Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - August 2012

GBBD_August_2012
OMG...another Bloom Day! Here in Portland, we're paying for our mild Summer last year...as we're having a run of HOT weather...too hot for me! We broke a a record a week or so ago when we hit 102°...ouch! It looks like this week (tomorrow or Friday) we may hit triple-digit temps again. I know our weather is still comparatively mild compared to what most of the country has been suffering...but it's still pretty awful.

In any case, in spite of the scorching heat, the garden actually looks pretty good. I find that August is that odd time of year when I really don't have to do much except water occasionally and stake a few plants that have been blown over by the wind (which also seems to be a by-product of the heat). August is that odd tipping-point in my garden where things start to almost get out of control. It's not totally unfair to admit it's a bit of a hot mess. Still, that's what I love about the late-summer, early-autumn garden...that feeling that the garden is on it's own course, regardless of what my own intentions might be!

agastache blue blazes sunrise  2027
Agastache 'Blue Blazes'
This gorgeous plant is actually in the front parking strip (which I really will do a full post on someday). It's so small and cute right now...but having seen how big they can get here in Portland (2' taller AND broader than what they are listed as reaching). I anticipate having to move at least one of the plants (right now there are 3 in this bed)...otherwise, they will swallow up the entire bed! Hopefully I can find another Portland gardener next spring who is willing to take it. Even then, I really will have to be better about cutting them back in mid-spring to keep them more compact.

Lily Black Beauty 2
Lilium 'Black Beauty'
The bloom time of Lilies is always longer than I think it is (a good month or so), but still seems far too short. I was sure they would crisp up during our heatwave, but actually seemed no worse for wear.

Monarda bradburiana
Monarda bradburiana
This is a smaller and more demure Monarda than most...very lovely.

echinacea magnus  2012dicentra  2031
Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'Dicentra macrocarpanos
What would summer be without some Echinacea...tough, dependable and beautiful. The little climbing Dicentra on the right was hidden beneath a few other plants earlier, but has really shot up in the past month or so. I should put some sort of support in for it...but right now it seems happy scrambling around and through its taller neighbors.

agastache black adder  2048
Agastache 'Black Adder'
Another tough plant, the Agastaches absolutely love this weather...they show absolutely no sign of heat stress, and if anything, are reveling in the heat.

Knautia macedonica
Knautia macedonica
One of my favorite plants, I love how vibrantly-colored its flowers are...and how airy the plant is. Even though these are a good 4' or so tall, they are not bulky, so they thread their long, wiry stems through any plant nearby, creating wonderful effects. I should probably dead-head them, but I really like the spent seedheads.

Teucrium Patch with AlliumPersicaria inverleith
Teucrium hircanicumPersicaria 'Inverleith & Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm'
The first flush of blooms on the Teucrium are still finishing up, and it's already started re-blooming! This is another plant that I find the spent blooms almost as pretty as the new blossoms, so I leave them on. Plus, they add so much texture to the garden. While Persicaria 'Inverleith' is a tough plant, it's one of the few that really seemed to struggle during our heat wave. The plants, which had grown too tall due to our lack of winter (and long spring) flopped open in the heat and scorched badly. Still, it seems to have recovered a fair bit. It's a good lesson to learn, if it looks like it's getting this tall again next year, I'll cut it back.

tiger lily  2039
Lilium lancifolium (Tiger Lily)
Another Lily that has only a few blooms left, it seems like it would be more fitting as an Autumn flower...still, I love it, all the same.

Sedum Vera Jameson
Sedum 'Vera Jameson'
One of my new Sedums this year, I'm loving it's wonderful foliage and flowers.

Parking Strip Preview
Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus', Agastache 'Blue Blazes', Sedum 'Matrona'
This is another peek at the plants in the front parking strip...which have amazed me with their rapid growth this yeaer.

Rudbeckia trilobaSedum matrona
Rudbeckia trilobaSedum 'Matrona, Agastache 'Black Adder' & Agastache 'Blue Boa'
My favorite Rudbeckia, Rudbeckia triloba is a short-lived perennial (more often, a biennial) that gets much larger than typical Rudbeckia...but its flowers are much smaller, although borne in such profusion as to completely blanket the plant! Sedum 'Matrona' has become my new "go-to" Sedum, as I love it's pewtery foliage throughout the year.

Salvia purple rain
Salvia 'Purple Rain'
This Salvia has been extra vigorous this year...and I've been loving those rich purple spikes for months.

knautia melton pastels  2029
Knautia 'Melton Pastels'
Another Knautia...the seed-raised strain 'Melton Pastels', which shows a really nice variety of colors in the blooms. I have 6 or 7 of these in the front parking strip, and it's been interesting seeing the variation.

Monarda Raspberry WineEutrochium dubium & Persicaria polymorpha
Monarda 'Raspberry Wine'Eutrochium 'Little Joe' & Persicaria polymorpha

Eryngium yuccifolium
Eryngium yuccifolium
Technically, these flowers are spent...but I still think they can squeak in as blooms.

persicaria panicum  2035
Persicaria 'Golden Arrow' & Panicum 'Shenandoah'
This wonderful Persicaria has exceeded all my expectations. The foliage is amazing all spring and summer...so when the blooms arrive, they really are icing on the cake. I wish the foliage didn't scorch quite so easily...I have to be very careful where I site this one.

Cosmos astrosanguineousCrocosmia orangeade
Cosmos astrosanguineusCrocosmis 'Oreangeade'
This little Cosmos was a surprise...I thought they had died over the winter, and so planted something else in their place. A few weeks ago, while planting my new Iris from Schreiners...I smelled chocolate...and noticed these little guys going crazy! I got this Crocosmia (my only one) at Joy Creek a few years ago...intrigued by it's unusual color. It has spread slowly to from a nice little patch...but I do think I need to divide it this fall.

Geranium ann folkard
Geranium 'Ann Folkard' & Rhus typhina 'Tiger Eyes'
This wonderful Geranium really doesn't like heat, and starts to slow down its flowering a bit, but still grows like a weed. I'm always finding it in odd places. This week, I noticed it had started climbing up into my Sumac. Still, I can't complain about the combination.

rudbeckai goldsturm  2014
Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm'
Another trademark summer bloom, the Black-Eyed Susan. I know they are common as dirt, but I love them...and love how easy they are to grow. They are so cheerful and honest...and since so much of my garden is cool in tone...they are a nice counterpoint.

Clematis tibetanaAnemone september charm
Clematis tibetanaAnemone 'September Charm'
Our weather this year has been odd (isn't that an understatement)! Case in point, these two blooms are at least a month or two earlier than usual.

Bees on Eutrochium
Eutrochium 'Gateway'
My Eutrochium (Joe Pye Weed) have been blooming for a few weeks now, and the bees could not be more ecstatic. They sleep on the blooms, wake up, feed, and go back to sleep.

Geranium Rudbeckia Eutrochium
Eutrochium 'Gateway', Geranium 'Rozanne' & Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm'
This shot pretty much sums up the wonderful bounty of the late-summer garden. I love how everything is so big, full and vibrant. At any time during the day, I can wander out and be surrounded by the thrum of thousands of bees.

Agastache AvaLilium Black Beauty
Agastache 'Ava'Lilium 'Black Beauty'

Shady Selinum
Selinum wallichianum
I've been so pleased with this plant. I wasn't sure how it would fare in the parking strip, and to be honest, it's one of the few plants in the parking strip that I regularly water. As lovely as the blooms are, I love those wonderful purple stems even more. Not only is the color awesome...but the bizarre branching structure is fascinating.

lily silver scheherezade  2032
Lilium 'Silver Scheherezade'
The last of my Lilies this year...sort of buried in the backyard. I'll have to do some serious editing/pruning next year to keep things under control!

sedum red cauli  2012Agastache Desert Sunrise
Sedum 'Red Cauli'Agastache 'Desert Sunrise'
'Red Cauli' is another new Sedum (to me) this year. I actually find myself loving it more and more. THe leaves are a wonderful purplish-red and the flowers are ELECTRIC! I love how it paris with the Teucrium. 'Desert Sunrise' is one of my favorite Agastaches...it's so delicate-looking. I've found that this one, in the parking strip, is much happier than those on the sloped borders. I think it gets more sun and has better drainage.

echinops bannaticus  1926
Echinops bannaticus
This Globe Thistle is a fabulous plant...and bees adore it. I have a little patch of them that is gradually increasing.

persicaria firetail  2012
Persicaria 'Firetail'
Although I sort of resent the big, coarse foliage of this plant early in the year (it really does look a bit weedy), I absolutely adore it once it starts blooming. Those scarlet tapers will go from June until frost...and are the perfect compliment to the blue-purple of Geranium 'Rozanne'.

Agastache purple haze
Agastache 'Purple Haze'
This Agastache is a great plant...very upright and compact...and with lovely, subtle coloring.

Ok, so now it's time for the wide shots!

North Border From East
North (Side) Border from the East

East Border from North
East (Front) Border from the North

East Garden from South
East (Front) Border from the South

Backyard August 9 2012
Backyard Garden

august morning  2017
North (Side) Border from the West

I hope you enjoyed your little tour of my garden right now, for more Bloom Day posts, visit Carol at May Dreams Garden!

65 comments:

  1. Your backyard garden looks like it's being overtaken by plants. It's filled in well in such a short period of time. I love the Teucrium and how sculptural it is. I wish my agastaches were doing as well yours. I might cut my blue blazes back, too next spring. It was a little leggy this year. Beautiful photos as always!

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    1. Hahahaha....well, that's pretty close to the truth, isn't it! I agree about the Teucrium...it's very structural...and yes, I need to cut back my 'Blue Blazes' for certain next year!

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  2. So many flowers...it really is amazing! (and I can't wait for the official tour!). Speaking of you better watch me cuz I might just tear your Clematis tibetana from the ground and run for it. Or I guess I could just beg the good folks at Cistus to sell me another.

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    1. Hahahahahaha...I'll be keeping an eye out for you, then ;-)

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  3. Beautiful garden. I don't know of a better word. Marvelous...I've lost my adjectiveness.

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  4. Yep, a hot mess is a good description for the August garden. I got frustrated recently and started ripping stuff out and cutting it back mercilessly. Your wide shots look really lovely.

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    1. Isn't it though! I hope you left a little left for this fall...I know how you feel, though, at some point it just needs to go!

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  5. 102!! There's goes my plan to move to Portland to avoid the heat. ;^) As always, your images are just stunning. Your garden is just brimming with color (you have lucky neighbors). I really admire the Geranium 'Ann Folkard'/Rhus combo and the Persicarias are making me think of where I can stuff some in. I've discovered this summer that 'Black Beauty' lily is very drought and heat tolerant. Unfortunately, it bloomed early this year here.

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    1. Hahahahaha...I know...it was crazy-hot that week! Luckily, we've returned to our typical, pleasant summer weather :-) I was surprised by 'Black Beauty' as well...she's one tough cookie!

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  6. Scott, your Rozanne is magnificant! I love all of the Agastache you are able to grow and I think you have chosen many of the right plants to withstand the heat. We all know now that heat is different than sun. Our weather has cooled off a bit and I am assessing what I will grow in the future. We have not been this hot consistently so many of the plants I love may not be part of my garden in the future.

    Eileen

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    1. It really seems over the past few years that we all are going to have to re-assess what plants we can have in our gardens, doesn't it, Eileen? It's really quite scary.

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  7. I really must try some of these, like 'Black Adder', the Knautia, and 'Purple Rain'. Just gorgeous!

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    1. You should definitely give them a try...I'll try to collect seed from the Knautia for you this year...they are supposed to be easy to grow from seed.

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  8. WOw, look at you with all this color while so many of us are suffering a mid-August lull! So much inspiration to be found on your site!

    Love the September Charm anemone!

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    1. PS--Summer without echinacea is very sad, indeed. I have one, but the woodchucks adore it. They allowed it to bloom once, about 4 years ago. The plant is determined--it comes back every single year, without fail!

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    2. Thanks for the kind words, Kimberly...I was pretty bummed about the whole thing...but I'm recovered now :-)

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  9. Scott, you need a larger yard. As I scrolled down I kept thinking that this was an amazing amount of plant material in your yard/garden. Just breathtaking. I was talking with my husband about my second killing of the Tiger Eyes...telling him I really wanted one, but still need to figure out where to plant it before I spend more money. Seeing yours just confirms my desire!!!

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    1. From your lips to God's ears, Janet!!! I really love my 'Tiger Eyes', but they seem quite a bit more particular than the usual Sumacs, don't they? Mine really sulked for the first 2 years...and I was sure it was going to die!

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  10. Gadzooks! You really know how to build us up for a garden visit. I love your observation that the garden is "on its own course'.

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    1. Hahahahaha...I tried...and hopefully it wasn't a let-down ;-)

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  11. DAYAM. I can't wait to see this is person!

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  12. We like a lot of the same plants - Agastache, Rudbeckia, Joe Pye ... The lilies here have been done for a while. I love how you've gotten the grasses and forbs to blend together, I need to work on that.

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    1. Thanks, Jason! I'm still working on really incorporating those grasses in a way that feel "natural"...it's definitely a work in progress :-)

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  13. Wow, every time I visit here, Scott, I think how can he top that post--but you always do! With your garden, your posts, and your photography. 102 in Portland is crazy! I'm so glad we're done with that stuff (at least I hope so) for this season.

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    1. Thanks so much...glad I've risen to the occasion ;-) Yes, I really hope we don't have any more temps like that this year (or EVER, really)!

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  14. Wow, that is one great garden full of colour and joy! I enjoyed every last pic, even smiling while typing. Great visit for me! Thanks. LT

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    1. Hahahaha...yay! Glad you enjoyed your visit, LT!

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  15. I'm still hankering for your Teucrium, and all those agastaches. We have one tiny agastache just coming into bloom, I hope to add more next year. Our rudbeckias are only just starting to flower so didn't make it into my bloom day post: yours are romping away already. Glorious.

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    1. If it's hardy in your area, you really should try the Teucrium...it's VERY tough...and a great plant!

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  16. Really love all you have blooming now. You have some of the best perennials out there. Still love the Persicaria and the Joe Pye Weed and Agastache is looking beautiful.

    Cher Sunray Gardens

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    1. I agree, Cher...those plants, in particular, are really looking their best right now!

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  17. Hi Scott,

    As always; such an amazing garden, so awe-inspriing and gorgeous. I wish I could just sit and stare at it all day. I too love seeing, watching and hearing the Bees and Hoverflies going about their business, and then now the Butterflies have arrived I get to sit and watch them flit around the garden, fighting, feeding, sunbathing.
    I love summer - and this is such an odd thing for me to say as I've always been a Spring person; nothing can quite beat watching wildlife enjoy the garden as much as we do.

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    1. I couldn't agree more, gwirrel, I just love walking around, soaking in the sights and sounds of summer (as long as I don't have to break into a sweat while doing it)! I love that feeling of contentment, knowing the bees are humming happily away in the garden :-)

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  18. Your garden is looking beautiful! Such a lush combination of colors and textures. Every time I visit here my eye is caught by that Knautia; I really need to write this down and remember to try some next year. And, of course, your agastache is one of my favorites; you have so many lovely specimens of it.

    100 degrees in Portland?? I know that is unusual for your area; your garden looks amazing in spite of the brutal heat.

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    1. Thanks, Rose...you really should try the Knautia...you can even grow it from seed...it's a tough and long-blooming plant!

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  19. Absolutely beautiful. You pack a lot of information as well as plants into your posts. Invaluable as far as I'm concerned.

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    1. Thanks, Susan...I do try to give useful information...even though I tend to ramble on occasion ;-)

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  20. Beautiful!! I MUST buy some agastache. Now...where to put them??

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    1. Ahhh...that's the tricky part isn't it...the WHERE!?!?

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  21. Your garden and photographs are always gorgeous! The golden light in some of your images like the tiger lily or the persicaria, grass in the background turned gold by the sun, is simply delicious! This makes me want to chop down some trees and rethink my parking strips!

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    1. Hahahahaha...whoa there! I have to admit, I really would love a bit more sun too...and if I ever move, I have to be EXTRA sure that my garden will get the benefit of morning and evening light...there is nothing quite so magical, in my opinion.

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  22. You have so many blooms this time of year. It is so beautiful.

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  23. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Just love you color combinations, the plants and your pictures are so good. I'd love to have one of your Agastache 'Blue Blazes' next spring. I left behind my gardens in June in GA and hope to buy a house next spring. I've living vicariously thru your blog and just love it! I didn't have too much blooming by August down there.

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    1. OMG...I hope you get settled into your new house soon and can get some 'Blue Blazes'...they are wonderful!!! Where are you looking to buy???

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  24. als m deze blog.I 'echt blij dat ik heb gemerkt dat dit informatie over bericht is echt nuttig voor ons. Ik heb zeker deze website, te houden op it.Excellent bericht lief te hebben, zal ik het controleren regelmatig terug om te zoeken naar updates.
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    ReplyDelete
  25. The garden is very beautiful at this time of year. Your images are very beautiful as well, many with with soft DOF. I just read your post on the the Echinacea. So sad. Wonder if your across the street neighbors did it so they could see you out wit the camera for the aftermath. It would happen like that here in the city.

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    1. Thanks...and yes, I was pretty upset about the Echinacea...sigh. As you said, in the city, that sort of thing is bound to happen sometimes :-(

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  26. Your gardens are beautiful as always and especially the north side borders are outstanding....so full of color and love the combinations. It's such a pleasure to visit!

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    1. Thanks, Lee...I agree, the North Border always seems particularly effective, for some reason :-)

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  27. Such abundance, and with a very talented photographer to record it! Thanks so much!

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  28. this garden is very beautiful. your photos are too beautiful.this is nice . there all the information those we need all. and your photographer is very talented.i like it. thnk you for posting it.

    ReplyDelete
  29. "August is that odd tipping-point in my garden where things start to almost get out of control. It's not totally unfair to admit it's a bit of a hot mess."

    As a fellow blogger, I hate to admit it, but this is how my garden is at most times. I have great intentions, but only have so much time and budget. I am finally starting to notice some real progress in my landscaping, but unfortunately that just seems to highlight the areas that are fending for themselves.

    ReplyDelete
  30. i like this blog.Very prachtige informatie is te vinden op web-blog. "De kwaliteit van een organisatie kan nooit hoger zijn dan de kwaliteit van de geesten die het goed te maken.
    http://www.inuwtuin.nl/buitenverlichting

    ReplyDelete
  31. Great combination. A wonderful August showing (despite the heat wave) and wonderful photography. Great how you use DOF to highlight the blooms.

    ReplyDelete
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