Allium pulchella
A sure sign that summer is coming to an end, is the Japanese Anemones beginning to bloom. I love them, find they will grow in multiple locations, and are relatively care free, (ie need little or no staking, aren't bothered by pests and spread fairly slowly).
Anemone japonica 'Honorine Jobert'
Here in the Pacific NorthWest, we have enjoyed an unusually wonderful August. It's been so perfect weather-wise, that I really haven't had any time to spend time inside writing my blog. Today is cool and grey, so it's giving me the opportunity to reflect on my garden, and start to plan fall/winter containers, and next year's seeds/flowers. I have kept a garden log for nearly 30 years, and one of my annual entries is the successes in the garden.
This year a few of the flowers that I've been especially pleased with are:
Baptisia australis
Unfortunately this year, I was away on vacation for two weeks during its prime bloom season, but I did cut a huge bouquet of the flowers to give to my mother. The plant itself still looks magnificent today at the end of August, when many perennials are ready to be cut back. In fact, it is so vigourous, I am thinking that perhaps the top of my Alpine garden is not the right place for it... though I don't think it could survive transplanting I could try one of the seedlings in a new spot...mmmm....
Oriental Lilies
This one is Star Gazer. Lilies are so easy...just plunk the bulbs in with some bone meal or bulb fertilizer, weed the area once in awhile, and let them multiply... Not sure why I don't grow more of them... I love cut flowers and nothing beats lilies in a bouquet! I do cut the stamens off to avoid staining the petals and tabletops, etc.
Alchemilla erythropoda
This is a tiny dwarf version of the more common Lady's Mantle A. mollis. I grow it more for the foliage than the flowers, which will often turn reddish as they age. I've had it for several years in my Alpine Rock Garden, and this year it has just taken off...maybe because I dug up several small plantlets to transplant? Looks good for 7-8 months a year!
Echeveria
Another plant I grow primarily for its foliage, though I do like the flowers too. This one is tender, and can't take any frost. I usually keep it in containers, but I had so many babies potted up, I stuck some in the garden this year. I never did get around to mulching with gravel as I had intended...no point now, but I will do that next year just to 'prettify' the planting, and help keep the weeds/moss down.
New Zealand Flax with Sunpatience 'Variegated Spreading Salmon'
This planter was absolutely care free all Summer. The flax I keep in pots so that I can place them in the greenhouse for the winter. I planted One Sunpatience annual in there, and it has bloomed non-stop. I may try and take cuttings before hard frost, as I would like to redo this planting next year, and the Sunpatience is pretty new and not that easy to find.
