Pondering Plans for Next Year

Despite the definite change in weather, the garden is still doing quite well. We haven't had a frost yet so even plants like dahlia and fuchsia are putting out blooms. 

Not only that but as I putter and visualize next year's garden, I can hear frogs croaking back and forth to each other at random intervals. If the temperatures remain mild (in the 50s) I'll continue to be enchanted by them.

I was surprised to see buds forming all up and down my winter-blooming 'Freckles' Clematis.

Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurescens 'Freckles'

This made me curious so I checked another of my three winter blooming Clematis, C. urophylla. Sure enough! Buds.

Blurry buds on Clematis aff. urophylla

Still no buds on Clematis nepalensis but that's okay. The vine looks healthy and that's the important thing.

There are still several summer/fall blooming Clematis blossoms.

Clematis texensis 'Etoile Rose'

Given that it's the end of the season, I'm excusing the mildewed foliage.

Clematis texensis 'Princess Diana'

Clematis viticella 'Abundance' (red) and C. v. 'Polish Spirit'

My longest blooming Clematis is C. integrifolia 'Inspiration' pictured below. It started blooming in May and has not once been without at least one flower since then. I didn't cut it back so there are lots of seedheads too.

Clematis integrifolia 'Inspiration'

This NOID from Deborah Hardwick is still making me happy. Again, the foliage is icky but who cares?

Clematis NOID

Clematis viticella 'Rosalyn'

Clematis texensis 'Pagoda'

And check out all the fuchsias still blooming!

Fuchsia 'Celia Smedly' (I think)

Fuchsia lycioides

Fuchsia 'Exmoor Woods'

Fuchsia 'Baby Ann'

Fuchsia 'Delta's Angelique'

Fuchsia 'Tricolor'

Fuchsia 'Tricolor'

Fuchsia 'Beacon Rose'

Fuchsia NOID

Fuchsia 'Nettala'

Fuchsia 'Debron's Black Cherry'

Fuchsia 'Checkerboard'

Fuchsia 'Galfrey Lye'

And that wasn't even all the fuchsias but I think you get the idea. 

Check out these Crinum lilies that I bought in a bag from Costco last spring. They have proven to be troopers. There are still buds forming on some of the bulbs. 

Crinum x ‘Powellii’

Agastache 'Blue Boa'

Gardenia jasminoides 'Frostproof'

'Paris' Heuchera is another extremely long-blooming plant. This one has been in flower since February.

Heuchera 'Paris'

Rabdosia longituba

Rabdosia longituba

Chrysanthemum x rubellum 'Clara Curtis'

I really should cut some of these mums for a bouquet.

Chrysanthemum x rubellum 'Clara Curtis'

This Tinantia reseeds every year and blooms in that spot. The flowers are so cute.

Tinantia erecta

Now for some garden shots:

Persicaria 'Fat Domino'

Mukgenia nova 'Flame' next to Rhododendron 'Everred'

Artemisia 'Seafoam'

Leucothoe axilaris 'Curly Red'

I have three spots where I dug out plants that were too big or were otherwise needed moving. You can see the bare spots in the following three photos.

By the outer pond, I had a big Stipa gigantea. I gave it to Heather. In its place, I'm going to plant Nerium oleander.

In this open area, I had a Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace' that died. I'm going to plant my Chilopsis 'Burgundy'

And finally, here I had a huge Nandina and spreading Euphorbia. I'm not sure yet what is going to replace them.

Having a bit of bare soil keeps my design proclivities charged and ready. Ooh the possibilities! And not just for plants. Today I lugged home a huge piece of driftwood, aptly named Boris. I'm going to find a place for him in my garden. I'll post photos of "him" next time.

And there you have it. Thank you for visiting.

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.