Flowers and Foliage, Oh My

So much is going on. I've been reworking a lot of the blah spots in the garden this year. It's enjoyable but, being a visual person I have difficulty envisioning full-grown plants when they're still dormant. For instance, the Joe Pye and Canna lilies are still eensy, weensy things but in a few months, they'll tower. So how do I place them? Due to my ambivalence (aka "cramscaping"), I suspect there will be some summer amending. Hopefully there will be a few rainy days to undertake the project. Or maybe everything will be perfect. Ha! 

A few years ago my neighbor rooted this gorgeous pink Clematis for me. We don't know its identity. Is it 'Pink Champagne' or 'Asao' or...? Any ideas?

Clematis .... ?

Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Red Bells'

Phlox stolonifera 'Sherwood Purple'

 The second rose to bloom in my garden is this one:

Rosa mutabilis

And the second blossom, almost ready to pop.
Note the plethora of aphids too.

Lewisia cotyledon in bloom

Lewisia up close...

Gypsophila cerastioides 'Pixie Splash'

Heuchera 'Georgia Peach' (I think) in front of Weigela florida 'My Monet'

And my favorite Weigela, almost in bloom...

Weigela florida 'Variegata'

Tinkerbell Lilac (Syringa meyeri x microphylla 'Bailbelle')

Variegated Comfrey (Symphytum x uplanicum 'Axminster Gold')
among the throng

Impatiens omeana always look so good before the weevils start chewing on them.

Impatiens omeana

Silver Vein Creeper is really filling in this trellis, despite how shady this area is now, thanks to a burgeoning Japanese Maple.

Silver Vein Creeper (Parthenocissus henryana)

This Silene has reseeded all over my garden now. I like it, to a point.

Silene dioica seedling

Allium schubertii almost ready to pop!

While shopping with my friend Vicky recently, I found this simple birdhouse. I'm hoping maybe a bird family will take up residence. 

Finally, it used to be we rarely saw butterflies in our garden. However, in the last few years we're seeing more and more. Yesterday my daughter and I spotted a pair of Red Admiral butterflies twitterpating and nectar-sucking. Such a regal thing!

Red Admiral butterfly resting on the warm fence boards.

Are you amending areas of your garden?

Seeing any butterflies or other interesting visitors?

June--What's Not To Love?

I THINK THE SONG is wrong. Right now is the most wonderful time of the year, don't you think? Everything is either in bloom or looking lush and healthy in leaf-form. There is something new to observe and enjoy with every stroll through the garden. Life is good!  

'Lonicera x heckrottii ‘Gold Flame’ is in full bloom and climbing up the pear tree!

The Acanthus is under a Japanese maple--too shady for it to bloom but that's okay. 

Aquilega (Columbine) 'Woodside Strain' is in bloom but the flowers aren't particularly breathtaking.
It's all about the foliage. 

The leaves on the Cercis (Red Bud) tree are ooh, la, la, don't you think? 

Brunnera 'Jack Frost' is getting bigger. 

Don't you love how pretty Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace' is? 

This is the third summer for my variegated comfrey
Symphytum x uplandicum 'Arminster Gold.' I'm loving it. 

Persicaria 'Red Dragon' got tall, then fell over when it rained. Now it's sort of happily mingling. 

I've been growing this Oxalis for several years. Recently I bought a few more
when I saw them for sale at the grocery store, of all places. 

My Tetrapanax is happy!

My Astrantia major 'Ruby Wedding' is celebrating the spring nuptials. Here is one stem...

And here is a bunch of stems! I'm thinking of you, Scott! 

Cistus 'Snowfire' is going to get a serious pruning after it finishes blooming. 

I know Jupiter's Beard is "common" but I love it. 

Please forgive me for being so aloof. I've been crazy busy but things should be slowing down now. I hope to visit you all soon. I hope you're enjoying your gardens!