Monday, June 16, 2014

Bloom Day June 2014

GBBD June 2014
I know everyone is saying the same thing...but...WOW...it's the middle of June...what the what!

North Garden Angle
This spring (hell, this year) has been an insane whirlwind of activity...and I sort of feel like the garden and I are a little disconnected at this point...but I've been working outside pretty much every weekend for the past few months and I think we're getting on track again. Without further ado...on with the show!

allium seedheads
While the Alliums are pretty much done blooming, the seedheads are just as good...and they will last until I cut them down next spring (or until a cat decides to roll over them).

Yellow Columbine
The many re-seeded Columbine in my garden are an unexpected treat...and I love the air of spontaneity they give.

Bicolor Columbine
This one popped up quite a distance from all the others...I wonder how it got here?

White Astrantia
June in my garden is Astrantia season...when they all start really going crazy...here we have a white form, probably 'Alba'

Astrantia maxima
The slightly less-vigorous Astrantia maxima...and no, we don't sit in this chair :-)

Astrantia Star of Fire 2
The deep, romantic blooms of 'Star of Fire'...

Astrantia Star of Fire 1
...which are too pretty to just have one picture of!

Astrantia patch
And backing up...a whole sea of 'Roma'!

Monarda bradburiana H
The Monarda bradburiana's shimmerying silvery-pink blooms are almost done for the year...and the handsome seedheads will soon follow.

Linaria purpurea
Linaria purpurea has the most wonderfully rich jewel-toned purple flowers every...and they are so dainty...like tiny little Digitalis blooms. They can re-seed and be a nuisance in some gardens...but I wish mine would seed around a bit more!

Knautia
June is also the time for the first big flush of Knautia blooms...love their little, richly-colored buttons bobby about the garden.

Knautia Melton Pastels 1
The front parking strip has a variety called 'Melton Pastels'...a mix of colors...and they have the distinction of being some of the only plants I grew myself from seed! An added benefit...the seedheads are gorgeous!

Scabiosa ochroleuca 1
Another scabios, Scabiosa ochroleuca...love those delicate, creamy-color blooms.

Scabiosa ochroleuca 2
Like their cousins, the Knautias...the seedheads are fascinating.

Teucrium & Scabiosa
I really like them paired with the rich red-purple wands of Tuecrium hircanicum.

Teucrium cossinii
Another Tuecrium, Teucrium cossonii...which I thought had drowned during the repeated flooding of the parking strips this winter...but look, it's blooming!

Geranium Rozanne
It wouldn't be Rhone Street without some Geraniums...'Rozanne' is just starting many months of glorious bloom.

Geranium Katherine Adele
'Katherine Adele' has been moved more times than any other plant in my garden...but she still keeps going!

Geranium Ann Folkard
'Ann Folkard' is at her absolute best in June...before the heat of summer settles in...she still looks fresh and vibrant.

Geranium and Clematis
'Ann Folkard' also likes to scramble up and over everything in her path...here she is mingling with the fading blossoms of Clematis recta purpurea.

Epilobium
I don't have many PNW natives in my garden...but the few I have make up for it by being extra vigorous! This is Epilobium, aka, Fireweed. They spread by underground runners and pop up all over the place...I just edit out the ones I don't want. I could hardly get rid of them, however, they are so fabulous in bloom...and, they have great fall color!

Sidalcea oregana
Another native, Sidalcea oregana. I actually ripped out the original plant years ago because it was horribly spindly. Happily , it re-seeded quite a bit...and the seedlings are fairly well-behaved and so charming, mingling with other plants, I'm happy to let them stay.

Verbascum album
Another plant that I ripped out a few years ago due to their being disfigured by Powdery Mildew, this Verbascum always pops up here and there (presumably from seed). I enjoy them while they bloom...but yank them out at the first sign of PM...still, there are always new ones popping up to take their place.

Salvia amistad
Even though my Salvia 'Amistad' didn't make it through winter, it was so pretty I just had to have another! It's pretty much the same as Salvia 'Black & Blue', but it's purple...so, obviously, better!

Sanguisorbia mensiezii
And now we come to Sanguisorbias...which as such cool flowers...love those fuzzy little button blooms. Sanguisorbia mensiezii has some of the biggest flowers.

Sanguisorbia Pink Tanna
While 'Pink Tanna's' are much daintier...I love this one!

Persicaria Firetail
The Persicarias (this is 'Firetail') are just starting to bloom and should be a sea of ruby-red wands by this time next month.

Agastache Purple Haze
And, of course, the Agastache are starting to bloom. This is 'Purple Haze'...next month will be the height of Agastache season.

North Garden Sunset h
To close this post out, let's take a wide look at the garden...this is the North Border looking west at sunset.

North Garden from West
Again, the North Border looking east.

Backyard Sunny
A peak into the back garden.

Front Garden with Cats
The Front Border looking south..guarded by cats.

Front Parking Strip with Cat
A closer look of the front parking strip.

Front Garden from South
And the Front Border looking North.

North Garden With Cats
And because there weren't enough cats in this post yet...I give you 100% more cats!!!

Boots' Friend 2
I hope you are having a great spring (although summer starts in less than a week...eek)! For more Bloom Day posts, visit our gracious host, Carol, at May Dreams Gardens!