Monday, August 27, 2012

Back Yard Gardens - End of August

It seems I've blinked my eyes and another month has gone by! Seriously, where has this summer gone? It seems only a couple weeks ago I was in my glory in a frenzy of buying annuals and assembling container gardens for the season. How could that possibly be three months ago? Pouff, the seasons are flowing by and summer is coming to its end of season crescendo of color.  I spent a bit of time snapping some images from the back gardens the other morning when we had a bit of overcast so perfect light for recording the blaze of colors to store up to enjoy in the winter months.

The highlight of the terrace garden this time of year is the beautiful clump of Phlox paniculata 'Nora Leigh'.  I recently added a Weigela 'My Monet' to the left of the phlox and am really enjoying the variegation in that area of the garden.

The Fuchsia 'Billy Greene' is the highlight of this large urn at the left of the left of the terrace garden... What a beauty!

Standing at the patio looking toward the west fence line...



Container gardens on the west fence line... I absolutely adore those variegated Sunpatiens

The vignette with the large hanging basket and a couple large fuchsias...

Shade gardens looking north

The sundial garden and terrace garden showing the Hydrangea petiolaris on the oak tree.  The chartreuse arrangement in the foreground of this picture is a container garden I've recently moved to this location to fill a void from a daylily that's finished up for the season.  I absolutely adore that acalypha!


A grouping of containers on the patio. The large Acalypha wilkesiana 'Obovata' is about five years old now and is one of the temperennials I grow on under lights over the winter.

I'll have to get some shots of the tropical containers in the front gardens soon... The hot summer has spurred them to incredible growth and beauty. Just can't believe this is all going to be gone in another six weeks or so. Sigh....

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Bloom Day - August 15, 2012

Well I had some time today so I thought I'd jump onto the Bloom Day Bandwagon. It's really a lot of fun to see what's going on in everone's gardens in so many different zones. Many thanks to  Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting this great eye candy bloomfest.

The main perennials blooming here now are the Phlox paniculata, Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon) Sedums, and Hydrangeas but there are oh so many of the tender plants putting on a show right now.  I never can decide if I prefer the gardens earlier in the summer with the wonderful display of perennials or now, later in the season when all the containers come into their glory... I'll probably never make up my mind but the truth of the matter is I love it all!

My all time favorite perennial, Phlox paniculata 'Nora Leigh'. this plant is beautiful when it emerges with its wonderful variegation and continues to look terrific until the frost takes it.  Right now its in full, glorious bloom. This group of Nora has been here for ten years or so and is just so reliable, love it!






Phlox paniculata 'Bright Eyes'

Phlox paniculata 'Pink Flame' - This one is a fantastic bloomer and has had flowers for a month now. What a performer!

Hydrangea paniculata 'Tardiva'

Hydrangea 'Pinky Winky' (What a foolish name for a plant)

Hydrangea 'Endless Summer' is putting out a few more blossoms.

Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice' (Summersweet)



Hybiscus syriacus

Hybiscus syriacus 'Sugar Tips' -  Just love this gorgeous shrub!


Echinacea 'Coconut Lime' (Coneflower) with Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)

Agastache 'Blue Fortune'


Buddliea 'Harlequin' (Butterfly Bush)

Eupatorium 'Little Joe' (Joe Pye Weed)

Sedum 'Autumn Joy'

Unnamed sedum seedling... this gorgeous plant appeared in my garden about seven years ago and has rewarded me with its fantastic deep purple foliage and yellow flowers for years now. I've never seen anything else quite like this.


Persicaria 'Golden Arrow' with Hosta 'Frances Williams'

Rose 'The Fairy'

Rose 'Fascination'

Rose 'All American Beauty'

Fuschia 'Galadriel'

Fuchsia 'Beacon'

Fuchsia 'Sunray'

Fuchsia 'Gartenmeister'

Fuchsia 'Billy Greene'


Fuchsia 'Claire de Lune'

I bought this begonia without a tag but it looks a lot like 'Anna Feile' -  It's a stupendous bloomer



New Guinea Impatiens


If I could only grow one annual this would be it. Sunpatiens variegated spreading salmon. It is a fantastic vigorous grower, nothing seems to bother it and it looks great all the time. There is a variety with a white flower that I love too and have use them extensively in my containers and borders.


 Dahlia 'Kelvin Floodlight'


 Abutilon

Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower)



Canna 'Pretoria'

New Guinea Impatiens

Lantana 'Tropical Fruit' with Painted Lady Butterfly


Pentas


Passiflora (Passionflower Vine) 


And so many, many more but I'm out of time and energy for today....