Saturday, July 18, 2020

Summer Color on Display

The Phlox has been on a rampage this season. Sorry to say that the large Oak in this image died and this bed will be damaged when they take it down and grind the stump.

Another angle of the Phlox bed.

This is the back of the Phlox bed with yellow Black Eyed Susan, pink Loosestrife Lythrum, white Little Quick Fire Paniculata, and the glorious red Lobelia.

Lobelia, also known as Scarlet Flower is a vivid red showstopper. I finally found a location that it likes. I've grown it for years, moving it around the garden. Last year it did well in this location so I'm happy with the results. Hummingbirds love it. Keep it well watered as it doesn't like to get dry.



















This is a more diminutive Lobelia speciosa Starship Scarlet. It produces pink and red flowers and only grows to about 2 feet tall.






























A large bed of Black Eyed Susan's. Probably one of the easiest perennials to grow and happily self seed.

Phlox with Black Eyed Susan.

A large Phlox paniculata David on a relatively short stem. This is usually quite tall, around 3 to 4 feet.




















Another nice Phlox David bent from a rain storm with Liberty Hosta at the base.


































A nice bunch of Cleome hassleriana that have already gone to seed. Quite early and I'm not sure why.

Classic purple Echinacea.



































Large leaf white Calla Lily.



































Sum and Substance Hosta at peak bloom.

Russian Sage with a vivid red Crocosmia. Love these two together in the same bed.
































Yellow and orange Crocosmia. 



































Loosestrife Lythrum virgatum Morden Pink. Pollinators love this plant and unfortunately so do Japanese beetles.































A perfectly symmetrical Zucchini flower.
















A large Zuchinni ready to harvest. This image is deceiving as this was a foot long monster.

Squash blossom and fruit. Botanically speaking, squash are fruits, as they contain seeds and develop from the flower-producing part of a plant.

The first Peppermint Schnapps Hibiscus blooms of the season. These are a little lighter pink that usual.






























Cherry Choco Latte Hibiscus. These product very large, bright flowers.

































A nice little bed of mixed Zinnia that reseeded from last year and grew on their own. The white blobs are a Bobo paniculata hydrangea.




























This is a mishmash of plants that have grown outside the fence behind the garden at the forest edge. Cleome, Castor Beans, Basil, Iris and Digitalis. 

This is a short video showing the volume of pollinators on a White Moth Hydrangea at peak bloom. Click the little box in the right corner of the player to make it full screen. This gives you a much better view. 

This video shows a large bumble bee marauding through a Phlox. Click the little box in the right corner of the player to make it full screen. This gives you a much better view.



Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Early July fireworks in the garden


Bright Eyes Phlox (foreground) with Grenadine Phlox (background) starting to show off.

This Rosa Flower Carpet Amber really put on a show this season.

































A closeup of Amber.



































I thought this was an interesting angle through a large Agastache Golden Jubilee (Hyssop).

This is one of the best Acanthus displays we have had in this bed.

Russian Sage (purple perovskia atriplicifolia) and red Crocosmia.

I moved this Spigelia marilandica to a sunnier location and it was much happier. Still not as big and full as it should be but next year we'll have a solid display.

Classic purple Echinacea.



































You can't go wrong with a few Butterfly bushes (Buddleia davidii) in the garden. I decided not to trim the height on this one and its now about 8 to 10 feet tall.





























A large bed of Gooseneck Loosestrife (Lysimachia clethroides).

A closeup of a Gooseneck.


































The Grace Smoke Tree at peak "smoke." Cotinus Grace is a hybrid between American smoke tree Cotinus obovatus and Cotinus coggygria Velvet Cloak.



























A pair of perfect yellow Calla Lily.



































St. John's Wort Golden Rule (Hypericum calycinum).

































Loosestrife Lythrum virgatum Morden Pink coming into flower.

Light pink Astilbe. 




































Niobe Clematis still giving us a show.



































This is the flower of Nandina Domestica. These turn into poisonous red berries. This plant should be avoided if you have small children.



















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