Garden: GBBD--September 2014

I'm late with this post, so I stole out for a few minutes to try and capture some blooms in the late afternoon sunlight.  

The "Autumn Joy" sedums are absolutely seething with bees.  I cut them back in early June, so they are just coming into bloom now.  One of the things I like best about this sedum is the range of soft colors mingling across the umbels.  Mine are mostly soft green, now, with light pinks and deeper rose hues advancing daily.

I enjoy the blooms on this Ammi visnaga "Green Mist"--they draw up into little balls as they age as do those of Daucus carota which are also called Queen Anne's Lace. Last year I was disappointed to find out that the blooms of Ammi majus "Graceland" don't do this.

Chasmanthium latifolium "Northern Sea Oats" is coming into its prime.  

In addition to these blooms, I have blooms on:  Rosa mutabilis, Lobelia siphilitica, Eutrochium dubium "Phantom" (also cut back hard in early June), Japanese anemone "Whirlwind", hardy geranium "Jolly Bee", Weigela "Sonic Bloom (TM) Pearl", Honeysuckle "Sweet Tea", Gaura, Alyssum, hardy fuchsias, Cyclamen hederifolium, and some re-bloom on Campanula poscharskyana "Blue Waterfall" and Alchemilla mollis.  

I'm still waiting for bloom on my newly planted Aster lateriflorus "Prince" and newly planted Ageratina altissima "Chocolate".  

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day is a monthly link party hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.  Take a moment to head on over there to see what is blooming in others' gardens around the world.

Garden: GBBD--June 2014

Well, I waited all day hoping for the opportunity to get a better batch of photos for this Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, but evening caught up with me and I'm going to go to the publisher with what I've got.

First up, an overview featuring the Amsonia "Blue Ice"--it's getting a little faded after a month of bloom (and a good beat-down by the rain during the past couple of days) but the blooms still look nice.  I really appreciate this tidy, pretty plant.

Faded Amsonia "Blue Ice" with a background of Centranthus ruber alba, spires of violet Adenophora Tashiroi, and Geranium "Jolly Bee"

Digitalis parviflora "Milk Chocolate".  Parviflora means "small flowered" and this is what you get.  Luckily, this is also EXACTLY the effect I desired.  I also like the sturdy, ramrod straight stems of this variety.  I can't imagine that they EVER need staking and they continue to add architectural interest to the garden long after the flowers have faded.

Digitalis parviflora with Cimicifuga and Geranium "Jolly Bee"

Hardy geranium "Jolly Bee" with a baby digitalis spike.

Cosmos atrosanguineus "Chocamocha" with Jolly Bee. My camera sure has trouble with the blue of the geranium.

A poor little lily--a single bloom on a spindly plant--is the first of its kind to bloom.  But, I like the placement among violet Adenophora Tashiroi, a dark Pennisetum setaceum Rubrum, and Sanguisorba officinalis "Red Thunder".  Some of the blooms on the sanguisorba are full, but most are a week or two from actually blooming.

Astrantia with Jolly Bee in the background.  I'm not sure which Astrantia this is--I purchased both Abbey Road and Hadspen Blood--but this variety is markedly earlier and more vigorous than the other.

So, that's about it for the front garden.  Around back, I've got Rosa "Mutabilis", campanulas, Persicaria polymorpha, Sisyrinchium "Lucerne", Aruncus, and Gillenia trifoliate (Bowman's Root) currently blooming.

To take a peek at what is blooming today in gardens all around the world, head on over to visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

Garden: GBBD--May 2014

It seems like everyone has something to show for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day this month--and I do, too.  

The unseasonal heat of the past couple of days has caused everything to rush into bloom.  Here's a quick tour arranged geographically--not everything that's in bloom, just a few highlights.

From the sunny front yard come the iris.  The brown one is called "Gingersnap" and it smells subtly like root beer.  Today was warm and, with so many blooms open, I noticed the scent just hanging in the air.  The purple iris is called "Cantina" and it often reblooms in the fall.

Unknown bi-color iris intermixed with Heuchera.

This Clematis chiisanensis "Lemon Bells" is newly planted on the back of the front yard fence.  I thought it would be lighter and more meadowy looking than the espaliered camellia that used to live here.  I found a great new spot for the camellia behind my garbage can enclosure.  It's a better placement--I swear!--even the camellia thinks so.

Around back, Alyssum forms nice mounds along the bottom of the planter wall.  Alyssum is a blue-collar plant, but it's really earned its place in the garden.  Alyssum is available early in the year, bulks-up quickly, flowers non-stop well into fall, isn't damaged by the occasional footstep, and it smells nice.  Winner!

Further along the wall, Sisyrinchium "Lucerne" has burst into bloom.  It won my respect last year for being tough as nails and continuing to bloom without cessation right until fall.

And here is Rosa mutabilis.  This is its first spring in my garden and I can't believe how many blooms it pumped out!

In the shady back yard, the Brunnera blossoms are fading just as those of Alchemilla are coming on.

And that's what I've got blooming.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day is hosted each month on the 15th by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.  Head on over there to see what is blooming, today, in gardens around the world.

Garden: GBBD--December 2013

Hey!  Better late than never, y'all.  Of course, a week of sub-freezing temps pretty much ended our floral display and a concerted search of the garden yielded...NOTHING.  So I tried to make something pretty out of the blooms I found.

*  Edited to add this photo for reference and comparison.  I think I like it better than than the below photo, but it doesn't harmonize so well with the whole photo story.

Hydrangea "Bombshell"

"Bombshell"

 H."Bombshell" with dwarf Deschampsia

Pennisetum "Hameln"

Sedum "Autumn Joy" with the pennisetum.

Rain on an ornamental cabbage.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens, is a celebration of what is blooming each month in bloggers' gardens around the world.

Garden: GBBD--November 2013

Yea!  Despite some really inclement weather today, I scrounged up a few photos for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, hosted each month by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.  

I've got fuchsias:

More fuchsias:

Camellias:

Campanula poscharskyana "Blue Waterfall"--makes a nice groundcover under alchemilla:

Leucanthemum "Shaggy" (I think?):

Alyssum:

These inmates of my son's garden (you'd think, maybe, I could have snatched that dead stalk out of the way. Maybe. But it is what it is.):

Japanese Anemone (A little ratty and just about the last one, I think.):

Well, that's about it.  There are still a few blooms on the Rosa mutabilis and a few buds.  Geranium "Jolly Bee" has a bloom or two, and Persicaria "Dragon's Eye" actually looks pretty fresh.  But, most of the garden is going down fast.  Notice...no wide views!

Until next time!