In Pursuit of Spring

Hi Guys, I don't know about you but I'm feeling very deprived of green and pretty things right now. I decided to dig through my photos for a little color to liven up these dark January days. 

Oxalis crassipes ‘Rosea’ 

Rosa 'John Cabot' 

Verbena rigida and Papaver 'Lauren's Grape' 

Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace' 

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Woodside Strain' 

A whole mess of green things! 

 I hope you enjoyed this little prelude to spring and forgive me for my impatience.

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.

One-Hundred Three

THIS IS WHAT THE DIGITAL temperature sign read at approximately 6:15 yesterday evening as I drove past it. Tonight on the news, the weatherman said our humidity yesterday was 16%. Good thing because it was HOT! But it was a "dry heat." And it wasn't a surprise. The weather people let us know it was imminent and fortunately were also correct in forecasting a cool-down for today. Needless to say, I spent a lot of time with the hose Friday evening and Saturday morning, making sure my precious babies would be able to handle the day-long heatwave. And they did.  

Here's a little of what's going on in my garden.  

This is a Lobelia laxiflora blossom. 

And here is the entire plant in a container. It is one of my few new plants this year.
Apparently it's only marginally hardy in my Zone 8b garden so it might be a one-time
beauty. 

This is a third-generation Mimulus. I bought the plant two years ago.
It reseeded last year and then again this year. 

This little pink daisy is a miniature Dahlia.
The other pinky is Diascia integrima that has wintered-over for two years.  

This is Sedum 'October Daphne' in a hanging container.
It doesn't even need to bloom to make me happy. 

This particular clump of 'Firetail' Persicaria is huge, well over 6 feet tall. And the bees love it. 

In the photo below this one, the purply-mist towards the left is an
ornamental Oregano. Here is a close up. Bees love it too.  

This border is looking exceptionally nice with Verbena rigida in full regalia.
In front of the clump is a bunch of seedlings I need to dig up and replant.
This should give you a clue as to the conditions that please this plant.  

Phlox paniculata 'Bright Eyes.'  The scent is delicious.

Now we're on the opposite end of the garden. You can't see the pond but if you look closely
you can see the lily pads. The grass (Stipa gigantea) on the right,
is obstructing much of the view. 

This is the opposite side of the aforementioned pond.
In years past this area has gotten really dry by now. But this year,
thanks to all the rain in June, I've been able to keep it looking good.  

I almost forgot, again. (Sheesh!) The winner of the drawing for Ricki Grady's book, Bebop Garden was Jen of Muddy Boot Dreams.  Congrats Jen. If you haven't visited her blog, you can click on the link and be amazed.

Well, that's what's going on in my garden. I hope all of you have a wonderful week with friendly garden-puttering temperatures.  

The Wide View

Monday morning and clouds. After a weekend of 90+ degree weather, [our first all summer] I'm happy for a break. [I know. All of you southerners are thinking, "wuss!" and you're right.] If gardens could talk, I think mine would also utter its relief. This is the time of year when hauling the hose around to water my thirsty babies begins to wear on me. Mainly because it seems like no matter how much water they get, some plants just don't want to look nice any longer. But there are areas that still look decent. I thought I'd  share some of the wide views of these areas. I took these photos last evening. 

 Under the pear tree, this hydrangea is 'Cityline Paris.'

 These white things are the handles to my vintage wheelbarrow. The big-leaved plant is Tetrapanax. 'Heidi' Achillea is just starting to fade and the center green plant is 'Alma Potschke' Aster, just starting to form buds.

The tall, big-leaved plant in the back to the right is Catalpa. It's only a few years old. I cut it down each year so it won't decide to become a tree.

 This is my outer pond, although with all of the foliage the water is impossible to see. My Spacial Denial is evident in all the photos. I never leave enough room for the plants to mature and then everything sort of melds together into an amorphous blob.

 Case in point... It's a jungle out there.

 The fuchsia on the left is hardy here, blooms all summer and beckons hummers. Easy to root and grow, it is one of three offspring from its mother planted elsewhere in the garden.

 Every year I do something different with this area. I didn't buy very many annuals this years so the colors aren't as bold as they've been in years past.

 Verbena rigida is sort of taking over this area. Who's complaining? It is a perennial and I am hoping to have seed to share. I'll let you know. The purple foliage jutting up from the middle of it is a juvenile Cotinus.

This bench is looking its age. It's got a bunch of dead fuchsia blossoms on it. My oops.

A peak at the north lawn looking worse for the wear. I'm standing on the patio, looking east to take this photo. To the left is the patio pond.

I'm standing on the patio for this shot too but I'm looking north instead of east.

 The tawny, wispy foliage on the upper left are the seed heads from my Stipa gigantea. They get probably seven to eight feet tall. Love that plant! To the right of the pathway you can see the aforementioned vintage wheelbarrow just behind the rusty obelisk.

 Stipa gigantea again, sneaking out from behind my towering Heptacodium or Seven-Son Flower, just starting to bloom.

In the center of this photo is Daphne 'Summer Ice.' It's been blooming [fragrant, tiny, white blossoms] off and on since early spring! Another must-have for any garden within its Zone range.

This is taken on one of the minor paths looking out at the north lawn. To the left is the ubiquitous 'Autumn Joy' Sedum just about ready to host a bee party.

Hydrangea 'Glowing Embers.' It's not quite as red as I'd like. In front of it is H. q. 'Sike's Dwarf' sporting one amazing flower head and a bunch of amazing leaves.

And finally, looking towards the patio. On the left, finishing up are lavender, native Bachelor Buttons and Phlox.

Sorry. I've just got to brag a wee bit more about The Moment I Knew. This Friday [August 26th] is the day! I'm psyched. See my sidebar for more information and thank you to all of you for your kindness. You're awesome.