The Wide View

Monday morning and clouds. After a weekend of 90+ degree weather, [our first all summer] I'm happy for a break. [I know. All of you southerners are thinking, "wuss!" and you're right.] If gardens could talk, I think mine would also utter its relief. This is the time of year when hauling the hose around to water my thirsty babies begins to wear on me. Mainly because it seems like no matter how much water they get, some plants just don't want to look nice any longer. But there are areas that still look decent. I thought I'd  share some of the wide views of these areas. I took these photos last evening. 

 Under the pear tree, this hydrangea is 'Cityline Paris.'

 These white things are the handles to my vintage wheelbarrow. The big-leaved plant is Tetrapanax. 'Heidi' Achillea is just starting to fade and the center green plant is 'Alma Potschke' Aster, just starting to form buds.

The tall, big-leaved plant in the back to the right is Catalpa. It's only a few years old. I cut it down each year so it won't decide to become a tree.

 This is my outer pond, although with all of the foliage the water is impossible to see. My Spacial Denial is evident in all the photos. I never leave enough room for the plants to mature and then everything sort of melds together into an amorphous blob.

 Case in point... It's a jungle out there.

 The fuchsia on the left is hardy here, blooms all summer and beckons hummers. Easy to root and grow, it is one of three offspring from its mother planted elsewhere in the garden.

 Every year I do something different with this area. I didn't buy very many annuals this years so the colors aren't as bold as they've been in years past.

 Verbena rigida is sort of taking over this area. Who's complaining? It is a perennial and I am hoping to have seed to share. I'll let you know. The purple foliage jutting up from the middle of it is a juvenile Cotinus.

This bench is looking its age. It's got a bunch of dead fuchsia blossoms on it. My oops.

A peak at the north lawn looking worse for the wear. I'm standing on the patio, looking east to take this photo. To the left is the patio pond.

I'm standing on the patio for this shot too but I'm looking north instead of east.

 The tawny, wispy foliage on the upper left are the seed heads from my Stipa gigantea. They get probably seven to eight feet tall. Love that plant! To the right of the pathway you can see the aforementioned vintage wheelbarrow just behind the rusty obelisk.

 Stipa gigantea again, sneaking out from behind my towering Heptacodium or Seven-Son Flower, just starting to bloom.

In the center of this photo is Daphne 'Summer Ice.' It's been blooming [fragrant, tiny, white blossoms] off and on since early spring! Another must-have for any garden within its Zone range.

This is taken on one of the minor paths looking out at the north lawn. To the left is the ubiquitous 'Autumn Joy' Sedum just about ready to host a bee party.

Hydrangea 'Glowing Embers.' It's not quite as red as I'd like. In front of it is H. q. 'Sike's Dwarf' sporting one amazing flower head and a bunch of amazing leaves.

And finally, looking towards the patio. On the left, finishing up are lavender, native Bachelor Buttons and Phlox.

Sorry. I've just got to brag a wee bit more about The Moment I Knew. This Friday [August 26th] is the day! I'm psyched. See my sidebar for more information and thank you to all of you for your kindness. You're awesome.

The Middle of August

I guess it's time for another post. Sheesh. It's been almost a week. The time just flies by anymore, doesn't it? We've continued to have superb summer weather here in western Oregon. I think it's hit 90 degrees twice all summer, here in my neck of the woods; even cooler up north in Portland and in Washington. You got to love that.

I took a few photos yesterday and this morning that I thought I'd boast about for a minute, if you'll indulge me.

 My Clemmy 'Polish Spirit' is more purple than is depicted in this rather blue rendition. Funny, two years ago, I dug this plant up and moved it to the other side of the garden but apparently there was just enough root left behind and now this one is just as big as the moved one. Anyway, it has tangling itself around my deck railing and into containers and a nearby rosebush and Rose of Sharon and... you get the idea.

Happy Hollyhocks.

Now I've seen some of your butterfly photographs so I know my photo is far from being award-worthy but I thought I'd post it anyway. You see it's a miracle I got it at all, considering my impatience coupled with the fact that there are so few butterflies in my neck of the woods to begin with. Well, when I saw this guy and just happened to have my camera, I homed in on it and voila. It's a miracle especially since the little guy kept flapping his wings like he was on a serious sap-gathering mission, which I'm sure he was and wasn't at all interested in modeling or becoming famous.

It's time for one of my favorite plants to strut his stuff. Say hello to Joe...Pye that is.

I'm laughing because this is supposed to be the cultivar, 'LITTLE Joe' but, somebody forgot to tell him.

This is Verbena hastata a less-popular cousin of the famed Verbena bonariensis or "Verbena-on-a-stick."

Mid-August is also time for the Sedums to start blushing.  I've got bunches of them but I don't know all of their names because I mix them up and move them and forget who I put where.

My Phlox paniculata are happy. This one is 'Starfire.' I like it juxtaposed with the spiky Persicaria 'Firetail' and foliage from Thalictrum delaveyi.

And speaking of which, this is my Thalictrum d. in flower. Such a sweet little thang... 

And speaking of sweet little thangs, here is my youngest daughter's kitten who came to visit us last weekend. Don't you just love kittens?

By the way, if you're interested you can see a short, YouTube promo video for the book, The Moment I Knew, of which I am proud to say I'm a part of, due out on August 26th. (See sidebar for more information.)