A Coneflower Explosion

I have quite a lot of coneflowers, and I rather like them.  By 'a lot' I mean a lot of plants, not a lot of types.  Most of my plants are the straight species purple kind.  On the patio I have some 'White Swan', which I adore.  And in the front, a small 'Rocky Top', chosen for its unique up-curved petals.

I've not had much interest in all the specialty coneflowers - doubles, new colors, etc - up to now.  Last weekend I paid a short visit to the National Arboretum, and saw this:

(It was a super sunny day, so had trouble with photos.  These are actually much more colorful.)

Now I need more coneflowers.

~~~~~
Also at the arboretum,  a field of Amsonia hubrichtii:

a field of Amsonia mounds at the arboretum

Yes, a whole field.  I have a clump, the arboretum has a field.

my single clump of amsonia

Across the walk from the Amsonia are the Capitol columns.

Now that's garden art.

The Daylily Post

I didn't include any photos of daylilies in my June Bloom Day post.  If I had, it might have looked as if my yard is mostly daylilies.  While there are two sections of garden beds that have a lot of daylilies, they do not overwhelm the landscape.  But there are so many different daylilies that they would overwhelm a post.  So here is a post dedicated to these beautiful flowers.

I've not included the early-blooming Stella D'Oro nor the ubiquitous ditch lily.  I have a lot of both, but they are already finished, I showed them last year, and everyone knows what they look like anyway.

In the side garden, most of the daylilies preceded my arrival.

I love that several are red - red is a color I don't have much of (except paired with yellow, as in Aquilegia canadensis, Spigelia marilandica, and Gaillardia).

There is a third red daylily that hasn't bloomed yet - but it has buds.  And this garden section isn't all red:

This orange one (not to be confused with ditch lilies) I brought with me from the other house.  It was just labeled 'Orange'.  I call it my birthday flower.

These purple ones I got in trades.  So I should know their names, but I wasn't very good at recordkeeping.  One is in the upper garden, making friends with the common daylilies, and the other is in a pot by the garage.

Also in the upper garden, under the plum tree, a beautiful, clear, light orange (also a trade plant) opened today:

June 2012 Blooms

Another late Bloom Day post, though these photos were actually taken on the 15th.  Here's some of what is blooming mid-month.

In the garage garden, Easter lilies, tall phlox, and valerian: 

'Easter' lilies

Phlox paniculata 'Franz Schubert'

 

Valerian

Last spring I threatened to shovel-prune the valerian, but it took advantage of my procrastination and lived another year.
(not pictured:  Geranium, Stokesia)

On the patio, an assortment of black-eyed susan and two colors of echinacea:

In the upper terrace, Stokesia, Spigelia marlandica, and Monarda:

Stokesia

Spigelia marylandica

Monarda 'Raspberry Wine'

(not pictured:  black-eyed susan, spiderwort, daylilies)

Some columbine that don't know when to stop:

(also in the lower terrace:  dianthus)

In the side garden, the balloon flowers are popping:

(not picured:  asiatic lilies, lots of daylilies, butterfly bush, lamb's ear, rose campion)

The front yard is even looking showy this month.  Along the front walk are several types of Rudbeckia, some 'Rocky Top' Echinacea, larkspur, lavender (not pictured), and some pansies hanging on:

Along the front walk

In the front bed, some cinquefoil and one white glad:

(not pictured:  four-o'clocks, catmint, sedum)

Thanks for looking at my June blooms.

Overwintering Success

Last spring I bought a hibiscus.  I adore them and had wanted one for a long time.  What kept hibiscus from my life for so long?  The thought that I'd have to care for it inside over winter, since they are not cold-hardy.  I know I've mentioned before that I don't do houseplants (with a few exceptions).  But finally last year my desire won out and I got a peach-colored hibiscus.

It summered on the deck, and wintered in my living room. I won't say it had an easy life inside.  In fact, I very nearly killed it - three times!  This plant takes a lot of water.  But it survived.  This past weekend it even made a flower.

While the shrub is still a bit sparse looking, I'm taking the flower as a sign of overwintering success.  phew!