Friday, June 14, 2013

Blooms in the Middle of June

Bloom times for most flowers continue to be behind last spring, and we sure have had much more rain than usual.  Gardening is always an adventure, and I am enjoying the progression of the season.  I took photos of lots of blooms for Garden Blogger's Bloom Day.  Like I normally do, I'll switch back and forth between providing common or botanical names for them.

Here's the unnamed rose I rescued a number of years ago from the sale table at a local garden center.  It's the only rose that I grow, because it doesn't seem to require special treatment.


The milkweeds are just in bud.  The pretty pink blooms will probably not be open next month, so I'll include them here.


The coneflowers are just beginning to open their buds.


This bush blue clematis has done well for a number of years.


This is a native Verbena, a low growing spreader.


These Sedums survived winter in this spot.


Purple milkweed:


Golden alexander, a host plant for black swallowtail caterpillars:


I wish I kept better track of the names of different plants.  This large blooming clematis has been growing in front of our porch a number of years.


Amsonia tabernaemontana:


Pincushion flower:


The last bloom of the Gas plant:


Rue, a host plant for swallowtail caterpillars:


Sweet peas:


I think this is Echinacea paradoxa.


The Baptisias are almost finished blooming.


The Shell leaf penstemons are almost finished blooming, too.  I sure love them!

 

These are either Phlox pilosa (Practically Perfect Pink Phlox, according to Gail) or Phlox pilosa 'eco happy traveler'.  I have both, and can't tell the difference.  This is the largest clump.  The rest are pretty small, but seem to be spreading a bit more.


I'm pretty sure this is New Jersey tea.  I am excited for the blooms to open.  I planted it last year, and it did not bloom then.


The Winecups, or Poppy Mallow are doing well.  This clump of 'Logan Calhoun' is very full of blooms.


I planted several Coreopsis lanceolatas last year, and am pleased to see them loaded with blooms this year.


A neighbor lady gave me a start of Honeysuckle when we first moved here 15 years ago.  You can smell these blooms a ways away from it.


A Verbascum of some kind:


I was pleased to find a couple Birdsfoot violets this spring, and they are blooming.


Knautia macedonicas bloom all summer.


This is one of the first coneflowers I planted in this bed, maybe 10 years ago.  I'm thinking it's Narrow leaf purple coneflower.  I planted a few more last year, and even more this year.  Some of them, though, are the Black Sampson kind.  You can see a couple poppy seedheads in this photo.


My friend, Janet, gave me some seedlings of Nigella a few years ago, and this is the best they've done so far.  I cut off some of the seed pods today, hoping to extend the bloom time.


I have been able to keep the Pink primrose from spreading farther than the space I have for them.


A couple hoverflies have been enjoying the blooms on the Foxglove for a few days.  They are fun to watch.


The comfrey plant falls over when it's finished blooming.  I cut it back, and put it on the compost pile, and it grows back, and I'm thinking, blooms again.  This year, I plan to put it in a bucket with some water, and find out how many days to leave it before using it to fertilize my vegetable plants.


The Phlox divaricata plants are almost finished blooming.


I have several spiderwort plants, each with a different color.  I think some have bred with each other, and I have some new colors.


The Lady's mantle and catmint are looking pretty next to each other.  When the Irises were blooming, it was a very nice grouping.  Can you see the Spiderwort in the corner?


I am hoping to keep the Evening primrose from spreading too far.


I don't remember which kind of Amsonia this is.  Unlike the others, it's a spreader, and blooms a little later than the others, which I seem to have a collection of.  It is one I need to keep in check from time to time.


Heidi wants you to know this is Salvia plumosa.


I seem to have a couple kinds of Meadow rue.  Two of the four plants are about 6 feet tall this year.  Maybe it's because of all of the rain we've had. 


The Wild quinines are just opening their buds.  These flowers will look good all season.


I think this is the Allium I bought from a woman selling plants from her yard over 30 years ago.


I didn't get these Clematis plants cut back this spring like I usually do, but did clean them up a bit before they started blooming.  I love how these two intertwine.


I did not plant as many annuals as usual this year.  We are enjoying these Nicotianas and the Lantana, Dalia, Coleus and Sweet potato vines in this double wash tub on our deck.


 I have not been keeping up with blog reading for awhile.  I hope all is well with you and your gardens.  I hope to catch up soon.

16 comments:

  1. Hi, I haven't been on your blog for a while, nice to see how things are progressing. Great collection of wild flowers. Love your two clemeatis growing together! I have never grown comfrey but I know you are supposed to leave it in a bucket with water for a month before diluting and using it as fertilizer.
    Happy GBBD!

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  2. Oh my gosh! You have so much in bloom. What a treat for you after your long winters. Color, scents, flying critters, joy all surrounding you.

    FlowerLady

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  3. So many lovely wildflowers in you garden! I have some rue that I grew from seed, but it hasn't flowered yet. I do love the foliage anyway. Glad to learn it attracts wildlife as well! Your rescued rose is really special - I love the sweet blooms of single roses.

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  4. Hi Sue, i haven't been here for a while, i thought it is still winter with you, haha! Kidding aside it looks like your plants grow so fast, as they are all blooming, and you have a lot in that seemingly small area. They are so healthy too. I can't choose anything but the blues!

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  5. I really like your native verbena and the golden alexander. I'm intrigued by knautia macedonicas. Blooms all summer. Sounds good. My love-in-a-mist is all pods now too. As for the pink primrose, Mine's getting a little wild. I pull out what I don't want. I can't image the meadow rue so tall. I would think the wind would be hard on it. Nice ending with the clematis. Mine got wind burned but is trying to bloom.

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  6. An excellent variety of plants, Sue! Generally, you are a week or two ahead of me. Your purple coneflower is looking very healthy, mine just kind of hangs on but doesn't really expand. Love those two intertwined clematis.

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  7. We have a couple of pincushions in common. I think they are so charming and whimsical. I just added mine this year. Great blooming going on in your garden.

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  8. simply beautifully captured shots...lovely!

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  9. You have lots of blooms for Bloom Day. I love the red nicotiana. I haven't done many annuals this year either.....too busy pulling and chopping weeds.

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  10. Wow, you have a lot of flowers in bloom. It's been a busy time around my garden too .... well that is when it's not raining. The only summer flowers I have this year are the ones that hang from the patio trellis. I have four hanging baskets of Impatiens and seven pots of fibrous begonias that are tied to the sides of the trellis. Automatic watering takes care of those needs so the maintenance is at a minimum.

    Have a great day in the garden.

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  11. I never realized what an assortment of plants you have. Quite a few I see are planted for the pollinators. We are still behind you in bloom time, I am into peony season at the moment. Looks like you are going to have a great summer garden.

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  12. Sue, I too have not been reading many blogs lately, but am back making an effort. I think we become burned out, and also there are many other things which need our attention. Your flowers, as usual, are beautiful. Have a wonderful day.

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  13. You've got so many wonderful plants blooming in your garden Sue. I don't know how you keep track of them all! I especially love the two clematis vines twining together.

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  14. That Purple Milkweed is fabulous! I finally found some a couple of weeks ago, and planted it, but it's not doing very well. It seems to have an aphid problem. I thought about getting some Lady Bugs, but will they eat Monarch larva, too? Nigella is on my wish list--such a fascinating plant!

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  15. Sue, I never heard of or seen Shell leaf Penstemons, I see why you like them they are so unique. They appear to be much larger than other Penstemons and I've never seen any other than the white bearded penstemon .. Lovely..

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  16. My goodness, you have so many goodies blooming right now. Let's see, if I had to pick a favorite from them, I'd say the two clematis all mixed together. Lovely!

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