| I nearly missed this bloom , Anemonopsis macrophylla, sitting deep in the shade garden . I had to crawl under to get a look. It would be much happier in a cooler climate . I keep it well watered and surrounded by cool foliage. It seems to take all spring and summer for it to bloom. They don't last long in this heat ! |
| And while I was scrambling along I found this little clump of Colchiums. |
| After moving the metal fence this spring , I'd didtn't get round to planting anything in this space . Quite a large area , since I removed the sprawling Forsythia and a few others. |
| So the garden took care of itself. I believe everything I'd ever grown from seed has converged on this spot : Verbasicum , Nicotiana , Ammi, Dill,Borage, foxgloves and an acorn squash , conveniently in front of the gate . I couldn't have done better myself. |
| Here is a look from with in my new planting area , it's filled in nicely. Not only that, but looking on the ground I can see many , many new seedlings appearing , that means another round of Cerinthe major. The bloomers are: Kniphofia percy's pride,Sedum 'Autumn joy',Gaura l. belleza white, Sangusorba .alba, Coreopsis big bang full moon, Rudbeckia 'cherry brandy',Phlox 'nicky' Golden oregano,Thymus'silver posie,Achillea , feverfew and the very rampant Queen ann's lace. |
| I took this looking out my sunroom window this morning. Bronze fennel, Helenium , various Agastache and Phlox |
| This little charmer I found nestled within the micro climate of the shade garden. Join Carol for many more August blooms here |
| Yes, he's back with a vengeance. I thought I had pulled most of last years plants before they set seed, apparently not. This one I love , trailing through a huge Baptisia . |
| I've been searching for the best place to plant my recently purchased ( From Roger Goosler at Joy Creek nursery) . Placing it here and their, till I decided it should go in front of the house, in a small area where I had cleared out a dead Euphorbia. |
| It's companions are: A variegated Weigela that I layered a few years ago. A straggly Eucomis Sparklying brandy, An even stragglier Panicum 'Cheyenne sky'... |
| and this Yucca 'blue boy' , a healthy one. |
| Then I decided to pull out the verigateded sedum , that was no longer variegated. I did pinch out all the variegated bits and replant them. And a few of my endless supply of Euphorbia flame leaf. I seem to have taken several steps backwards ! |
| One of those jobs that needed doing, but have put off till now. But then I couldn't be hauling gravel in 90+ temps. I only got a 1/4 yard of pea gravel , which was just enough to give everything a nice thick layer. I really wanted to re contour all the paths. And that I did, pulling out as I went along. The paths now are much wider , it was mostly sedum that went, it does take over . |
| I've been organizing the Carex , by color. |
| The Irises …moved again , they get so messy , I don't know where is the best place for them . |
| I haven't started going over this area yet, the bergenias at the top will be moving , they got scorched this summer. The Lamium , I attack aggressively several times all year long . |
| Under all this Saccharum foliage , I found half a dozen Verbena seedling..nice. |
| Mickey crunch, crunching along. |
| This time of year it's not always easy to find certain critters. |
| So many places to duck and dive. |