June 2014 Blooms

Just two photos for June Bloom Day, to try to get myself back into the habit of posting something here for the record.

These are two of my favorite plant combinations in my yard, and they are both blooming now.  One was planned, the other a happy accident.  Enjoy!

Asclepias tuberosa (orange butterfly weed) and Spigelia marilandica (Indian pink)

Rudbeckia and Larkspur

I adore the long, fluffy petals on this annual rudbeckia.  Each year since this combo first "happened" along my front walk, I've shaken the seed heads of the rudbeckia and the larkspur over the bed, trying to get more plants the next year.  I end up with exactly one rudbeckia and about two larkspur.  At least they are near each other again this year.

June 2013 Blooms: Lilies

Whether they be Lilium or Hemerocallis, the lilies bloom in June.

 First, the Asiatic lilies, growing under the honeylocusts in the side yard.

 

They grow up as the daffodil foliage is dying down.



 The "Easter" lilies grow by the garage door:

 

Over in the upper garden, common ditch and Stella D'Oro daylilies fill in under the plum tree:

 



The side yard has the showier daylilies, including these red ones.

 

 

All the lilies (day- and otherwise) shown above came with the property.  I've since added others, but they are not among the early bloomers.

 

Because I can't let Bloom Day pass showing off only one or two flower types, and because I've committed to showing more than just close-up photos, here are two broader shots.  First, the front walk, with Rudbeckia, Tennessee coneflower, and lavender:

 



Now, in the upper garden, my very favorite combination - Asclepias tuberosa (orange butterfly weed), Spigelia marilandica (Indian Pink), and Thermopsis caroliniana (Carolina bushpea):



Disclaimer: this was two weeks ago.  A. and S. are still in full bloom now, but T. is done.

Every once in a great while a plan that forms in my head becomes reality.  This vignette makes me smile just as much as I'd hoped it would.

What's blooming in your yard today?

August 2012 Blooms

I'm determined to post my photos on Bloom Day this month, even though my garden has been less than showy this summer.

I think the most interesting blooms at the moment are in the veggie garden.  I have a new volunteer cucumber that's flowering and fruiting;

Here are the scarlet runner beans I couldn't show off Monday:

This pattypan squash is growing big, but that flower hasn't even opened yet.  I can' say I understand how that works.

On the flower front, I have some lantana still in its nursery pot.  But since I let the lantana plant in my pot out front dry up and die, I'll use this as a replacement.  If I ever get around to potting it up, that is.

Joe Pye Weed are starting to open up. I love the pink billowy flower clusters.

 Out front, I have no idea what this plant is.  I got it in a swap last year, and promptly lost the tag.  But it is starting to bloom now.

Also in the front bed, the catmint is still blooming, and the bush clover is just getting started.

Rudbeckia usually carry the garden through the summer, but this year many of them have dried up.  Here's one in the front that's still showy.

In the 'what are you thinking' category, a few spring bloomers are confused.  Butterflyweed and penstemon are reblooming.

To see more August blooms, visit May Dreams Gardens.

also blooming:  echinacea, coreopsis, gaillardia, geranium, aster, balloon flower, boltonia, buddleia, crape myrtle, white rose, larkspur, liriope, zinnia, mums, tall phlox

June Blooms, part 2

Finally showing off what was blooming in my yard on June Bloom Day, the 15th of the month.

In the upper garden: stokesia, butterfly weed, baptisia seed pods, rudbeckia

Upper Garden

Rudbeckia in the upper garden

There are different Rudbeckia along the front walk. Last year I wintersowed a whole bunch of different types and planted them in various spots on the garden. I have no idea what's where anymore.

Rudbeckia along the front walk

Also in the front are some very tipsy glads:

Gladiolus

Over in the side garden, a yellow flower I wintersowed last year. I think its a heliopsis, though it might be a helianthus. I really have no idea.

Heliopsis?

Around back, I have last fall's mums in a pot. They are blooming already.

Mums!?!?!?

In the garage garden, the "Easter" lilies are brightening up the corner, while farther down 'Franz Schubert' is the first of the garden phlox to bloom. This was a plant I 'rescued' off the clearance table a few years ago, and it has limped along ever since. I am happy to see it bloom.

"Easter" lilies in the garage garden

Phlox 'Franz Schubert'

Completing the circuit, some coreopsis on the terraces:

Zagreb coreopsis on the terraces

Whew! Finally done.