Forget Housework, The Garden Beckons

MAN HAS IT BEEN A HOT summer here in the Pacific Northwest. Or maybe I'm just getting older and more sensitive to the heat. Or both. At any rate, I sure enjoy my mornings and evenings in the garden when temperatures are cool enough to keep me from dying of heat stroke. 

Through the years, one of my better gardening choices has been to get several trees planted. The shade they provide is so welcome this time of year. I think the plants appreciate it too. 

Here is this week's selection of random photos:  

Oriental lily and Phlox paniculata 

A cluster of double Knock Out roses
in front of Panicum 'Shenandoah' 

A Dahlia that survived the winter. 

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus 'Aphrodite')
with unopened Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) buds. 

My fragrant Pelargonium 'Filbert' has a really nice flower.
The plant has gotten huge. It likes the heat.

Phlox and more Phlox. I think this is 'Eva Cullum'

And this Phlox I bought last year. Wow, right? 

Hydrangea paniculata 'Pinky Winky' is beginning to blush. 

I absolutely drool over these 'Cherry Brandy' Rudbeckias. Love this plant!
The flowers last for weeks.

A sweet looking Cosmos 'Double Click Cranberry' 

Hardy Fuchsias... 

Joe is getting ready to bloom. Yay! 

Darmera peltata really likes water but check out those leaves.
How can I say no to that? 

That's 'Cityline Paris' Hydrangea and variegated comfrey in front.

The dark leaves are Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae, a fabulous ground cover
spurge. The left side is my wheelbarrow with various succulents.

Random shots of the garden. The Agastache in the foreground has been blooming since May. 

The jungle, looking south.

Lots of lovely chaos

Before I log off, I am pleased to announce that two plants I was sure were dead surprised me this week by looking very much alive. 

The first is this:

Signs of life on my ten year old Star Jasmine. (Trachleospermum jasmoides).
After February's freeze, I was sure it was dead. In May I cut it back to the ground but
because there are a bunch of hardy cyclamen growing here I didn't dig it up. Fancy that!

The second plant that emerged from its slumber recently is this
4 O'clock (Mirabilis jalapa). This is a photo from last year. It's not blooming yet
but with this heat, it won't be long.  

My apologies for not getting around as much these days. I promise to visit your blogs soon. 

Sunburn Itch

I BLEW IT LAST SATURDAY. Working in the garden, with a tank top that scooped a little too low in the back, I burned myself. My shoulders and arms are fine because they've been exposed enough but my back. OUCH. Actually it didn't really hurt until yesterday and it's more like an intermittent stinging sensation than a pervasive burning feel. Weird. You'd think by now I would have learned but NO! 

So I have a few photos to share. Lots of bloomers. As much as I hate the thought of summer winding down, the garden in August is going strong. 

Buddleia  

I've been picking Butterfly Bush blossoms because in a vase, with honeysuckle, the two scents combine into one amazing delight. 

Clematis viorna 

One of my WINS from Dancing Oaks a few years ago, Clemmy viorna puts forth these waxy bells in late July and August. The vine is hardly vigorous so I've got the few stems climbing a single rebar.

Clerodendrum bungei 

Clerodendrum bungei is starting to bloom too. This is a thirsty plant and with the imminent heat wave this week, it might falter but for now, it's looking mighty fine. 

Annual Baby's Breath, Gypsophila elegans

This particular Baby's Breath reseeds nicely. If I reuse any of the previous year's potting soil, (I admit, I do this) there will inevitably be seedlings emerging. I either move them or let them stay depending on what's growing with them.

Eupatorium cannabinum ‘Flore Plenum’ 

It seems to me the botanical name for Joe Pye has changed, right? I'm behind the times, obviously. Anyway, the above species grows similar to the more common Eupatoriums but the flower clusters are slightly papery and compact. They dry well too.
 

Eupatorium dubium ‘Baby Joe’ 

Little Joe ain't so little this year. I'm wondering if someone didn't test this guy sufficiently before marketing it. Oh well. I still love him. 

Gaura lindheimeri ‘Siskiyou Pink’ 

All of my Gauras look fabulous this year. I think it might be the additional rain we received in June. It certainly wasn't anything I did, unless they perform better with neglect. 

Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus 

Yes, the pink theme continues. Here is my little Rose of Sharon. Love those blossoms.

Verbena hastata 

This Verbena is a curiosity. I thought it would be fun to use a few stems in a bouquet. When I brought them indoors to arrange, immediately all of the petals began wiggling like there were tiny bugs burrowing into them and tossing out the petals. Before long, there was a sink full of petals and bare stems. It was very strange. I think I'll just keep this flower outdoors, thank you very much. 

Phlox paniculata 'Starfire' 

The Phlox, again thanks to June's rains are stupendous this year. I wish I had an acre of them.

Salvia microphylla ‘La Trinidad Pink’ 

The above Salvia is my favorite for obvious reasons. I believe this plant is on its third summer, meaning it's hardy here in my Zone 8 garden. 

Verbena bonariensis 

Who, these days, isn't familiar with Verbena bonariensis? I have a love/hate with this plant. It reseeds with abandon and often gets in the way of other plants, leaning and making a pest of itself. But what can I say, it's too cool not to have in a garden.  

Tetrapanax papyfifera ‘Steroidal Giant’ 

And finally on the foliage side of things, just a photo of my Tetrapanax. Actually this photo was taken last year. This year the plant is much taller.  

So sorry I've been away from all of your blogs. I am working on getting caught up.