June's Loveliness

It's difficult to find fault with the garden in June. There are minor annoyances and improvements to be made but we won't go there right now. Let's just look at pretty things. 

Last fall, I got a cutting of this Impatiens from my sister. I potted it and protected it from winter's cold and this spring, it grew! And here is the first blossom! 

Impatiens sodenii 'Flash

I was in Woodburn a few weeks ago, visiting my sister. Of course we visited nurseries. I found this sweet, colorful Bidens at one of them. 

Bidens x hyrida Cupcake Strawberry

After having no luck with getting my hands on Sempervivum 'Gold Nugget' (the IT plant for 2019), I was pleased to purchase this golden goodie at Miller's Manor Gardens. $5 and unlike 'Gold Nugget' this one stays gold all summer. I feel vindicated.

 

Jovibarba heuffelii 'Gold Bug'

Of all places, I found this mottled-foliaged "dandelion" at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Corvallis. It was the only one of its kind and I quickly grabbed it, knowing nothing about it until I got home and did my research. The seeds come true so I'm going to share with whoever wants them. Oh and it's hardy to Zone 5.

Spotted Hawkweed  (Hieracium maculatum 'Leopard')

The flowers do not thrill me but the seed sure does so I'll allow it to bloom, just for its progeny.

Hieracium maculatum 'Leopard'

I love Helianthemum or "Sun Rose." Usually it's the single flowered ones we see planted in rock gardens or at the edge of a border. However, I found a couple of double flowered ones worth mentioning. Check them out:

Helianthemum nummularium 'Cerise Queen'

Helianthemum nummularium 'Annabel'

I love these unique Dichelostemma I bought while in "bulb-mood" last fall. They're in a pot now but I'll figure out where to plant them, hopefully.

Dichelostemma ida-maia

While nursery hopping with my sister, I also found this unique Artemisia. As soon as I saw it, I knew exactly where I wanted to plant it.

Artemisia versicolor Seafoam'

Grown from seed purchased three years ago, this Lychnis is so easy on the eyes. It's not quite as pink as I wanted but it fits in nicely with the other plants in this "warm" border.

Lychnis chacedonica 'Pink'

Oh and back to last fall's aforementioned "bulb-mood", I bit the bullet (they aren't cheap) and bought more Martagon lilies, this time planting the bulbs in pots. Worked like a charm!

Lilium x martagon 'Claude Shride'

In 2017, I bought this Milkweed vine at Dancing Oaks. This is the first year it's bloomed. It's unique and cool and I like it. 

 Milkweed Vine (Periploca graeca)

And speaking of Milkweed, after several years of searching, I found Purple Milkweed in 2017 for sale at  Prairie Moon Nursery in Minnesota. The plants were small and I admit, I've stressed over losing them but here they are, fixing to bloom! 

Asclepias purpurescens

It was surprisingly easy to start this rose from seed several years ago. It is so fragrant and sweet. I have it growing in large pot amidst the showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa).

Rosa chinensis 'Angel Wings'

Speaking of pink (my favorite!) check out the Deutzia. It's very happy this year!

Deutzia 'Strawberry Fields'

The Dunce Cap I had last year died but I found it again this spring.
 

Dunce Cap (Orostachys boehmeri)

Back to pink, the Rhodohypoxis are perfect rock garden or front-of-the-border plants. I love them.

Rhodohypoxis baurii 'Hebron Farm Pink' and Sidalcea malviflora 'Palustre'

Such a pretty native beauty:

Sidalcea cusickii

 Another pink rock garden favorite:

Dianthus 'Tiny Rubies'

 This rose looks its best ever this year:

Rosa 'Jeanne LaJoie'

Here are some wider garden shots:

Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance')

Rosa chinensis 'Mutabilis' and Penstemon 'Garnet'

Ligularia 'Garden Confetti'

Schefflera delavayi, Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' and Darmera peltata

Yummy!

A few of our resident critters:

Rufous Hummingbird

A very wet and washed Western Tanager

Thank you for visiting.

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.