It's Blooming!

I must be doing something right because my pitcher plant, (Sarracenia sp.) has three blooms this year! Aren't they pretty? 

Below is the plant last year, snuggled between rocks in the shallowest portion of my outer pond. Despite being somewhat crowded by other plants, it seemed to be happy.

 

 

 Don't you love it when our plants do what they're supposed to do?

My patio pond is doing well too. I found the floating, round-leaved Frogbit plant (Limnobium laeviatum) at the nursery. It was three little leaves in April. Now it's three hundred little leaves. Check it out. 

Inner (patio) pond

With such rapid growth, I'm not surprised that Frogbit is invasive in some places. What did surprise me is that it is hardy down to Zone 4. I thought it was a summer annual (tropical perennial) and would die at first frost. But apparently not. It's sure cute floating on the water's surface. 

Back on the soil, my sister and I were both smitten with this Helianthemum we saw at Joy Creek Nursery last weekend. I think I had it years ago but you know how it goes. What's old is new again.

Helianthemum nummularium 'Annabel'

Jasminum stephanense "Hardy Pink Jasmine"

 I am so smitten with Hart's Tongue Fern. My oldest one is really getting big.

Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium)

Last fall, after many years of lusting the puffy pinky blossoms of this pretty thistle (Cirsium rivulare 'Altopurpurea'), I purchased a plant from Far Reaches Nursery. It sat in its pot on my patio all winter. 

Internet Photo

Below is my plant--just behind the red-flowering Phygelius--shooting up a flowering stock! I hope the butterflies enjoy it too.

Cirsium rivulare 'Altropurpurea'

There are very few Dianthus plants I don't like. This is one of several blooming its head off right now in my garden.

Dianthus

The Mock Orange, (Philadelphus) are SO fragrant!

Philadelphus 'Belle Etoile'

I'm finally okay with this border. It's taken a long time to get it looking good.

Ditto for this mini-woodland spot.

That's all for now.

Thank you for visiting!

It's Sedum Time

THANK YOU TO ALL of you who didn't call me an idiot for my confession last time. Getting a sunburn, at my age, with my years of experience was really stupid. Which I guess proves that you can be old and still not be very smart.

The Fuchsia plants are HUGE this year!

I met with my lady's garden group this last Sunday. One of the topics we discussed dealt with what is and isn't working in your garden this year. For me, on the not working, the answer required no brain exertion whatsoever. Arbutus unedo 'Compacta.' Because it's evergreen, it doesn't shed its leaves in the fall. Instead it constantly sheds its older leaves. Case in point:

The DEAD leaves from my Arbutus. 

The LIVING leaves from my Arbutus. 

The solution to this problem is to thin out the older leaves from inside the plant. This weekend I'm going to get 'er done. Or else. And, um, (another confession) this has been my plan every weekend for the past month but things keep getting in the way. It's a good thing I'm no longer a perfectionist. 

Sedum 'Vera Jameson' 

It's Sedum time! I love how each plant comes into its glory at its predetermined time. It's those tiny little biological clocks. How they know when to grow and bloom, fascinates me. 

Sedum 'Vera Jameson' 

Sedum. This might be 'Mr. Goodbud' but I'm not sure.

Here's the entire plant growing next to a dark-leaved dwarf Dahlia. 

Sedum 'Autumn Joy' not quite to blooming stage yet. 

I thought I'd share a few more little treasures I'm enjoying right now. 

Sarracenia or Pitcher Plant 

Himalayan Honeysuckle Leycesteria formosa 'Golden Lantern' 

Garlic chives or Allium tuberosum 

Garlic chives complement just about any neighbor. Here, they're planted next to Phlox paniculata 'Eva Cullum'  

Aster 'Alma Potschke' 

 Aster Alma is just beginning to reveal her bright pink petals. You know me and pink. I love this plant.

White Crab Spider on Joe Pye, 

I hate Crab Spiders. This one hides in hopes of sucking the life out of an unsuspecting bumble bee. So wrong. 

Bumble Bee on Joe Pye

About a week later, (yesterday) I took another photo of the same clump of Joe Pye. No crab spider but a very happy bumble. 

Autumn Fern 

 This Autumn Fern is still fresh and green so maybe it is predicting an extra long summer.

Variegated Kiss-Me-Over-The-Garden-Gate

The variegated Kiss-Me that I bought about a month ago is still not blooming but the plant is so cool. I love this layered look on the main stem. 

Crimson Fans or Mukdenia rossii 

My Crimson Fans got a little too toasty under the 100 degree heat last week. But it still looks pretty decent, all things considered. 

Hopefully you're able to enjoy your garden's final August moments.