Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Time for a Walk around the Curb Beds

The last update I did was a month ago, and it was fun for me to see how much the plants have grown.


 The bergenias, heucheras, and hellebores that I moved to this area are all doing fine.


This bush clematis continues to be one of my favorite plants.  It looks good all season.  I'm figuring out this part of the bed is in the shade by 1 or 2 in the afternoon.  I think the sedums could use a bit more sun, as they have been getting floppy.  I tried pinching them back a couple weeks ago.  Hopefully that will help.


The 2 persicara clumps I got from a friend died back, but I didn't give up on them, and am pleased they have grown new leaves.  I looked up the spelling, and after looking at the images, think this is persicara amplexicaulis.  I love it, and from what I just read online, insects like it, too.  The sad plant behind it is the salvia plumosa I split into 2 clumps and planted.  It perked up this evening, and looked much better.  We've had quite a lot of rain, but are now experiencing quite the hot temperatures.  It is supposed to be over 100 degrees tomorrow.


When I first started gardening, Stoke's asters were one of my favorites.  They still would be if they had a longer bloom time.  I need to deadhead them this year.


We've been facing north and a bit east, now we're facing north with a turn to the west.  I've been filling spaces with a few more plants, some from other places in the yard, and with potted plants.


We're still facing north, and going east along the bed.  The milkweed (on the right) is taller than it was last year.  So far, the few I pulled out that went beyond where I wanted them have stayed pulled.  The goldenrod is starting to bloom, even though I pinched it back.


 Continuing east, we are almost to the sidewalk.  I put a sweet potato vine in one of these holes near where bulbs are planted.  I'm not sure if I'll like it, but I'll trim it back if need be.  I missed harvesting lavender to dry, but did trim some that were flopping on the sides, and hung a few bunches anyway.


I have a closer photo of the winter savory in another photo.  It's starting to bloom, and I didn't get any picked to dry, but I still can if I do it soon.


I am remembering that part of the reason for the holes by the curb is because of moving them 18 inches from the curb when they did the street repairs 2 years ago. I've been planting moss rose, but the squirrels have been worse than usual about digging plants up.  I've been going around checking to make sure the newer ones are still planted.  Some have not survived the ordeal.  Some have had it happen more than once.


We'll continue east.



Turning the corner, we now face south, and are heading west.







I can't remember what kind of sea holly this is, but the kind I got for the other end is different.  I like this prickly one.  I think the plant I have the most of other than irises and daylilies is liatris.  I seem to collect them, and have several different kinds.  I missed getting the baby's breath cut to dry, too.  I sure am enjoying them in the garden, even though they flop a bit.


This is looking back east at the edge of the sidewalk.  The wood betony plants are doing well.


I moved several daylilies to this area last year.  They are looking better this year than last.


Looking back west:


This winter savory was one of the first plants in this bed, and has done well each year.



Facing south:


Heading west:



The daylilies were a bit spent after the hot day.


Most of the 'Spooky' dianthus leaves turned brown, so I trimmed them back, hoping they will grwo and boom again.  This one didn't do that.


Our nights are cool enough this week, that it is very comfortable working in the garden in the mornings.  I went out as soon is it was light out this morning, and hope to tomorrow, as well.   I hope you are keeping cool, wherever you are.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Blooms for Tuesday

Now that it's summer, there are new blooms almost daily, and more and more are finishing up for the season.

The daylilies are providing lots of color.


The veronicas are doing well, too.


I know I've shown lots of milkweed blooms, but this is the first from the common milkweed.  The neighbors will appreciate it if I don't let these go to seed.


I pinched back most of the goldenrods, but may have forgotten some.  I'll have to check back to see if the first ones started blooming this early in the past.


 The stoke's asters are starting to bloom.


The daylilies I call, "Shopko" because that's where I got them are loaded with blooms, as usual.


 I included a few photos that show some plants that are blooming together.  The bright daylilies are 'Wally' that I fell in love with from someone's yard online, and found a place to order it and some others a few years ago.



I think this yarrow is 'Paprika'.


The drumstick alliums are showing color now.



The false sunflowers are at their best now.  Can you see the clematis growing on the lattice on the deck?  (Added 6/28/11: The scientific name is heliopsis helianthoides.)


I can't think of the name of this plant.  I showed it for foliage follow up, and now, it has cute yellow blooms.


I always enjoy the limoniums.  The blooms can be cut to dry, but they also last a long time on the plant.


The daylily on the left is in the same location my mother-in-law had it planted in when she was alive and lived here.  It was surrounded by grass, though, and not these other plants.


I'll have to see if I can find the tag for this new clematis that I planted last year.  This is its first bloom.


The name of the clematis on the other side of the arch trellis isn't coming to my brain right now, but I've put it in the blog in the past.  It sure is full of blooms!


 Here's the honeysuckle that's in front of the house.



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