Finally, the temperatures have cooled down to a comfortable level. Last week, we had three days with highs at 106, 102 and 100 and several "cool-down" days in the high 90s. I think my cute and clever tagline, "Oregon--The New Texas" was starting to catch on.
Fortunately the heat was dry and only now, with temps in the 80s are we seeing a rise in the humidity and despite all the drama, the garden has remained fairly content.
I succumbed to plant-lust and purchased a Passionflower. This one is Zone 9 but I'm going to cover it and pray we have a mild winter. Here is the first bloom.
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| Passiflora 'Lady Margaret' |
The bees are going to town on the Clethra.
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| Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice' |
More flowers:
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| Red Four O'Clock (Mirabilis jalapa 'Red') |
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| Pink Monkeyflower (Mimulus lewisii x cardinalis) |
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| Hibiscus moscheutos |
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| Clerodendron bungei |
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| Clerodendrun bungei |
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| Clerodendrun bungei |
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| Rehmannia elata |
I wish you could see these Fuchsia blossoms in person. They're really tiny--fat and tiny and cute.
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| Fuchsia 'Delta's Angelique' |
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| Fuchsia 'Delta's Angelique' |
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| Dianthus caryophyllus 'Chomley Farran' |
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| Candylily (Pardancanda 'Sangria') |
I am without names for a bunch of new Dahlias, dang it. But I'm grateful they're blooming.
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| Dahlia NOID |
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| Dahlia NOID |
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| Dahlia NOID |
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| Phlox paniculata 'Becky Towe' |
My sister and I spotted this Silene at one of those "Dare-I-Go-There?" nurseries last year. Look how happy it is!
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| Silene schafta |
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| Silene schafta with Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' |
This Clemmy is new this year. I am so pleased that it's taking off.
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| Clematis x triternata 'Rubromarginata' |
And this Clemmy just keeps pumping out more blooms!
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| Clematis integrifolia 'Andante' |
This Amaranthus is getting long.
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| Amaranthus 'Dreadlocks' |
Leptodermis is blooming again.
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| Leptodermis oblonga |
Remind me to never buy Elephant Ear bulbs/tubers at Costco. I planted these last spring and finally the first leaf has budded out. Sheesh!
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| Elephant Ear (Colocasia sp.) |
Ditto for the second one in the box.
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| Colocasia sp. |
And now a few garden shots. The quality is not very good, my apologies.
Yes, it's a jungle out there. How's your garden growing?
Oh my gosh! I just love these blooms and shots of your garden. What a colorful, delightful place to visit every day.
ReplyDeleteMy two favorites are the candy lily and the dreadlocks.
Happy Gardening and have a wonderful week ~ FlowerLady
I'm calling my garden a 'Hot Mess'. Yours by comparison looks tidy and sharp! I am so thankful for this slight cooling trend, I'd be even more thrilled if there was rain attached. Maybe this weekend?
ReplyDeleteMy garden is a jungle, too. :o) I had to go on a search and rescue mission yesterday after pulling out some blue mist flower that was taking over to see if there was anything still alive in a section of one of the beds. So glad your temps have dropped. Your garden doesn't seem to have suffered. :o)
ReplyDeleteLove the 'Dreadlocks'! I'm glad the temps have moderated a bit for you. Our temps have cooled, too, and frankly we're having Pacific Northwest-type weather this week--highs in the high 70s and low 80s--which is a bit cool for us in August. But it's so comfortable. I noticed you have some reddish/pink blooms amongst the pinks. ;-) I love Fuchsias, too, and so do the hummingbirds. Such lovely flowers and creatures.
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks wonderful, Grace! I love that Amaranthus. I've planted it from seed the last two years, a couple of different kinds, and they never get taller than about 6 inches, with tiny flowers. I'm so bummed. I want those big long dreadlocks.
ReplyDeleteWhat a relief …back to the 80's . So nice to be able to sit out all day again . Is that it for the heat waves this year ? I hope so !
ReplyDeleteYou're garden hasn't suffered at all, it looks very fresh and lush !
I would have been tempted by that z9 Passion flower , hope it survives.
Ouch! 106? I'm sorry. The highest I saw at my house was 102. Your garden seems to be handling the heat well, though! I love your Pardancanda 'Sanria', and the shot of the bee with the clethra. I was hoping my Clethra barbinervis would bloom this year, since it did last year, but it may be taking a break after being planted last summer.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear your weather has improved - the weather seems to be crazy most everywhere this year. Unlike Northern California, SoCal is actually having a half-way decent summer thus far (and I really hope I haven't just jinxed us with that statement). As to the more serious topic of plants, I think you should write your next book on pink-flowering plants - you already have a good start on the photos. I love the pink monkeyflower in today's post.
ReplyDeleteFred Meyer had that Passionflower in a big pot. Twenty five bucks. I drooled and drooled. Then proceeded to come home and talk about it to everyone for three days. I was HOPING someone would get the hint and go buy it for me. Alas, it wasn't meant to be, I guess. It's amazing.
ReplyDeleteThe Amaranth and the candy lily are going on my shopping list. This whole tour of your garden was a delight.
ReplyDeleteGrace, I'm one of your Texas readers suffering from 100 degrees AND that nasty humidity which drives up the heat index. I can't believe it's hotter in Oregon. That is mind-boggling to me. You're lucky to be without the humidity. And I imagine you are getting regular rain, too. Where we are drying up again. A really wet spring, thank God, to help break up our long drought, but plants and trees seem to be really confused now that they aren't getting any more rain. Loving all your blooms and have some severe zone envy.
ReplyDeleteDespite terrible heat, many beauties. The Dahlias--delight. Wishing you more moderate temperatures, and more flowers.
ReplyDeleteThe "dreadlocks" are a hoot of a flower! Wild. Never seen anything like it. You know, I hate to say it but I notice the tiniest tiniest amount of suffering in your plants too...and I UNDERSTAND completely. I can't keep up with my garden despite my best efforts. I think you have better shade than I do. My next post is going to be asking for help from the gardeners who are far superior than I am at the role of "gardener." If this is our new normal in the Pacific Northwest, I have to rethink my gardening approach. Still everything at your place is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks wonderful, Grace, and you have so many interesting plants. I like Kris's idea a lot. Your book on pink flowers would have wonderful photos in it - taken in your own garden. How cool wouldn't THAT be!!! :)
ReplyDeleteOh my! I just noticed your pink Monkey flower! I used to study those on the dry hillsides in the mountains north of Los Angeles where I was raised and even down in Mexico, where I studied with my grandparents when they took their camper on photography expeditions. (My grandfather was a professional photographer and grandmother, a Botonist.) But I've never ever seen that color, only a brilliant scarlet, and various shades of orange. How amazing and how perfect for you, Gracie, to find pink ones.
ReplyDeleteOur garden is definitely a jungle right now! :-) All the drama with my son and his surgery/moving/wedding has caused me to neglect it. (At least that's my excuse.) Looks as if I have an open weekend coming up and I plan on getting out there with a vengeance. (I also found out a few weeks ago that my daughter is expecting, so I've been crazy-knitting too). Your garden looks fantastic, even with the heat!
ReplyDeleteHello Gracie girl !
ReplyDeleteYou must have been watering your garden very well during those temps because it looks gorgeous !
My first amaranth was "Love Lies Bleeding" years ago and it looked artificial it was so amazing .. love yours ! and that fuchsia is so cute .. all of your plants looked very pampered and doing well.
I have to make myself do a deep water tomorrow .. I have been neglecting my garden ... I am thinking AUTUMN... a wee bit too tired to keep up with things so I better have a talk with myself !! haha
Take care !
Joy : )
How beautiful !! I love all these flowers !!
ReplyDelete