Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - August 2014

I've been a bad blogger. My last post was just a few days after July's Bloom Day post. I blame the heat, my attention on other things, sheer summer laziness - you get the picture. But my garden and I are back for Bloom Day, so I'll amuse myself by arranging the flower show in a color continuum.

The dwarf pomegranate, Punica granatum 'True Dwarf' blooms on.

The last few flowers on Phygelius x rectus 'Passionate' attract the occasional hummingbird.

In my hellstrip, Hesperaloe parviflora took three years to bloom, but now shows no signs of stopping.

The stately flower of Cotyledon orbiculata.

Oregon Checker Mallow (Sidalcea oregana) bloomed profusely earlier this summer. The Mulch Man cut it back afterwards, and it rewarded him with a second flush of bloom.

NOID summer-blooming heather.

Here's another with a frosty companion, also an unknown cultivar..

My Cistus gets very few blooms - these two are it, right now.

What's left of Eucomus comosa 'Sparkling Burgundy'.

These Sarracenia species are cool, but I guess they aren't technically flowers.

A pinky-bronze sunflower.

Helenium 'Moorheim Beauty'

'Moorheim Beauty' has been attracting lots of bees.

Rudbeckia triloba.

A Rudbeckia from this past spring's plant exchange. I don't remember who the donor was, but I thank you!

Crocosmia 'Golden Fleece' or 'Citron'.

Just look at this Eucomis pole-evansii almost ready to open. Green!

It's almost as green when it's fully open, like this one.

We had to give Rosa 'Darlow's Enigma' a serious chop, but she's coming back with a few single blossoms.

Rosa 'Sally Holmes' buds have a soft apricot tinge, but mature to pure white.

Only one volunteer Foxglove, and it's white. What are the chances?

Lewisia columbiana var. walloensis has been blooming all summer. It loves its dry, gravelly bed.

Another summer-long bloomer, Erigeron glaucus.

Nepeta 'Walkers Low' really IS low now; I cut it back hard early this year and it hasn't overwhelmed anything since. Perfect!

Last year this Caryopteris was in full flower for Bloom day, but I moved it and that must have set it back.

And just like me, the Cape Primrose is spending summer vacation outdoors on the patio.

Bloom Day is hosted each month at May Dreams Gardens. Hop over there to see what's in bloom in other gardens around the country.

Happy Bloom Day!

Selaginella uncinata is my favorite plant in the garden, this week.

No, your eyes aren't deceiving you: Peacock Spike Moss is almost psychedelic in patches. Its striking, iridescent blue-green foliage is just one reason it's my favorite plant this week.

Add to that its tolerance of deep shade (read: most of my front yard) and its feathery, floaty foliage that looks perfect in summer, and I have a winner in two pots on my front porch.

I had another workhorse, deep-shade-tolerant Carex morrowi, in these pots for years but I got just a little tired of them. Selaginella uncinata was their heir apparent.

Here's a little more about Peacock Spike Moss, from Plant Lust. First Xera's description:

"Peacock club moss is an extraordinary small foliage plant. Trailing branches are clad in surreal green blue as well as green-a great effect. In winter it takes on tints of maroon and orange. Perfect for shady locations with rich well drained soil that retains moisture. Excellent at the base of large Rhododendrons with ferns and Hosta. Regular water in part shade to shade."

And from Plant Delights:

"Peacock moss (a prehistoric fern relative) is one of my favorite groundcovers for the woodland garden...I bet I say that to all the selaginellas. The low, spreading habit and the semi-evergreen metallic aquamarine foliage, overlaid on a green background, are sure to make visitors stop to admire this gem. The color is best after the new growth emerges in late spring."

The stats:
Zone: 7a-11
Water: Regular moisture during summer
Size: Xera says the plant will be about a foot across, but mine are bigger (those pots are a foot across). About 8" high.
Soil needs: Well-drained, rich
Foliage: Semi-evergreen. Tints of orange and bronze in Fall

These pots stayed out all winter - because of our cold periods the plants died right back and were slow to come back in spring. The iridescence takes warmth to develop in summer, too. But once that psychedelic color comes back they are fabulous.

The favorite plant meme is hosted by Loree at danger garden. See what favorites are happening in other gardens this week by checking the comments at the link.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - July 2014

This past weekend, I have been on a whirlwind tour of garden visits through the 2014 Garden Bloggers Fling. This year the Fling happened in Portland, and I was thrilled to be part of the team planning events. We enjoyed visits to gardens, both private and public, combined with nursery visits and tons of plant talk with over 80 garden-obsessed bloggers. It was great!

But my garden has been getting short shrift. Luckily, it seems to be doing all right with some kind attention and watering by the Mulch Man, and has entered high summer's bloom time with exuberance! Let's take a quick tour, with minimal notes to slow us down.

Zantedeschia 'Flame'.

Kniphofia 'Timothy'.

I bought this pretty fringed pink as Dianthus noeanus, but its proper name is apparently Dianthus petraeus var. noeanus. I also discovered this year that it has the sweetest smell, completely unlike any Dianthus I've ever smelled before with none of the clove-y quality you might expect. Heaven!

Phygelius 'Passionate', with a friend guarding his nectar stash.

It's time for the Crocosmia parade. Crocosmia 'Lucifer'.

Crocosmia 'Corona'.

Crocosmia pottsii 'Culzean Pink' with Eucomus comosa 'Sparkling Burgundy'.

Helenium 'Moerheim Beauty'.

Not quite blooming but coming right along, Eucomus pallidiflora ssp. pole-evansii.

The cross-breeding Eryngium conundrum: I think this is still E. planum 'Jade Frost'.

Eringium variifolium.

Agastache 'Apricot Sprite'.

The seemingly ever-blooming Lewisia cotyledon.

A couple of Feverfew plants light up a dark area.

Last, a couple of the Sunflowers I planted to protect a newly-transplanted Podocarpus macrophyllus from summer sun aren't doing that yet, but they are pretty cheerful anyway.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day is hosted by the lovely Carol at May Dreams Gardens. Pop over for a visit to see what's blooming elsewhere around the nation and the world.

Happy Bloom Day!