June--Such a Pretty Month

How can you not love the garden in June? The bugs are still relatively small. The plants still have that fresh look. And there is still so much yet to look forward to. I've still got areas that need mulch and there are a few plants that still need to be put in the ground but overall, I can just relax now and enjoy the fruits of my earlier labors. 

This species hardy Orchid Gladiolus blooms happily. I wish the others I've planted were as delightful. 

Orchid Gladiolus

While two of my three daughters and I were at a farm stand looking at strawberries, we found this Portulaca. Such a pretty thing. And although I try to avoid buying too many annuals, this one had to come home with me.

Portulaca oleracea 'Purslane Pazazz™  Fuchsia'

All three of my two-plus year old Coreopsis 'Mercury Rising' began blooming on the same day.
They will continue to push out flowers until fall.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Teller Red'

New to me this year, Nasturtium Tropaoleum majus 'Tip Top Alaska Red'
On this one, it's more about the foliage than the flower.

Showy Milkweed Asclepias incarnata 'Cinderella'
Can you see the bee?

Stachys lavandulifolia -- the first bloom.

This Penstemon is very happy.

I finally succumbed to purchasing a Digiplexis when I saw this healthy specimen for $7.99. I'm going to keep it in a pot and bring it indoors should the mercury fall below its comfort zone. That's my plan anyway.

Digiplexis 'Illumination Flame'

Silene armeria from seed

Salvia 'Wendy's Wish' successfully wintered-over last year.

Clematis 'Madame Julia Correvon' just keeps pumping out more blooms.

Remember last week when I was all excited about my blooming Ixia? Here is a photo to remind you.

Ixia blossom during the day

Well, look what happens after the sun goes down. The flowers take on a different look as the petals close up.

Ixia blossom after sundown.

Check out the cool stripes on my Ornamental Corn. I purchased the seed here.

Ornamental Striped Corn.

Finally, a few critters. 

My first sighting is a highly controversial critter. People don't like this poor guy because he eats people's plants. Bad. But after his tummy is full, he spins a cocoon and sleeps and then wakes up with wings that go a bazillion miles an hour and has a new name--the Sphinx Moth. A very cool, almost mystical creature of the nighttime garden. 

I've never seen a Tomato Hornworm in my garden but I spotted this guy hanging out at a nursery. And guess what. He was eating a weed. Yes, a stupid, silly weed! Despite having over an acre of lusty, tasty plants to choose from, his preference was a weed growing just off the parking lot. Bless his little green heart. 

Tomato Hornworm

If you ever come across a Tomato Hornworm, please don't kill it. Just move it to a delicious looking weed and carry on. 

Our froglets are getting bigger and stronger. Here is one sleeping on the Calla foliage. Still very tiny.

From a distance...

Close up.
Isn't he just the cutest thing ever?

And finally... a waking Bumblebee on the Lysimachia.

Love this little guy.

I hope you are enjoying your gardens, the flora and the fauna.

My New Favorite Summer Bulb!

All of you seasoned gardeners who are familiar with Ixia, I ask your indulgence. You newbies or seasoned diggers-in-the-dirt who are not familiar with Ixia, it's to you that I address this bit of excitement. Actually, I'm addressing anyone who'll listen. :)

Back in February when I was in the thick of flower-starvation, I ordered bulbs. My intention was to have nice little clumps of hardy species gladiolus popping up randomly throughout my borders. Well, here it is, the middle of June and those glads, although diligently planted and tended to, are a no-show. Maybe later? Who knows? 

But I was also enamored of these pretty things called Ixia. Lured by the photo on the Bulbs Direct website, I went ahead and purchased two, twenty-bulb packages of this one called 'Mabel.' When they arrived, I planted the little buggers, then forgot all about them. 

From Bulbs Direct

Within a month, little green pointy things were popping up and getting taller. Then buds... then blossoms! Here's what they look like in my garden. 

A few weeks after planting Ixia 'Mabel', I found a box of mixed colored Ixia at the Dollar Store so I grabbed them. Here is the only one that is blooming so far. 

Yellow, Dollar Store Ixia

So, now that I've seen Ixia flowers with my own eyes, I'm wondering where they've been all my life. I'm completely sold. If the reluctant hardy glads make an appearance, I'll let you know. 

Clematis! 

Clematis 'Multi-Blue'

Clematis texensis 'Pagoda'

Clematis integrifolia 'Andante' 

Clematis integrifolia 'Aljonushka' 

New to me this year: Clematis 'Haizawa'

Clematis texensis 'Princess Diana'

And my favorite: Clematis viticella 'Confetti'

Other bloomers: 

Diascia integrimmus

Buds on my Butterfly Weed (Asclepias speciosa). 

Campanula punctata 'Pink Octopus'

Campanula punctata 'Pink Bells'
My sister gave me a start of this plant last year.
Wouldn't it be fun if both Campanulas interbred and created a new, unique plant?

It happened with Monkey Flower.
 Mimulus lewisii x cardinalis 

About the only Salvia that I can successfully winter-over in my winter-wet garden...
Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain'

I know I post too many photos of Alstroemeria 'Tri-Color' but I love it.

Borage--for the bees! (Borago officinalis) 

Parahebe perfoliata in bloom

Phlox paniculata 'Red Magic'
Maybe the "magic" is in the fact that it's purple, not red.

Sweet Peas, blooming from plants purchased in April.

Potentilla fruticosa 'Pink Beauty'

Pleiboblastis sp. (Dwarf Bamboo) ... purchased during the fall plant sales, has made a
complete recovery.

What to grow where nothing grows...

Lamium 'Anne Greenaway' love it!

The Banana (Musa basjoo) is happy

Look who has been visiting the garden for the past several days:

I think she's got a thing for these Mock Orange flowers.
(Philadelphus 'Belle Etoile')

Zip with one of his pots of kitty-pot! 

A few days ago, while I had my camera handy we had a cool fly-over--seven helicopters, in perfect formation. I wasn't sure if my photos would turn out but they did!  

And finally, there is a song sparrow that has made its nest in the neighbor's bramble. In the evenings, s/he likes to sit right here and sing. It's adorable.

Isn't life grand?