Though I'm a day late, the month has rolled around to Bloom Day, the day on which we celebrate and document the flowers in our garden. It's a lot less floriferous in my garden this month, but I do have a few to share with you.
First up, Lagerstroemia 'Natchez", my white crape myrtle, is in full splendor. It just gets better every year.
I am infatuated with this genus and have been scheming on ways to add more of them to my gardens.
In the front garden, where I lost a big Ceanothus 'Victoria', I have some temporary perennial plantings around the new, small Ceanothus. Here is Silene dioica 'Ray's Golden', appropriately from Amy Campion.
Geranium sidoides is hanging out with the young Ceanothus, too.
As is Agastache 'Apricot Sprite'.
And Agastache 'Coronado Red' (looking a little summer-weary now.)
In that same bed, Crocosmia 'Corona' is blooming its last few flowers. The hot spell we had two weeks ago shortened all the summer bloom times this year.
Echinops ritro is also on its last blooms. I have enjoyed this plant along with several Crocosmia cultivars this past month.
The crowning glory of this bed is Eucomis 'Sparkling Burgundy'. I don't know why I have such good luck with this cultivar, but I never water them and they thrive. That's my kind of plant!
Across from the Eucomis is Daphne 'Eternal Fragrance', still blooming up a storm.
It's hard to photograph, but I must include Hesperaloe parviflora, blooming in the south hell strip. It took years to rev up, but now it blooms reliably every summer for months.
Before we go east again, take a look at Rosa 'Sally Holmes'. She has recovered from her unfortunate accident earlier this year and rebounded with lots of bloom trusses.
Heading back inside the gate, we have Trachelospermum jasminoides, still fragrant with a number of flowers.
It's time for the late-season Kniphofia. This beauty is Kniphofia 'Percy's Pride', from Ricki.
And this is a trial Kniphofia from Ann, whose tag I have managed to mislay. I can see it would like more sun than it gets in this increasingly shady bed.
Eryngium 'Neptune's Gold' has the best bright yellow-gold foliage early in the season. Its flowers are not spectacular and have dried out in the center, but I like its strong veining.
This late-season Crocosmia goes by several cultivar names, including 'Citron', 'Citronella' and 'Golden Fleece'.
NOID Caryopteris is another beautiful color for late summer.
In the Northwest Territory things are pretty quiet, except for Erigeron glaucus.
This isn't a flower, but I'm loving the bud-like white shoots just beginning to show on Pinus thunbergiana 'Thunderhead'. They look floral to me.
Last on the scene is a sweet jar of Dahlias with one gorgeous russet Sunflower brought by our son from his garden this past weekend. It's delightful to to be gifted with flowers I love but don't grow for myself!
Bloom Day is sponsored each month by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. Check out other blooms from all over creation there.
Happy (belated) Bloom Day!
First up, Lagerstroemia 'Natchez", my white crape myrtle, is in full splendor. It just gets better every year.
I am infatuated with this genus and have been scheming on ways to add more of them to my gardens.
In the front garden, where I lost a big Ceanothus 'Victoria', I have some temporary perennial plantings around the new, small Ceanothus. Here is Silene dioica 'Ray's Golden', appropriately from Amy Campion.
Geranium sidoides is hanging out with the young Ceanothus, too.
As is Agastache 'Apricot Sprite'.
And Agastache 'Coronado Red' (looking a little summer-weary now.)
In that same bed, Crocosmia 'Corona' is blooming its last few flowers. The hot spell we had two weeks ago shortened all the summer bloom times this year.
Echinops ritro is also on its last blooms. I have enjoyed this plant along with several Crocosmia cultivars this past month.
The crowning glory of this bed is Eucomis 'Sparkling Burgundy'. I don't know why I have such good luck with this cultivar, but I never water them and they thrive. That's my kind of plant!
Across from the Eucomis is Daphne 'Eternal Fragrance', still blooming up a storm.
It's hard to photograph, but I must include Hesperaloe parviflora, blooming in the south hell strip. It took years to rev up, but now it blooms reliably every summer for months.
Before we go east again, take a look at Rosa 'Sally Holmes'. She has recovered from her unfortunate accident earlier this year and rebounded with lots of bloom trusses.
Heading back inside the gate, we have Trachelospermum jasminoides, still fragrant with a number of flowers.
It's time for the late-season Kniphofia. This beauty is Kniphofia 'Percy's Pride', from Ricki.
And this is a trial Kniphofia from Ann, whose tag I have managed to mislay. I can see it would like more sun than it gets in this increasingly shady bed.
Eryngium 'Neptune's Gold' has the best bright yellow-gold foliage early in the season. Its flowers are not spectacular and have dried out in the center, but I like its strong veining.
This late-season Crocosmia goes by several cultivar names, including 'Citron', 'Citronella' and 'Golden Fleece'.
NOID Caryopteris is another beautiful color for late summer.
In the Northwest Territory things are pretty quiet, except for Erigeron glaucus.
This isn't a flower, but I'm loving the bud-like white shoots just beginning to show on Pinus thunbergiana 'Thunderhead'. They look floral to me.
Last on the scene is a sweet jar of Dahlias with one gorgeous russet Sunflower brought by our son from his garden this past weekend. It's delightful to to be gifted with flowers I love but don't grow for myself!
Bloom Day is sponsored each month by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. Check out other blooms from all over creation there.
Happy (belated) Bloom Day!