Flower-Starved in the Dead of Winter

It's the last week of 2015. People just to the north of us reported snow a few days ago but it's nothing but dreary rain and fog here. And because I'm admittedly flower and foliage-starved at present, how about some photos from last July? 

Daylily Hemerocallis 'Coming Up Roses'

Pink Portulaca

Bee Balm, (Monarda didyma 'Raspberry Wine') and Lythrum 

Ornamental Corn and Pink Butterfly Weed (Asclepias incarnata 'Cinderella')

Phlox paniculata 'Bright Eyes'

Dahlia 'Smartie'

Heuchera 'Paris'

Heuchera 'Paris' and Hardy Fuchsia 'Baby Ann'

Lychnis chalcedonica 'Pinkie' (grown from seed!)

Pelargonium 'Apple Blossom' before being hit with bud worms.

Sedums nestled among the other goodies.

A bunch of garden stuff

Here's to a fantastic 2016! 

Does This Look Familiar?

Look at all that stuff! Are you, like me, clipping and pruning and deadheading and tossing?

 I can still detect the scent of Catmint on my hands. And you can see below that my cat was very um, well, "happy" with all of the trimmings.

Can you believe it's August already? I thought I'd share a little of what's blooming right now.

 This is an Origanum 'Bristol Cross' I think. I've got 4 different varieties of ornamental Oregano and I can't keep them straight.

 Persicaria 'Firetail' is finally blooming.

 Phlox paniculata 'Bright Eyes'

 Potentilla fruticosa 'Pink Beauty'

 Rudbeckia 'Cherry Brandy'

 Teucrium 'Purple Tails'

 And finally I wanted to show you the foliage on my Columbine. [Aquilegia vulgaris 'Woodside Strain.'] I have a lot of seed I'd like to give away to my beloved readers. If you want to email me [grace@gracepete.com] with your address I will get it to you. By the way, this seed can be sown immediately and will come true, meaning the plants will have this fabulous foliage from early spring until frost. Hardy to Zone 3.

Permission to Brag

This time of year is all about enjoying the fruits of our labors, don't you think? I mean, what's not to love about a garden brimming with blossoms and buzzing bees? It seems like around the middle of August [at least here in the Pacific Northwest] things start on a downward turn so right now, at the end of July, things just beg to be enjoyed [and photographed]. 

 I'm psyched about my 'Morello Cherry' Lupine from Annie's Annuals. Purchased in May, this is its first spiky blossom. It's supposed to be a repeat, summer-long bloomer.

 This plant always makes me think of Sue, the Milkweed Queen. It just started blooming after a slow start. What do you think, Sue?

 Stachys monnieri 'Hummelo' Purple Betony is a veritable bee-magnet right now.

 Spiraea japonica 'Neon Flash' is flashing up a floriforous storm right now.

All of my 'Jolly Bee' hardy Geraniums are multi-bloominous!

 This Clemmy, 'Multi-Blue' has been in bloom pretty much non-stop since May.

 Veronica 'Eveline' or 'Sonja' I'm not sure which--is another bee-magnet.

 Finally, I thought I'd share a photo I took on Sunday of Silver Falls, Oregon. I hope those of you affected by this heatwave are finally seeing some relief. Cheers.

No Shortage of Blooms!

The sun is supposed to return later this week. This, after something like two weeks of clouds and downpours--so unusual for this time of year. The garden, other than several water-weary plants leaning horizontally, is managing fine.    

The first of my Echinaceas is starting to bloom.   

 And the Daylilies... This is 'Rose Petticoats'

An Asiatic lily... 

An unnamed red... 

 This is Daylily 'Strawberry Candy' 

The Fuchsias are looking good too. 

I don't know the names of any of them. 

 This is Clematis 'Julia Correvon' 

 And Clemmie 'Polish Spirit' 

 I think this is Hydrangea 'Tellar Red' 

I'm psyched about my Gardenia. (Gardenia 'August Beauty') The photo above shows it at the absolute best it has ever looked. This might be a fluke but after losing several plants over the years, I finally learned, quite by accident, that if I want it to overwinter successfully, I've got to completely STOP watering it during the winter months. I left this plant, in its pot, under my (Zone 8) covered patio. In spring I began gradually watering it with a little water-soluble fertilizer and, voila! Three lusciously fragrant blossoms with many more in the works, and no spider mites! 

Again, my thoughts are with those of you struggling with this horrid heatwave. 

Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head

I awoke during the middle of last night to the gentle pitter-patter of raindrops. It's been at least a month since  even a smidgen of rain has occurred so this was indeed a welcome sound. Today I took some photos. 

 I'm not a huge Daylily fan but I've got five plants in my garden. 'Purple D'Oro' is my newest, although it's not all that new. Just new to me. I was attracted to the idea of a repeat bloomer. 

 This is one of my newest Fuchsias. I buy them by the dozen [not really, well almost] at Fry Road Nursery. 

 Campanula punctata 'Cherry Bells' really wants to take over. 

I should have located this plant in a better place. I say this a lot. 

 Speaking of "Cherry," my Nasturtium container is going to town. 

I kind of like the unkempt look. Am I nuts?

 Penstemon 'Sunburst Amethyst' is a stalwart. 

 This dwarf Gaura is just coming on. 

 Lookie my Yucca, Loree. It's going to bloom!

 The Dahlias [above and below] I bought at Costco last spring are blooming! 

 I really love these Alstromerias. 

 My Verbena rigida are in full array. 

 Several years ago I purchased a six-pack of this little annual Baby's Breath. 

Since then it has reliably reseeded in various pots. 

 My new white Abutilon [Flowering Maple] is small but a prolific bloomer. 

 Geranium 'Elke' I love this pink!

 This is a freebie Monkey Flower. I love this color too!

 My Cordyline has doubled in size since last year. 

 And finally, my blueberries are starting to ripen. Hooray! I need all the brain food I can get. 

To all of you in the midst of the heatwave, I'm sending you cool thoughts.