
Yes...I'm a whole day late for GBBD this month. Actually, I'm almost always a day late (oops...TWO days late), so really, I'm right on schedule! July has seen temps rise quite a bit...and while most of the plants seem to be relishing it, I have to admit, I'm VERY grateful to have A/C right now! Amazingly, we got a tiny bit of rain on Sunday...which is pretty unusual for Portland during summer (there is even talk of thunderstorms in the next few days).
Before I start our tour of what's blooming here on Rhone Street, don't forget to visit Carol at May Dreams Garden for a showing of Bloom Day posts around the world!

Teucrium hircanicum
I'm totally smitten with this plant...I first saw it featured on Nan Ondra's blog, Hayefield, and like so many of the plants she features, it became an instant object of lust! Luckily, I found some for sale at the HPSO sale last fall, at the Far Reaches Farm booth. Even though I had technically spent my budget for the day, I snatched these up, knowing I'd regret it if I didn't. They are quite handsome, even when not blooming, but the blooms are definitely the icing on the cake...plus, they are gorgeous backlit...I'm sure you'll see them in MANY future posts.

Veronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination'
Amazingly, I was proactive this year in staking these beauties long before they bloomed, at which time they will inevitably flop in my garden. It's my fault...to much shade. Still...they are so lovely, I wouldn't be without them. Even before blooming, their foliage appears in graceful whorls, spaced widely on their stems...they are extremely "light-looking" for such a big plant. I adore their wispy, candelabra-esqu flowers...and so do the bees!

Echinacea purpurea 'Prairie Splendour', Leucanthemum & Pennisetum 'Karley Rose'
What would summer be without the "daisy-like" flowers. To me, nothing quite says SUMMER like they do. Of course, I love my Echinacea, and plant them all over. Well, to be honest, I plant them once and move their seedlings all over to fill empty spaces! I have a love/hate relationship with the Leucanthemum. They get so tall and floppy...not matter what I do. Also, while many plants have the good manners to fade gracefully once they've finished blooming, these Daisies don't...their spent flowers look like dingy, wet scrap of toilet paper.
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Verbena bonariensis | Persicaria 'Golden Arrow' |

Stipa gigantea
I was going to save the grasses for a different post, but couldn't help but want to share the amazing, golden seedheads of this one!

Persicaria 'Firetail' with Geranium 'Rozanne' & Geranium 'Ann Folkard' in background
I think this Persicaria is going to be too big for this spot in a year or two, but for the time being, I love it paired with Geranium 'Rozanne'. The contrast in form and color is wonderful.

Geranium 'Rozanne' & Deschampsia 'Tatra Gold'
'Rozanne' looks good pretty much everywhere, but I really love here growing through other plants, as with the wonderful, textural seed heads of this Deschampsia.
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Monarda 'Raspberry Wine' | Origanum 'Hopley's Purple' |

Sanguisorbia 'Pink Elephant'
This is another plant that flops without fail every single year. It always seems so sturdy...then, suddenly...it topples over. For some reason, this year it seems to at least be mingling nicely with its neighbors...and now I kind of like it again :-)
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Teucrium cossonii | Persicaria polymorpha |

Persicaria 'Inverleith' & Salvia 'Purple Rain'
Ok...yes, there are a few more plants than that in the pic above...but those are the two main ones! I truly adore this diminutive (comparatively) Persicaria is actually about twice as big as it usually is this year. I have no idea if our winter is to blame...but it's kind of crazy. Of course, it grew so tall, so fast, that now it wan't to open up in the middle and flop all over. Luckily, I've grown quite adept at corseting plants up with bamboo stakes and twine. Sadly, it seems to have also caused it to be less able to deal with the stress of our summer heat/wind combination...and has been scorching a little bit...more so than any other plant.

Agastache 'Purple Haze', Pennisetum 'Karley Rose' & Panicum 'Huron Solstice' with Geranium 'Ann Folkard' & Rhus 'Tiger Eyes' in background
Sometimes I plant a combination...thinking in my head that it's going to look RAD...but the reality is a bit of a letdown. Sometimes, however, like in the photo above, it works out even better than I had imagined. I LOVE the smoky purple spires of this Agastache, paired with the smoldering mauve tassels of the Pennisetum. For some reason, they really work for me. Add in the brighter magentas and chartreuses behind them and I'm kind of gaga for this vignette.

Persicaria 'Firetail & Molinia 'Moorhexe'
I know I've already shown this Persicaria in this post...but I really like it in combination with the Molinia (another fabulous find at Wind Dancer) above as well. Why don't we see more Molinias in gardens around Portland?
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Geranium 'Ann Folkard' | Eryngium yuccifolium |

Agastache 'Black Adder'
This is the very first Agastache I ever bought...and I'm still a little bit smitten with it every year when it blooms. I just love that wonderful two-tone effect that the darkly-colored bracts give the blooms.

Knautia macedonica
I'm always a little surprised at how much I love this plant. I think it's one of those plants you really have to see in person to appreciate. There is something utterly charming about its freely-produced raspberry-colored blooms. The best thing is that it just looks good...with EVERYTHING!
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Agastache rupestris | Cephalaria gigantea |
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Eryngium venustum | Epilobium angustifolium |

Echinops bannaticus
I just love the crazy, spherical flowers of Echinops...they hardly seem real.

Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'
Another coneflower...can't get enough of them!
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Drumstick Allium | Selinum wallichianum |

Astrantia maxima & Astrantia major 'Star of Beauty'
You knew you weren't going to make it without seeing a few Astrantias...right?!?!

Astrantia major 'Abbey Road'
This is the latest of the Astrantias to bloom...towards the end of the bloom cycle of the others. I'm starting to chop off the blooms of the Astrantias that have already bloomed...hopefully this will stimulate them to re-bloom this fall.

Agastache 'Desert Sunrise'
I just love this Agastache...all the qualities that make Agastache rupestris so great...but in a color that's much easier to work with :-)

Agastache 'Blue Blazes'
And now we come to the Agastache that has consumed the backyard! It's a good thing I love these, because they are going crazy back there...there is almost nothing else visible! They are as huge as the are beautiful, some are over 6' tall (and wide). They've knit together to form an almost-impenetrable thicket. And yes...the hummingbirds battle daily over this prime piece of real estate.
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Astrantia 'Ruby Wedding' | Agastache 'Golden Jubilee' |

Knautia 'Melton Pastels'
Variety is the spice of life, and even though I love the regular Knautias...I was intrigued last year by these hybrids with their range of colors. While all the ones I started from seed last year are the same light-ish pink, the ones in the front parking strip are blooming now in a nice mix of red, lavenders and pinks.
Whew...well, that was only slightly gratuitous,right? I leave you with a few wide shots of the garden right now.








Wow wow wonderful!
ReplyDeleteSpectacular garden.
Congratulations to the green thumb
Ciao
Wow, lucky you were able to find a couple of blooms this month. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAmazing, and you should never apologize for Agastaches, no matter how many you have. :-)
Hahahaha...yes, indeed, Alan. I guess we all have our strong seasons...and in my garden, that's summer-fall...makes up for my lack of anything in winter and spring ;-)
DeleteWorth the wait, and then some. In my spare time, I can't wait to re-read and pick my top 15 blooming plants of yours'! For now, the Agastache 'Black Adder' is so nice, cool, serene to me.
ReplyDeleteThis quote from someone in Italy (of course) - "Punctuality is the virtue of those who have very few appointments."
I love that quote...I may co-opt it at another point in the future...probably in about a month ;-) 'Black Adder' is fabulous...very tough and long-blooming...the bees and other pollinators go crazy for it.
DeleteScott, I am always so amazed at your summer gardens. I find that I'm introduced to plants and I've found some favorites that I hope to incorporate into my new garden spaces in time. I so admire what you have created. And, I had a big chuckle on your description of spent daisy's. Looking out my front windows now and a bit of toilet paper mush. lol. Cheers, Jenni
ReplyDeleteHahahahahahahaha...I hope I didn't ruin daisies for you, Jenni...they are fine in their time...if only they'd bow out with some grace ;-)
DeleteMy favorite thing about looking at your photos is that you'd think you live on a half acre. Everything looks incredible--I can't wait to see it in person!
ReplyDeleteThat's a huge complement, Heather...and I can't wait for you all to visit :-)
DeleteHow exactly do you squeeze so many plants into such a small space?
ReplyDeleteIt's equal parts denial, insanity and perseverance ;-)
DeleteSpectacular! I have a few bees that would love to visit your garden...........the deer have flattened mine this year.
ReplyDelete:(
Oh no! Stupid deer! I have to admit, that's one thing I don't have to deal with!
DeleteYum and yummier...and you identified the plant that I fell in love with and forgot to ask about in Lucy Hardiman's garden: Veronicastrum...must have.
ReplyDeleteOMG...you'd love the Veronicastrum...so elegant and stately!
DeleteI love it all and am amazed at the number of agastache you have. I only wish I could find some more that are hardy in my zone. So far, only Blue Fortune is reliable. I will be looking for some other persicaria as Polymorpha is going to come out of my border, can't seem to stay upright.
ReplyDeleteEileen
I've been lucky so far with my Agastaches...although some are definitely more reliable than others ;-) My Persicaria polymorpha completely collapsed last fall after a heavy rainstorm...this year it's much better-behaved...but I'm keeping an eye on it, for sure ;-)
DeleteWow! I was just about to get up from the computer to get some breakfast when I noticed your Bloom Day post. I put off breakfast because, who needs food when I can feast on your pictures of your garden? Just absolutely gorgeous. And thanks for the wide shots.
ReplyDeleteHahahah...I love it, someone who puts plants before food...a woman after my own heart :-)
DeleteI see I am not the only one amazed by your gardening and photography skills...oh la la! I love,love the first wide shot, I imagine the birds love to bathe with that view...
ReplyDeleteThey really try to, Darla...they just have to watch out for the neighbor's cats, that's for sure!!!
DeleteReally fantastic. You're making me think about planting persicaria, which I'd never given a thought to before. Like you I'm very fond of Veronicastrum 'Fascination' and Monarda 'Raspberry Wine.' I grow lots of Agastache foeniculum - one of my favorites - but only the straight species. Excellent photos. The long or wide shots of flower beds are really hard to, I know, but you got the job done.
ReplyDeleteYou should give Persicaria a try...there are so many varieties, you're bound to find one you like...either for flower or foliage! Yes...the Veronicastrum and Monarda are some of my faves...and some of my oldest plants here in the garden...it's so nice to have those reliable beauties to plant other things around :-)
DeleteWOW Scott.........totally amazing, you have created a great garden space.
ReplyDeleteAwww...thanks!
DeleteEverything looks wonderful, Scott. I love the wine red and purples together. I just can't seem to get the same effect in my garden. You've still got a TALL Joe Pye on the side of your house, I see. It's going to be blooming very soon. That tiny Germander/Teucrium, I had it a few years ago and eventually it succumbed to one of the cold winters. It is sure a pretty plant though.
ReplyDeleteYes...only the bigger of the two Joe Pye Weeds was snapped this spring (although the emerging shoots are now about 3' tall)! Oh no...that's so sad about the Teucrium...I guess I'll just enjoy it while it lasts, right?
DeleteBeautiful and colorful without being garish.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Greggo...that's pretty much exactly what I aim for :-)
DeleteYour garden has lots of charm
ReplyDeleteThanks, Adiante!
DeleteWell done, Scott Weber! Your garden just gets better and better. And it's downright amazing how many great garden images you can squeeze out of such a relatively small place. Your foreshortening talents are bottomless! And such impeccable taste in plants...so beautiful...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Peter...I do try...and am constantly editing to keep things interesting. Yes...the power of the camera is put to the test in my garden. I'm always afraid when people visit they'll be a bit disappointed in the reality ;-)
DeleteEverything looks great! Wow! such beautiful blooms. The heat and humidity has just about zapped our garden....
ReplyDeleteThanks! I bet it did...I remember that kind of weather...everything just seems tired all the time!
DeleteWell, this post was a learning experience for me! Now I have to look up several of those beauties and see whether they'll grow here in Northeast Pennsylvania! I like the agastache, and the raspberry monarda. (Not so fond of my own very tall red monarda, as I've mentioned before.) I had not hear of astratia before, but it is lovely. Thanks for all your beautiful pictures, and for planting lots of ideas in my head!
ReplyDeleteThat's great, Kimberly...that's one of my favorite parts of visiting other blogs...I always seem to come away with a few new plants or ideas I want to try :-)
DeleteI'm just starting to realize how much your mid-west upbringing is influencing your garden designs and plant choices, Scott...duh! It's a subtle, meadow-like style and you've got it down! Thank you for helping me to appreciate the intermingling of fine foliage, delicate flower heads and soft coloring so effectively. Being such an in-your-face hot color fiend, I appreciate this pause to refresh with the cooler, gentler plants for our zone. You use them beautifully!
ReplyDeleteOMG...it's so true...but I don't know if I ever would have admitted it until the past few years, Jane! I find that more and more I'm drawn to such plantings, very "New Perennials" of me, I know ;-) That's the fun of Bloom Day...we get to enjoy others who do things differently...keep life interesting, right?!?
DeleteOh, my, all your blooms are amazing! But I particularly like that sweet little geranium. So pretty!
ReplyDeleteThanks...I adore that plant too...it's great!
DeleteOh Scott,
ReplyDeleteIt's not fair that one man should have two life's callings. The photography is improving all the time and you know I I think of your garden. Best.
Oh Patrick, you really are too kind :-) It's nice to know I'm getting better...sometimes I wonder if I've explored all the possibilities to photograph one garden...then I find a few more ;-)
DeleteWhat a breathtaking view! It's so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Malar, glad you like it!
DeleteWhat a wonderful garden, more like a meadow than anything else - beautiful. And your photos made this such a great experience!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Helene...that's precisely what I'm going for :-)
DeleteAs beautiful as your garden is, I don't think I would spend much time in the A/C. The color alone should distract your mind from any heat you might be experiencing.
ReplyDeleteHahahaha...well, it's true, Les...I do spend as much time outside as I possibly can...savoring every moment to get me through winter :-)
DeleteMy goodness! Is this your garden?!?! It looks like a botanical garden!
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful photos, plants, and combinations. Your camera work is absolutely fabulous. I can't wait to read more about your blog and your garden.
I really like your header font. Do you by chance know the name? I change mine from time to time and am always on the lookout for certain styles. Very nice.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm adding a Veronica to the landscape mix and just got my first one. Great plant.
David/Tropical Texana
Houston
Hahahaha...you're too funny, David! Hmmm...I think that font is called "Chicago House"...I fell in love with it when I was first starting my blog. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you visit again :-)
DeleteWow! Your gardens are amazing with such variety and color. You have a wonderful oasis there and it has been a pleasure to visit as always!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lee...glad you enjoyed your virtual visit ;-)
DeleteThe gardens look amazing! (And I may have told you this already, but your photography is great.) Happy GBBD. :-)
ReplyDeleteAwww...you're sweet...and I never turn down a compliment ;-)
DeleteWow, Scott! Look what happened in the time I wasn't making it here! Your place is amazing, and there is no way I can remember what all I wanted to comment on. I love your collections of agastaches, persicarias, and such. My giant fleeceflower plant is flopping a bit. I see yours is not. I wonder if I am watering too much. I have been deadheading it in hopes of it growing more upright.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed the way you described how you like things. I was gaga over your combinations, too.
Thanks Sue...it's crazy how my garden seems to creep along for a few months, then just EXPLODES! I wonder if my Persicaria will flop this autumn (it did last year). I really like it at the moment, so I'm hoping it stays upright.
DeleteWow, I can't believe how much your garden has filled in around your patio. The agastache rupestris is a workhorse. It's the first agastache I tried and one of the few that are long lived in my garden. I hope that my "Blue Blazes" does as well as yours. Ha ha about spent daisies being akin to wet toilet paper.
ReplyDeleteI know...it's kind of crazy in the back yard this year...I'll probably have to do some "editing" next spring to at least make it accessible from both ends! I'll cross my fingers for your 'Blue Blazes', it sure is a beauty!
DeleteA fantastic collection of plants, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAnytime...glad you enjoyed it!
DeleteAbsolutely stunning. Even after trimming back my hillside plantings, your post makes me want to garden more! Instead- I think I'll send the link to this blog to my niece. She lives in Portland and just started her first garden!
ReplyDeleteHow very cool...I hope she's liking it in Portland...we can always use another Portland Garden Blogger ;-)
DeleteA GBBD post worth waiting for! I love the lavender Culver's Root and those gorgeous blue geraniums -- which look fabulous with the grass.
ReplyDeleteWow, I am in total awe of all your flowers, and the fact that your verge is just as beautiful is amazing. I bet people go out of their way to walk down your street! thanks for your comment on my blog. You grow all the flowers I cannot grow, so I really enjoyed looking at your flowers today.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you visited...and that's the beauty of Bloom Day, right...we get to enjoy others' flowers we probably can't grow ourselves ;-)
DeleteThanks for commenting on my blog. Just visited yours and I was blown away, botanical names and all. That's not something I find easy to remember but loved reading and viewing your garden. You've done a magnificent job.
ReplyDeleteAwww...thanks, Marcia...so glad to have you visit!
Deletethis is my first visit to your blog. what can I say/ I'm in love. In with your plants, and with your blog.
ReplyDeleteYay! Thanks so much...I'm flattered you enjoyed it :-)
DeleteOh my, that Teucrium is a must have. Love your garden, love your plant choices.
ReplyDeleteYes...you MUST get some...it's AMAZING!!! How often is such a beautiful plant also EASY to grow...and easy to propagate, I might add ;-)
DeleteYou have so much in bloom. I like so many of your plant combinations that I will be back to look at your plant selections again.
ReplyDeleteAwwww...thanks, Sue Ellen...so glad you enjoyed your visit!
DeleteWell, obviously it's impossible to pick a favorite among all your amazing plants and color combinations, Scott! But the Agastache and Geraniums really shine. Your garden must be such a relaxing place! Happy belated GBBD! ;-)
ReplyDeleteThose are definitely some of the top performers, to be sure...and I can't imagine a garden without them!
DeleteAwesome blooms and garden!! Everything looks so lush and healthy. I love that Astrantia 'Ruby Wedding'. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Charlie...I love that Astrantia as well...she's a beauty!
DeleteWow, you have so many plants blooming all at the same time. How beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI do try to plan them to crescendo around now...sometimes it even works out ;-)
DeleteHi Scott,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos as ever and of course I am so completely jealous that everything looks so good! Really is an inspiration.
So many combinations I wish I had and also wish I had the space to create it all.
Thanks, Gwirrel...we've been quite lucky with our weather this year...we even got a few rain showers over the past few days...and I credit our mild weather for A LOT of my success...it's much more forgiving!
DeleteCan't add any superlatives to what's already been written but your garden is pretty darned wonderful! From one late bloomer to another.
ReplyDeleteYay for the late-bloomers!!! Glad you stopped by :-)
DeleteGorgeous! Beautiful photos, and I love the color palette in your garden. Inspiring...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amy...I do have a soft spot for purples ;-)
DeleteBe as late as you like. Your post are well worth waiting for!
ReplyDeleteHahahaha...thanks, Hoover...makes me feel not quite so guilty!
DeleteThose are some incredible long views! Great job Scott!
ReplyDeleteI love also of your combinations... such a different palette of plants than I have at my garden, but one that I definitely want to grow in.
Happy July!
Thanks, that's part of the fun of Blood Day, right, getting to experience others' gardens vicariously!
DeleteScott, I am sighing over the incredible beauty in your garden and I am smitten with it.
ReplyDeleteAwwww....thanks, Gail :-)
DeleteScott, I wanted to let you know I nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award. Though I was worried maybe you had gotten this already. Anyhow, your blog is absolutely outstanding, especially the photographs. If you want to accept, take a look at my post at gardeninacity.wordpress.com/2012/07/24 to see what's involved.
ReplyDeleteWow, thanks, Jason...I'm totally flattered! I'll have to mull those over for a bit...hmmm...how to pick only a few blogs!
DeleteHi Scott! Gorgeous photos, love seeing your garden at this time of year. It is truly floriferus! So many wonderful plants and they all look so happy and healthy! PDX is the best place to garden! Hope you are having fun in your beautiful outdoors!
ReplyDeleteThanks, and it's so true, this is when my garden really gathers steam ;-) PDX is wonderful for gardeners, no mistake!!!
DeleteAll I can say is wow. Your post had me over at Digging Dog Nursery ordering a few things for fall. Thanks. Happy late Bloom Day to you too! Love your garden.
ReplyDeleteYay!!! I hope you found some great plants, Dee!
DeleteSo many beautiful flowers - and photos. I really love both Teucriums, I will have to investigate them. Your agastaches are wonderful again. I planted a few bare-roots in the autumn, but not one of them has emerged this year, which is rather devastating. I bought one in leaf earlier this year, which will hopefully fare better, and will try and raise some others from seed next year to try and find a variety that will settle in here.
ReplyDeleteSara
I love those Teucriums too...they are such hard-working and undemanding plants, Sara! Oh no...so sad about your Agastache :-( I wonder if bare-root plants are better planted in the spring??? I hope your current one does well...and if you're ever in the neighborhood, I'll give you some cuttings of mine ;-)
DeleteI'm thinking that if I am ever in Portland I MUST see your garden in person. I think you need to convince your neighbors to relocate so you can acquire their lots and keep creating more of that beautiful garden!
ReplyDeleteI hope you do stop by for a visit if you're in the area, Kathy! Oh...if only I could knock down the neighbor's house and have a larger garden...a boy can dream, can't he?
DeleteWow. You're really close to 100 comments. I'm not sure I've ever seen a garden blog get that many, other than grandmaster Carol. You definitely have a great photo collection going here. I hope your neighbors are suitably appreciative of all the flowers. I agree that that everything is working together great in that pennisetum photo, but I think all of the plant combos are working. Really really nice.
ReplyDeleteAwww...thanks, Ryan...the Bloom Day meme is such a great resource, isn't it...we get introduced to so many blogs we might never have found before :-) Thanks so much...I do tend to obsess about plant combos...so it's nice to know all my fretting paid off!
DeleteYour gardens are an inspiration, Scott. The colors melt my heart! Masterful use of color. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Renee...that makes me feel awesome!
DeleteThe garden is really beautiful. One can easily spend time lasing in a garden such as this one. Also, garden furniture such as tables, wooden benches, chair type loungers, deck chair and others. Furniture is always a beautiful part of a beautiful garden. I have found furniture like these ones particularly elegant - http://www.homefurnitureandpatio.com/servlet/Categories?search_keyword=garden&keyword=garden&submit.x=9&submit.y=25&oem=all
ReplyDelete