MAN HAS IT BEEN A HOT summer here in the Pacific Northwest. Or maybe I'm just getting older and more sensitive to the heat. Or both. At any rate, I sure enjoy my mornings and evenings in the garden when temperatures are cool enough to keep me from dying of heat stroke.
Through the years, one of my better gardening choices has been to get several trees planted. The shade they provide is so welcome this time of year. I think the plants appreciate it too.
Here is this week's selection of random photos:
 |
| Oriental lily and Phlox paniculata |
 |
A cluster of double Knock Out roses
in front of Panicum 'Shenandoah' |
 |
| A Dahlia that survived the winter. |
 |
Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus 'Aphrodite')
with unopened Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) buds. |
 |
My fragrant Pelargonium 'Filbert' has a really nice flower.
The plant has gotten huge. It likes the heat. |
 |
| Phlox and more Phlox. I think this is 'Eva Cullum' |
 |
| And this Phlox I bought last year. Wow, right? |
 |
| Hydrangea paniculata 'Pinky Winky' is beginning to blush. |
 |
I absolutely drool over these 'Cherry Brandy' Rudbeckias. Love this plant!
The flowers last for weeks. |
 |
| A sweet looking Cosmos 'Double Click Cranberry' |
 |
| Hardy Fuchsias... |
 |
| Joe is getting ready to bloom. Yay! |
 |
Darmera peltata really likes water but check out those leaves.
How can I say no to that? |
 |
| That's 'Cityline Paris' Hydrangea and variegated comfrey in front. |
 |
The dark leaves are Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae, a fabulous ground cover
spurge. The left side is my wheelbarrow with various succulents. |
 |
| Random shots of the garden. The Agastache in the foreground has been blooming since May. |
 |
| The jungle, looking south. |
 |
| Lots of lovely chaos |
Before I log off, I am pleased to announce that two plants I was sure were dead surprised me this week by looking very much alive.
The first is this:
 |
Signs of life on my ten year old Star Jasmine. (Trachleospermum jasmoides).
After February's freeze, I was sure it was dead. In May I cut it back to the ground but
because there are a bunch of hardy cyclamen growing here I didn't dig it up. Fancy that! |
 |
The second plant that emerged from its slumber recently is this
4 O'clock (Mirabilis jalapa). This is a photo from last year. It's not blooming yet
but with this heat, it won't be long. |
My apologies for not getting around as much these days. I promise to visit your blogs soon.
Wow! Your garden looks fabulous! Where did you learn that hate speech? (Housework) That's something we don't talk about at our house until the last fall bulb has been planted and all of the tender plants have been brought inside.
ReplyDeleteI love your jungle and chaos!! That's what I wish for. It would be difficult to pick a favorite from these beautiful plants. Please do keep posting these lovely pictures.
ReplyDeleteAhh, an Oregon gardener who is not afraid of PINK! I love it. Great views of your garden -- I keep trying to peek around the corners of the page to see more!
ReplyDeleteI'm prepared to argue that you have the largest collection of pink flowered plants in the west - or possibly the entire US. That Dahlia looks florescent!
ReplyDeleteLots and lots of lovely colour and interesting plants. I adore that Rudbeckia 'cherry Brandy' and it is on the (very long!) list !
ReplyDeleteHydrangea 'Pinky winky' is lovely too - just a shame about the name !
It's always interesting to see which plants flourish in certain weather conditions. You clearly have some sun worshippers there!
"Lots of lovely chaos." So my style, but I need to work on my gardens to ever have them looking like yours. I LOVE your colors, they touch my heart.
ReplyDeleteLove your heart rocks, and all of your bibelots. I leave happy every time I virtually visit your wonderful gardens.
Happy Gardening ~ FlowerLady
Your garden looks gorgeous Grace!Lovely phlox and dahlias!Also I liked your gravel paths, they combine well with plants in your garden.
ReplyDeleteHappy garden mornings and evenings!
Hello, dear Grace! been mia here, but hoping to get back to some of it. Not sure where the days go as I can't seem to get done what I plan for the day. Perhaps I'm slowing down. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe most beautiful garden as always! and that Cosmos is disgusting (-ly beautiful).
Hope your summer is going well. Have missed "seeing" you.
Grace, your gardens are lovely and graceful. Bad pun I know, but they really are just that. It has been really hot in Portland this summer. I know since I was there. It was as hot as Oklahoma. We're having a cool day today.~~Dee
ReplyDeleteYour gardens are absolutly gorgeous! I am so glad that the two plants came back. That is always a great surprise!
ReplyDeleteOh Grace your views are stunning...it has been wet and cool here but I don't mind. I adore the contrast of the bright green leaves and bright pink of Filbert!
ReplyDeleteWhen you get a chance stop by the new blog too...new post tomorrow.
We may be sweltering in the heat, but your garden is obviously loving it.
ReplyDeleteWow! Everything is so beautiful and lush. Your milkweed buds and Echinachea entranced me! Dahlias have come a long way! Unfortunately, here they have to be dug and replanted every year. I'm too lazy:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
It's been the strangest weather this summer. We're way cooler than normal ~ probably having more like the temperatures you're used to ~ I miss the heat. Our winters are so long if I don't get hot enough in the summer, I feel like I've been "cheated" out of summer!
ReplyDeleteLovely garden, blooms & photos Grace. Keep cool.
So many gorgeous plants, and a wonderful layout to everything. I'm very envious! Thanks for sharing, I found you at Fishtail Cottage and am now following along. :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Grace, always a delight to meet a fellow gardener! Your garden is gorgeous!! I have got to get that red Rudbeckia. I have a Limelight just in bud, but would love a Pinky Winky. Thanks so much for the tour. Enjoyed it immensely! Hopped over from Tracies garden party. Now a new follower.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
Fabulous, as always! I love how lush and exuberant your garden is. I seriously need that comfrey in my garden! :o)
ReplyDeleteI agree--housework is a low priority, especially with a garden as impressive as yours--wow! I'm so happy for you that those two plants revived. That's a good lesson in waiting and patience, because they can often surprise us. Beautiful, welcoming garden you have there, Grace!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Grace--your garden is always such a pleasure in pink. I am particularly struck by the gorgeous Phlox. I have the same variety (the incestuous one!), but would like more. I'll have to go looking....thanks as always.
ReplyDeleteHow do your gardens continue to look better all the time? Even when you've bee reworking areas?? I would love to just sit with you in there someplace! :-) I also would love to have a little pergola/arbor somewhere... Very cute idea to hang the windows! Hugs!
ReplyDelete