The Last Day of Augst

August may be winding down but I'm not giving up on summer. No way.

Here are some random photos of a garden still going strong.

Hibiscus moscheutos 'Kopper King'

Here is the backside of that bed.

The white flowers on the left are Gardenia 'Frostproof'. The shrub, planted in 2013 is almost four feet tall.

I think this might be Fuchsia 'Flash'

Clematis versicolor

Such cute little bi-colored bells

A darling Clematis hybrid from my friend Deborah in Ohio.

One of our three strawberry troughs. There is not much activity in June but the summer berries are prolific!

This is a day-neutral variety called 'Aroma'. They're fantastic.

The 'Fall Gold' raspberries are equally delicious.

'Tritonia disticha subsp. 'Rubrolucens' ... bulbs from Debs across the pond. Aren't they pretty?

A short story:

At least ten years ago a wind storm took out my single-trunk Crape Myrtle "tree". I was heartbroken but purchased another one, planted it in an adjacent bed and forgot about my earlier casualty. Two years ago, I was surprised to see a single stem of familiar looking foliage jutting upward through the thicket of perennials, in the exact spot where the earlier crape myrtle had died. Below is a photo of it today. Apparently there was enough root left to nourish a new plant. And is it every happy! Lesson: Don't be too quick to assume a plant is dead.

Crape Myrtle in full bloom

A few woodland gems

One of my rock garden areas where Silene shafta is a happy camper.

The foliage on 'Orion' hardy Geranium is really cool but the plant gets HUGE. I may need to relocate this guy.

 

'Santa Cruz' Fuchsia with 'Glowing Embers' Hydrangea

A bit of organized chaos

My weird obsession with rocks. All of these were found with holes in them.

Who doesn't love a little pot of Hens & Chicks?

Or a BIG pot of Hens & Chicks?

Talinum (or Phemeranthus) calycinus is such a great plant but completely disappears in winter. Hence the pot.

Persicaria 'Fat Domino' with its vibrant red spikes. 

'Fat Domino' with 'Shenandoah' Switch Grass (Panicum) in front.

A happy clump of Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum)

Dahlia 'Rip City' on the right. I've had this one for several years.

These are new Dahlias this year. In front, D. 'Spider Woman' and behind, 'Contraste'.

Dahlia 'Sorbet' is another plant resurrection. Purchased in 2016, it was a no-show last year.

Long-lived Dahlia 'Park Princess'

This is an old photo of Dahlia 'Bonne Esprance' The plant is so big this year and a blooming machine.

New this year, this irresistible Scabiosa Gelato™  Blueberry. I'll let you know if it survives the winter.

Finally, below you can see both Crape Myrtle trees. The flower color is nearly identical in both. The one on the left is the resurrected one, still a bit floppy from top-heavy flowers. It will require some judicious pruning. The newer one is peaking out from behind the Banana. Here, it looks as though they're right on top of each other but there is actually a large area between them. 

 I could go on and on but I'll stop for now. I need to go outside.

The Earth Laughs in Flowers

With all the political unrest these days, isn't it nice to have Nature to sooth us? It's been rough here with a record-long heat wave to start the month of August. It's back to reasonable now, thankfully and the flowers are singing their summer tunes. 

The first of my five herbaceous Hibiscus plants just burst into bloom yesterday.

Hibiscus moscheutos 'Kopper King'

I bought this one for the dark foliage but the flowers aren't too shabby either.

Tons of buds!

Volunteer Morning Glory

Below is a garden miracle. This Crape Myrtle was a gonner many years ago when  a windstorm broke it off at ground level. I replanted the area with other things and didn't look back since I have another Crape Myrtle in a different part of the garden. Last year, I noticed leaves and life! Now look at it. It's a miracle. 

 

Crape Myrtle blossom (Lagerstroemia)

The miracle Crape Myrtle with Alstroemeria 'Tri-Color'

Volunteer Nicotiana. Aren't they cool?

 

A cute crispa cross Clematis from my Ohio friend Deborah.
Isn't it adorable?

Mystery Clematis is still putting out blossoms.

Clematis 'Alionushka' is happy too

I lost most of my Dahlias after last winter's ultra cold, ultra wet madness. These are the tried and true. (Junkyard Dog is alive but hasn't bloomed yet.)

Dahlia 'Rip City'

Dahlia 'Bonne Esprance'

Dahlia NOID

Dahlia 'Ivanti'

Dahlia 'Pink Princess'

I love this rose:

Rosa mutabilis

Lonicera 'Major Wheeler'

Major Wheeler Honeysuckle 

Right on cue, the Cyclamen popped up.

Cyclamen hederifolium

I got the below plant from my friend Nancy in Corvallis. It is looking nice in one of my woodland borders. 

Eurybia divaricata 'Eastern Star' (formerly Aster)

 

Kniphofia 'Pineapple Popsicle'

Salvia 'Wendy's Wish'

Clerodendrum bungei

Heuchera 'Paris' 

Iris x norrisii 'Sangria' (aka Pardancanda norrisii)

New this year 'Fat Domino' Persicaria. I had my doubts as to whether it would live up to its name but I'm pleasantly surprised. The mature spikes are definitely fatter than the species.

Persicaria 'Fat Domino'

This Evening Primrose is such a happy camper. I've had it reseed in my garden now and it winters over just fine and blooms all spring and summer. 

Oenothera kunthiana 'Glowing Magenta'

The epithet says "magenta" but it's more like a warm pink, which I love.

Oenothera kunthiana 'Glowing Magenta'

I love this Epilobium. (I can't get used to its new name Chamaenerion.) It's a dwarf Willow Herb from Dancing Oaks that I just love. It reseeds politely and has a really long blooming time. And the bees adore it.

Epilobium fleischeri

Epilobium fleicheri

My two little 4 inch pots of this Phlox have finally spread out to cover this area (below). Mingling with Sedum 'John Creech' and S. 'Tri-Color' (and various weeds) it looks really cool in this mostly shady spot.

Phlox glaberrima ssp. triflora 'Triple Play'

Rheum palmatum var. tanguiticum rising above more 'John Creech' Sedum

A few of the resident buzzers...

Campanula lactiflora 'Lodden Anna' and honeybee butt.

Garlic Chives Allium tuberosum and bumblebee butt.

Allium tuberosum

Heliotropium cv.

Oh so much more. But enough for now.

I hope your garden is bringing you sweet respite from the world's woes.