Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Bloom Day--July

There is no such thing as a "typical" year or, even less realistically, "typical" weather. This simple idea is being borne out in the garden here at the height of summer, which at times hasn't been very summery at all (although we are now enjoying low 80s, low humidity, and blue skies).

For example, Canadian columbines (Aquilegia canadensis) should be long gone at this point, yet here are some new blooms:

(Sorry for the blurriness)

Another oddity is my Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium maculatum), which should have started blooming at least a week ago but is just now starting to blossom.


(A closer look at an emergent bloom from another angle)


That is the Salvia 'Plumosa' below the Joe-Pye weed. It's still going strong and maintaining my salvia puddle, although it's starting to look tired, if you ask me. (And yes those are stakes you see. I admit it--I stake these salvias.)


In more, well, typical developments, my astilbe is blooming steadily if not grandly. After its near-death experience last year, I'm just happy to have it blooming at all.


I like the astilbe next to the Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum) because of the symmetry of their shapes and the pink panicles next to the frosty green and purple foliage.

(The plants look nice; too bad all around them is mulch-less ugly barrenness.)

This big-leaved aster (Eurybia macrophylla) is the only one blooming out of the four I planted this spring, but I'm not complaining about that ratio.

Seeing as this is the "sleep" year out of the "sleep, creep, leap" cycle, I'm pleased to have any blooms. Although in this picture the flower looks white, in person it's a very pale shade of lavender, a nice surprise.

I've given up on trying to remove the flowers of my cilantro plants to maintain vigorous foliage growth. I've just been too busy and they're too prolific, so now I'm hoping for some reseeding. They make an interesting, lacy little understory to the columbine foliage.


And how could the July garden be complete without at least one daylily? Right now one is all I have blooming:

(Anyone recognize this cultivar? It was here when I got here.)

Here is the same daylily next to a spent spirea, which had baby pink flowers when it bloomed. That's right--light pink flowers next to bright yellow and orange flowers. Offensive to the eyes, even just in your imagination!

For those of you who won books through Elizabeth's crazy color combo contest on Garden Rant, you should be glad that these weren't in bloom at that time. I would have been a runaway winner. Seriously, what was I thinking when I put those spireas there??

And although these aren't technically blooms, I have some darling little bell peppers growing that I wanted to display.

(Almost too cute to eat, but not quite.)

Happy bloom day to all! For more see Carol at May Dreams Garden!

14 comments:

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

It seems like a bonus when spring flowers keep on blooming into July. Have the butterflies started visiting your Joe Pie yet? Your Astilbe pumila is a bit ahead of mine. All you need to do in that area is put in lots more of the Astilbe and the Fern, they do make good partners. I have serious Aster-envy for your Eurybia. It has such beautiful foliage in addition to the flowers, much better than most Asters. I need to find a place for some of them. I have to agree with you, baby pink would be nauseating with that Daylily. But if they never bloom together, no harm, no foul.

garden girl said...

Very nice blooms Rose!

healingmagichands said...

My astilbe didn't just have a near death experience, they had a death. They expired in the heat last year and I have given up on having them at all. I feel lucky there are hostas and heucheras.

I'm not so picky about what colors go next to each other, I guess. I'm not sure I would be offended by pink next to orange and yellow. But eveyone to their own taste. If you come over to my place you might be shocked by the color combinations. . .

Ramble on Rose said...

MMG--The butterflies are conspicuously absent from the Joe Pye. Last year it was swamped with them, so I'm nervously waiting... And you should definitely squeeze in some E. macrophylla, as long as it doesn't shrivel grossly like that one I have.

GG--Thanks, and same to you!

HMH--I really thought my astilbe kicked the bucket last year. And I swore I wouldn't tolerate such a diva again. Now that it's blooming, I remember why I wanted one, and I want to get more!

GinaD said...

Your blooms are looking really good despite Mother Nature's moodiness this year . . . however, I am most envious of your bell peppers! I haven't seen anything worthwhile on a single one of my pepper plants yet, but fingers are crossed for overall vegetable progress now that we're occasionally getting some sun in NY. Also, while I enjoy a pretty unregulated garden scheme, I would agree that pale pink isn't the perfect companion for that great daylilly - love the bright colors on that one!

Anonymous said...

Interesting that your Joe Pye and asters are blooming already. Here in Oak Park, my sweet Joe Pye is about a week from flowering, and the asters are just starting to show tiny buds. It's definitely a microclimate thing...

Rose said...

At least your Joe Pye weed is blooming! This is the first I've heard of the expression, "sleep, creep, leap," but I will certainly remember it, Rose. It certainly does fit--my Joe Pye weed is new this year, so it is probably still sleeping. On the other hand, my butterfly weed is finally leaping!

The columbines are so sweet; how lucky you are to have them still blooming. And your astilbe looks great, too; I still haven't figured out the secret to getting them to thrive. All in all, I think this July has been a good one for the garden.

Ramble on Rose said...

GD--My pepper plant was pretty mature when I bought it, so I think it's really timing more than any great skills on my part. If the sun finally comes out by you, I bet yours will get going soon!

LCS--My Joe Pye usually starts blooming in early July, definitely to the early side for these plants. My other asters are nowhere near flowering (not even in bud yet), but this big-leaved one is a surprise!

Rose--Your Joe-Pye will definitely sleep this year. Wait until you see how fast it "leaps", though. Mine exploded even in its second year. I have lots of things "sleeping" this year too because I planted a lot of new stuff this spring. (I wish I could take credit for the clever saying, but alas I cannot!)

And as for the astilbes, the only thing I've figured out is that they're water hogs. That seems to be the key!

Dig, Grow, Compost, Blog said...

Once cilantro starts blooming and going to seed, I've never been able to get it to slow down! It does reseed fairly easily though. I also have many daylilies that I inherited with the yard and haven't a clue what they're called. There must be a million named varieties out there. Nice blooms (and nice pepper plant)!

Teresa~Gardening with Soule said...

THis has been a difficult year as far as the weather. It certainly has changed the bloom time of many of the flowers. Your garden is flourishing it seems. Thanks for showing us.

Rosemarie said...

Happy Bloom Day!

Dee/reddirtramblings said...

Our summer has also been difficult. As you say, no summer is ever the same. Don't know the name of the daylily, but it is pretty.~~Dee

Kara said...

Your mystery daylily looks A LOT like 'Bonanza'. I just bought one on clearance at Kroger. :)

Ramble on Rose said...

Jean--That cilantro did get out of control fast! I really hope it comes back next year. Things have trouble reseeding around here, probably because of the bad clay soil.

Teresa--Thank you!!

Rosemarie--Same to you!!

Dee--It's bloody hot where you are! Every time that I've whined about the rain and cool temps, I've then thought about you Southern gardeners and felt a twinge of guilt. I just can't handle that heat...

Kara--Thank you!! And don't you love random clearance plants? My Salvia nemorosa came from a sale at Meijer.

You May Also Like

Related Posts with Thumbnails