Sitting at my desk pondering what to post... this is the view from my desk... hmmm... MY GARDEN... seen thru the screen of my office window.... so here goes...
Ok , up close and personal ...
As you know, I design gardens for a living and because I am so busy at optimum planting time, my own garden gets leftovers in both plant material and attention. This year, we had so much rain and cooler temperatures with low humidity that things look a tad better, even for my much neglected garden. Usually, by the end of July, I am sick of my garden's appearance altogether. Large, old very mature, trees, block out the sun. What's great about shade gardens is that they are typically more forgiving of neglect and have a tendency to naturalize well.
Ok... now ... enough excuses...
I didn't plant this bed of wild, orange daylilies. My house is almost a hundred years old, so not sure how long they have been here... they are densely planted, probably when the trees were young to allow for more sun. They are doubles... not great performers for me, because of the shade... but I do get some blooms... so I'm happy! They are also mass planted with an abundance of old hostas that bloom purple along with a sprinkling of phlox in purples and pinks... so its a lush happy bed.
A purple double Rose of Sharon compliments the purple hosta blooms. Again... wish I knew who planted it and when...
This is a porcelainberry vine. It has a variegated foliage and tiny white berries... a nice filler on the back of my garage. I planted this one (wanted roses... but impossible in the shade) a few years ago. It is considered pretty invasive and undesirable if planted in the sun. I am able to keep it under control very easily. It is deciduous so it will lose its foliage in the fall.
Of course, my hydrangeas, from snowballs, to lace caps, have been blooming for about a month and last the rest of the summer. Love the star hydrangea in the middle picture. They begin blooming white then turn bluish.
I do alot of planters, because they are more "critter resilient". This one has has double Impatiens and Abutilon hybridum, commonly called flowering maples, along with a Euphorbia, commonly called diamond frost, I often use it as a filler in my containers ... its a sweet little pearly white filler.
More planters...
Lysimachia clethroides, commonly known as Gooseneck Loosestrife is a vigorous grower with attractive, oval pointed leaves. Tiny saucer-shaped white blossoms are produced on tapered spikes resembling ( you guessed it) a goose's neck. These are planted behind the daylilies and seem to thrive no matter where you plant them. Invasive, yes! I love them... they are planted behind the daylilies and border my property line. My neighbor has a pretty sad yard with no flowers so if they wander over there ... IMPROVEMENT!!!
Caladium leaves add sprinkles of color and texture. I plant them at the foot of pots to nestle them in and give it a more natural feel. Happy little plants that can be dug up and overwintered in a cool place then planted again spring after spring.
What's bloomin' in your garden?