I’m a little quirky. I name my flowers. It’s the best way for me to keep up with them.
This rose bush is Jamie. It’s very old, older than Jamie. It’s been enjoying a new home and loving the additional sunshine it’s been getting since it was moved. In the background you can see a huge rose bush (Skylar) You can see my garden chairs in the background that were waiting for their spring annuals.
This is the newest member of the family. The clematis on the top left is very pretty, but it only blooms in the Spring. I wanted a summer to fall bloomer, so I recently got the new one on the right and planted it with the larger one. (I actually haven’t named this one yet)
These hens & chicks don’t have a name, but I suppose I should call them Gertrude. They are the offspring of my Nana’s plants from years ago.
Meet Sam. This is a tropical hibiscus that I’ve had for about 4 years. It belonged to my friend’s mom. (Deloris, but nicknamed Sam) It hangs out in the house in the fall and winter. It was time to give it some fresh soil this Spring. I love that it has several trunks. Each trunk blooms a different flower.
This is a calla lily. I don’t think it sprouted last year. I was surprised when I mowed last week, and saw it looking so happy! When I weeded and mowed in the Spring, I looked for it, but it was nowhere to be found. It was a Mother’s Day gift several years ago.
This is the rose bush that I mentioned earlier… Skylar. While I was teaching, one of my students gave me a gift card at the end of the school year. I bought this Scarlet Rose Bush, and named it after that little girl.
I of course don’t name my annuals. lol My flower of choice this year is Wave Petunias.
I have several of them hanging out in the front yard.
These are the peonies Jamie and Andy gave me for Mother’s day this year. The blooms have faded, but they are doing really well. There are three, and the are named, jamie, andy and lucy.
Do you say lilac or liloc? I say lilac. 
this is the offspring of a mother plant I’ve had for years. The mother plant got sick, and is now much smaller than this one. It bloomed early in the spring and smelled wonderful!
This tree makes my heart sing. It sprouted from a seed from a tree in my front yard. It grew right on the fence where it was protected from the lawn mower. It was moved to this spot in the Spring of 12 with so few roots. It was really chopped at by some helpful neighbors when some ugly bushes were dug up. I can’t believe it actually lived through it all. I babied it all last summer, making sure it got enough water. It now towers over the gutters. It reminds me of the song Honey… an oldie but a goody.
This rose is called curby. While my friend Cathy and I were cleaning houses, I got this from one of those houses, a curb find. It was doing really well in the early Spring, (left) but these days, it’s not so happy. (right)
I took down my tipsy pots this year. I left the largest one in place, and planted a wave petunia.
It’s hard to see, but this is another sprout from one of my pear trees. I’m saving it for Jamie if she wants it, if not, I’ll dig it up and give it to someone else. I just don’t have the heart to get rid of a perfectly good sapling.
These are some lilies that jamie gave me 2 years ago for Mother’s Day.
Last but not least, is Mae, a dwarf schefflera. I actually got this when my mom passed away over 20 years ago. It’s really the only house plant I’ve had for years. It sort of just hangs out in the house when it’s cold. As soon as the weather warms I put it outside, and it grows the best it can.
That’s everything except the 6 or so hardy hibiscus plants I have. They are just now about 2 feet tall, and don’t have any buds on them yet. Look for an updated post in about 6 weeks, showing all the growth.
It sure does take a lot of time keeping up with all these plants. I enjoy it, but honestly I’d rather be building a bench!
mary mary quite contrary – How does YOUR garden grow? Do you name your plants?
gail
see more gardens here:
Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.
Not only is your garden beautiful Gail, but I love that your plants have names and a story to tell! You most certainly do have a green thumb! I hope you get to sit back and relax and enjoy all the beauty!
Karen Propes
With a green thumb like you have, you can do anything you want. Wish you could come over to my house and help me get my rose garden going again. Thanks for sharing your beautiful garden.
Toqua's Crafts
I love your yard Gail! The memories are endless.
Thank you for sharing!
Pat
Well, well... doing some catching up, since my son came and got the computer and all it's little gremlins worked out.
FYI: ...use caution in the spam folder! My lesson learned.
So, I love your garden. I know you'd rather be building...but I think plants bring joy. You have lots of pretty flowers. I don't name my flowers, per say, but I DO plant in "Honor of" or "In Memoriam" ..and I know who they are planted for.
A memorial planting...
enjoy! Patricia
Felicia
I don't name my plants. But I do look for perennials I can plant in honor of someone who has passed on. So, for instance, I have a Just Joey hybrid tea rose in honor of a nephew we lost many years ago, and a New Dawn climbing rose for a niece who passed more recently. It's not only for the deceased, but I also try to find plants that honor friends and family in some way, either with their name or some name that describes them. But I'll never tell who my Passionate Kisses rose honors!! 🙂
gail@myrepurposedlife.net
hahaah! too funny Felicia! (about the Passionate Kisses Rose!)
I resisted the urge to buy a Hollyhock today! They are so pretty, but too tall for me to find a sunny spot for one. 🙁
have a great weekend!
gail
Diane
Oh my gosh. Love that you name your plants. I have never named my plants, but I sure do other things. We used to have a Koi pond, and all the fish had their names. 🙂 Your pics of the yard make me smile. I love flowers. I love to grow them. Guess I got my green thumb from my mother!!! Thanks so much for sharing all the great pictures. Good luck with your flowers and trees. 🙂
debbie
Hi, Gail - I loved seeing all of your beautiful plants.and so cute that you name them (and can remember their names,, LOL.. I'd forget). I dont have much of a green thumb but Ive got a few things planted in a little bed that are mostly things that were given to me by Jeff;s grandmother before she passed away. I have two houseplants that Im trying to keep alive right now that were from my Dad's funeral last month. Sure hope I dont kill them.
I've bought a few other little plants this year and put in pots.. tyring to brighten my yard up a little bit. I dont post on my blog much anymore, just dont have a lot of time, but Ill try and post a few pics that I've taken this year so far.
Have a good one ..
I know you're not in the area but here's a site that I've recently found on facebook that I've learned quite a bit from so far and actually met a really sweet lady that gave me some free blackberry bush plants. You might like the site anyway - https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/366110523506363/?fref=ts
gail@myrepurposedlife.net
thanks for your comment Debbie. I'm so sorry to hear about your dad.
Thanks for the facebook page link.
take carek,
gail
nova c.
love your plants/flowers. so cute that they all have names!
Valinda
Gail, love the garden tour. I especially appreciate your houseplant from your mother's funeral. You may have noticed two BIG plants in the office yesterday. The schefflera was from my mother's funeral and the Norfolk pine was from my father's. Dad's started as a tiny little thing from a mixed basket and my step-Mom grew it into the tree.
cassie
i love the watering can with hens and chicks! super cute!
Maxine
Hmm, I have never thought to name my plants, maybe partly because I don't know what some of them are. I got a bunch from a friend last year and they are all doing well. Yes, they do take time, but 5-10 minutes a day seems to do the trick. Love my honeysuckle all over my wood fence, my red hot pokers and all the lilies. You have such a nice variety of plants
Holly
I loved your garden tour and the fact that you name each plant. Great idea.
Terri
I'll be honest...I have never had much of a green thumb. You don't see a lot of flower "gardens" in Arizona, so I fit right in!
Love looking at your yard...can't wait to see your hibiscus...they are one of my favs and I have actually tried growing those here. They start out doing great...then one day they just sort of die off, I am sure it is just too hot here!