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Wednesday 5 November 2008

Summer Wine and Dream Catcher

I would love to be saying 'I'm drinking summer wine and doing some dream catching !" and believe me this weather today has been so amazing it seems like summer and I should be sitting on the deck drinking wonderful wine. But hey .. reality of today is hubby and I did "clean-up" which meant a lot of grunt work .. pulling down of vines no longer wanted in certain areas .. picking things out of my hair and top is a scary aspect of it.
However .. to come to the point !
Summer Wine Ninebark .. how do I rate it as a shrub ? .. I LOVE IT !!! .. this is the one that hasn't had problems with powdery mildew .. the colour it changes to in the Autumn is AWESOME .. just look at these pictures !
All summer it kept its very dark hue as it was .. but to come to this burgundy conclusion is always a delight to me .. I would recommend this shrub to everyone ! : )


Yes .. it does have a few spots but it isn't a problem .. we have had temperature swings to shock it with .. I have to cut it a bit of slack when it comes to that .. it is still so beautiful !
I moved "Dream Catcher" Kolkwitzia close to Summer Wine .. hoping that when DC grows up it will show off it's own amazing colours in contrast to SW .. I see things in my gardener's mind's eye and cross my fingers that such marriages do work out with a little time and effort ? ..

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your summer wine is lovely. Gorgeous, rich color. It was summery weather here today as well -- 22C just after lunch time. :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Joy, I have Summer Wine too and love it just as much as you do. Mine is in the black garden, so is not getting much in the way of contrast from its neighbors like your sweet dream catcher. That sounds like a perfect dreamy combo. I did like it paired with the red flowers of crocosmia 'Lucifer'. It is really living up to the hype.
Frances

Gail said...

I do like these shrubs! I can grow them (!) but wonder how very much sun they would need? The Nine Barks have the best color these days!

Gail

Aunt Debbi/kurts mom said...

That is a very pretty shrub Joy. I wonder if it can take our heat?

Anonymous said...

Looks like a beautiful shrub Joy. I adore burgundy foliage and this one has exceptional color. Hopefully your union of plants is a happy one. :)

Anonymous said...

What are you doing with my plants in your garden? I always want what you have. Thanks for picking me today. Did Emma talk you in to it. She has a thing for me. Your garden looks sooo good. I was busy today taking more Autumn photos. I can't get enough of that stuff.

Katarina said...

That's a great-looking shrub! The shape of the leaves and the colour - wow!
Katarina

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hi Katarina .. it is a favorite of mine .. now only if her sisters would behave and look as gorgeous as she does ! : )

Hi Anna .. Autumn is lingering on here too .. but I think we are going to have a weather shake up soon. Emma always wants her own way girl ! haha .. I'm hoping Center Glow and Coppertina will finally look good next Spring .. I want all three Ninebark looking amazing at the same time for once ! haha

PG .. if only it would work out the way I have it pictures in my imagination ? .. how many times tdo gardeners think that I wonder ? : )

Debbie .. I wonder if it would too .. you have such extreme weather it is a bit iffy isn't it ? .. hey President Aunt Debbie ? haha

Gail .. Summer Wine seemed to hit the ground running from the moment I put it in the garden .. the problems I have been having with her sisters has really stumped me .. I'm hoping this Spring they will also show themselves off finally ?

Frances .. if only I had room to do theme gardening .. yes it would be great in an all dark garden ! .. It drew me in and convinced me Coppertina and Center Glow would be stunning .. hopefully next year they will be and the three sisters will be
fabulous !

Nancy .. wow ! I think you have had higher temps than us .. now for the big bang to happen ? .. I'm ready .. I think ?
I really do love this shrub .. the colour amazes me every year this time .. something nice to look forward to ! : )

Nola said...

That Summer Wine is magnificent; if Debbi gives it a try and has luck, I'll follow suit.

CIELO said...

Don't you just love autumn! Is my fav time of the year.... :) Your garden looks lovely.

cielo

Anonymous said...

Ninebarks are just amazing, aren't they, Joy? I don't think I've ever met a ninebark I didn't love. And I love dreamcatchers, too---in fact, we collect them---but in our case, we have the ones made by Native Americans to keep bad dreams away...

Anonymous said...

Nice combo! I'm officially jealous. My 'Monlo' Diablo Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Monlo') matures at about twice the size of your P. opulifolius 'Seward', or Summer Wine Ninebark. I'm doomed to a life of pruning, while you breeze along with the proper sized specimen, scaled for your yard.

I was in too much of a hurry to get this gorgeous plant 2-3 years ago, to investigate smaller hybrids. Of course, we now carry Summer Wine at the garden center!

I remain consoled, however, with the equally handsome burgundy foliage of 'Monlo'. Mine has coral overtones and edging, with the cold weather. Aren't they amazing with frost crystals?

Enjoyable post & photos! /Deb

Anonymous said...

I love shrubs with great autumn colors in my garden, too. Bavarian winters can be challenging, but we have been lucky these past two years and some of our shrubs, which were struggling at first here, have had time to catch up and should survive the winter now.
Andrea

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Andrea it is always a bit of a worry with some of our plants/shrubs/trees that could be a bit delicate until they are established. Waiting it out until they are stronger and we think will survive finally is touchy .. but when it works .. it is lovely isn't it ? : )

Deb .. so now I can say "officially" you are jealous of some of my garden babies ? .. hey, I have rushed into plants that weren't suited here either .. not a gardener alive has not done it I'm sure .. but we always have the option to change ? .. I'd like to see yours with the ice crystals .. must be gorgeous !!

'ben" .. I really do have a "thing" for Ninebark .. and I so hoping I can get Coppertina and Center Glow on track here because they will look spectacular too !
Yes .. 'dreamcatchers" .. my husband likes them and has one in his truck on the mirror .. makes it easier to find his truck too ? LOL

Hi Cieo .. Thank you ! I have met so many people that admit to their love of Autumn over other seasons .. it is great to hear .. I thought I was swimming against the tide with that one : )

Nola .. first I have to convince Debbie to try it (which I think I can) .. then she has to give it a test run for you to be convinced .. hey, wouldn't it be easier if the two of you at the same time went for it ?? LOL

Anonymous said...

The Summer Wine ninebark is a fabulous colour - so deep.
K

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hi karen .. it is a little gem for sure ! Thanks for dropping by : )

Anonymous said...

Joy ~ You missed my Monday 11/3 posting, complete with frosted Ninebark leaves (best if you click on pic, to enlarge)... and other frosty items. ~ Deb

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Deb I'm sorry ! I have fallen behind in catching up with blogs. I will go check on that and click on the pictures .. I know I forget sometimes to do that too .. thanks for letting me know !