Late July, Already!

Oregon has the best summers and this one is no exception. Sunshine, temperatures in the 80s, cool nights, slight breeze. I think we've had only three or four 90 degree days so far. I'm really thankful. 

Just because it's summer doesn't mean I quit buying plants. Check out this newbie. It's a tropical so I'll need to move it inside during the winter but aren't these leaves gorgeous? 

Breynia nivosa 'Roseo-picta'

Also on the tender side, I'll have to take care not to let this one (below) get exposed to too much cold. I bought it from Annie's Annuals this spring. It just started blooming.

Lavatera assurgentiflora

Clerodendrum bungei just started blooming.

Gardenia 'Frostproof' has been blooming for about three weeks.

I have a new fascination with hardy Geraniums. There are some really rare varieties for sale at Robin Parer's nursery called appropriately, Geraniacea located in California.

Geranium nodosum 'Clos du Courdray'

I'm growing most of my new hardy Geraniums in pots so I can really enjoy the flowers.

Geranium himalayense 'Plenum'

Geranium x oxonianum 'Tanya Randell'

I've got a few others that haven't started blooming yet. Stay tuned.

Check out this new to me (last year) Fuchsia 'Nettala' from Secret Garden Growers. Easy and hardy!

Fuchsia 'Nettala'

Fuchsia 'Nettala' 

Lily from a bagged of mixed bulbs from Costco

Lilium 'Stargazer'

Another newbie this year from Annie's is this white-flowered Cupid's Dart. It had been on my wish forever and I nabbed two of them when I saw them for sale. It mingles really well with other flowers. 

Catananche caerulea 'Alba'

Also from Annie's... this Heracleum is just starting to bloom.

Heracleum sphondylium 'Pink Cloud'

A Dahlia called 'Mistral'

From Far Reaches Farm in northern Washington this sweet Codonopsis. I didn't expect bloom this year because the plant was so small. But check it out. 

Codonopsis convolvulacea subsp. grey-wilsonii

 And my other Codonopsis from Dancing Oaks:

Codonopsis pilosula

This Rhodochiton is a tender but wintered over from last year in a protected pot.

Rhodochiton atrosanguineum

And the Anemonopsis is blooming too. I love how plants just have there own unique blooming time table. 

Anemonopsis macrophylla

I bought this Scabiosa at BiMart (variety store) last year. I really hoped it would winter over and it did.

Scabiosa 'Gelato Blueberry'

This is a small pond but you can't tell because it's so full of plants.

 A few wide shots.

And now for some critter shots:

A baby robin waiting for dinner

A towhee parent and child

You know you're a (weird) gardener when you're more excited to see a rare critter on your basil than you are to eat the stuff. Below is a gray hairstreak caterpillar. It is pink because it's been eating purple basil flowers.

Gray Hairstreak caterpil

I saw the mother a few weeks ago and thought she was nectaring but apparently she was also laying eggs. (I took this butterfly photo last year but shows what this little thing will become.)

And this is a gray hairstreak. (Not the best photo)

Finally, we saw twins this morning. This little one, her sibling and mama visited my front garden. Unfortunately when I opened the door to get a better picture, they scurried off.

Photo of baby deer through a very dirty window.

Thank you for visiting.

First Frost

Last night was the official first frost in my 'hood. The thermometer mounted on a post in my covered patio recorded this:

It must have not have lasted very long because most plants are still alive and doing fine. I'll show you what I mean.

Clematis stalwarts: the florida species seem to prefer the cooler weather. This is the second year they've waited until fall to produce their second flush of blooms. The first being in spring.

Clematis florida 'Sieboldiana'

Clematis florida 'Alba Plena'

Diana, the blooming machine.

Clematis texensis 'Princess Diana'

Winter blooming Clematis cirrhosa 'Freckles'

 

Cyclamen hederafolium snuggling up to some fun rocks.

This Abutilon loves the cooler weather.

Abutilon

I was pleasantly surprised to see one last blossom on this dwarf dahlia.

 But the overnight low temperature was unkind.

 Something similar happened with my Impatiens tinctoria. I was so happy to finally see its first big fat bud. 

Impatiens tinctoria

 But the frost had other ideas. Poor thing.

I think the plant is toast.

 It looks like the frost may not have hurt the Alstroemerias--another blooming machine.

Alstroemeria 'Tricolor'

Some of my fuchsias are still putting out flowers.

Fuchsia 'Beacon Rose'

 

Fuchsia NOID

Fuchsia 'Steel 'n' Stars'

I am so happy with my two Correa plants. They've been blooming since September and they should go clear through February if ... well, you know the drill. I'll be watching the weather and I have my blankets ready if it gets too cold. I'm hoping the hummingbirds will find the flowers.

Correa 'Dusky Bells' backlit by sunshine

Correa 'Dusky Bells'

 One more photo:

Correa 'Dusky Bells'

Correa alba 'Ivory Bells' is not quite as showy as 'Dusky Bells' but the leaves are nicer so it's all good. Check it out.

Correa alba 'Ivory Bells'

This gorgeous scabiosa is still blooming. I see varying reports of winter hardiness. I hope it survives because I've got an Alstroemeria with similarly colored flowers I want to plant near it after I move the Echinacea that are in that spot now. 

Scabiosa 'Gelato Blueberry'

 This Argyranthemum is still blooming. It took a break during July's heatwave.

Argyranthemum frutescens 'Madeira Crested Merlot'

Chocolate Cosmos, the only chocolate I allow myself anymore.

Cosmos atrosanguineus

I'm happy to see my Schefflera blooming. It's the first time in its three year history in my garden so I'm a bit obsessed.

Schefflera delavayi

Come on bees. Wakey, wakey... there's nectar for you!

There are a few fragrant flowers on this daphne.  

 Daphne 'Eternal Fragrance'

d

And speaking of fragrance. Check out what I think will be the last flower on my gardenia.

Gardenia 'Frostproof'

Salvia 'Hot Lips'

I have been pleasantly surprised with how long my Cirsium has been in bloom. I thought after June it would be done. But here are more flowers trying their darnedest to bloom.

Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum'

Ditto for the long-blooming Lewisia.

Lewisia 'Elise'

 The last of the raspberries... They were so delicious. What a bumper year for these jewels.

I bought some paperwhites to force. I'm hoping they'll be blooming on Thanskgiving. Do you think they'll be ready in two weeks? 

Finally I wanted to show you my little garden buddy. One of our resident Annas hummingbirds. S/he posed for me today.

I sure hope those fluffly feathers are keeping you warm, little buddy.

Thanks for visiting.