My favorite Iris is one of the last to bloom. Can you see how velvety/satiny it is?
I’ll step a little closer so you can share the love.
This was added last year from our visit to Schreiner’s Iris Gardens. It goes by the unfortunate name of ‘Alley Oops’, which makes me feel not so bad about having no name for that deep mahogany beauty.
As the Physocarpus continues to load up on blossoms, the long branches arch over into even more of a fountain shape.
Blue eyed grass is a ferocious reseeder, but I forget all about that when its blue eyes are winking at me in shafts of sunlight.
For some reason, a massive patch of Stachys petered out this year, but look what was liberated: abrilliant orange Geum
You lose some, you win some…the kousa dogwoods are loaded with blooms this year.
Look at the spurs on the columbine called ‘Swallowtail’. I made a calculated guess that leaving some of those darned buttercups around this plant would help to prop it up. That it does, but it’s also seemingly sapping its strength. Guess I’ll have to come up with a better solution to the flopping ways of Swallowtail.
Not a problem for A. ‘Black Barlow’. Its leonine ruffs stand up at perfect attention. Thanks, unknown blogger, for bringing this to a swap last year.
Now for a quick peek at Delusional Drive. We’re standing a little past where the first iris shots were taken, looking towards the entrance. In the distance you can just see the blue of Ceanothus ‘Victoria’, echoed by a lone blue iris in the middle distance.
Moving along, you can see that there is quite a bit of yellow-green foliage that plays nicely with the blue.
Here’s a close-up of ‘Victoria’ at her best.
On the other side of the drive, Helianthemum ‘Henfields’s Brilliant’ brightens things up and does a nice job of obscuring the dying foliage of daffodils past.
A wayward foxglove seemed to know I would welcome a dash of hot pink against the red-orange.
Now here’s a question for you. I adopted a scraggly twig with no label at the Cistus ‘Tough Love’ sale two years ago. This year it rewarded me for the TLC by leafing out prettily and producing one coy little bottlebrush blossom. Any idea what this is?
That’s a great bunch of flowers for a Friday.
I suspect the ‘Black Barlow’ columbine came from Linda. You’re lucky: I had one from her I loved the first spring, but it never reappeared after that.
Your mystery twig’s flower has the look of Fothergilla, but although they’re similar, I’m not quite sure the leaves are right. Nice foliage!
Some think it’s Fothergilla, but with you being unsure…maybe I’ll print out the photo and take it to Cistus to see what Sean says.
Love the Iris…and I need more Columbine, for sure. I think your mystery shrub is a Fothergilla.
Should I put you down for one of those Iris the next time they need dividing?
I’ve got some of those ‘Tough love’ no names . That one looks a bit like a Fothergilla ?
That First Iris is a beauty . The one I got from you needs to move , the bloom got knocked off …by me not the dogs !
Were you at least able to bring the bloom inside to enjoy? (see Loree’s comment above)
I’m in love with ‘Victoria’! And then all your bright orange flowers – the Geum and Helianthemum. And what a velvety texture on that iris – like you could upholster fancy throw pillows with it.
I’m leaning heavily towards orange lately…one reason I reveled in your tulip posts.
I’m glad for the tip about Blue eyed grass self-seeding. Just planted one today. The red iris has me swooning.
You can be diligent about deadheading if you really want to keep ole blue eyes in check.
I think your favorite velvety Iris is also the one you gifted me a bit of? We’ve been enjoying the bloom indoors after an unfortunate hose accident.
That’s the one…and let no accident go unappreciated is my motto too.
I’m seeing bloggers revellling in Geum this week, and I’d never seen or heard of it before! Luscious tangerine it is.
Nice little plnt: comes in yellow, orange or red.
Love love love it all…looks so summery and bloomiferous. Gorgeous flowers, Rickii..the geums are exploding in my garden right now too, as is the columbine ‘Black Barlow’ which is a winner in my book!
Thanks, Tamara…and I did so enjoy reading your piece about Drake’s 7 Dees. Hope it brings lots of new business their way. It’s a bit off my beaten track, but I must make sure to visit soon.
Love the yellow and blue combination in the delusional drive and that velvety iris is stunning. I also have that beautiful swallowtail columbine but this year, something ate the leaves to the ground. It’s rebounded but only put out a couple of blooms. Time for Sluggo!
Sluggo must be flying off the shelves this year.
Ricki – I had some Lambs Ear that died this year too. What’s up with that? I thought they were pretty much indestructible… I think Black Barlow might have come from me, but not sure. I also think your mystery plant is some kind of Fothergilla, but like Jane said – not sure about the leaves. I like the strategy of asking Sean. Finally – love that velvety red iris – scrumptious!
So happy to be able to thank you for ‘Black Barlow’. It’s a beauty, and I’m quite fond of black(ish) flowers. It was only the older patches of Stachys that died back. The divisions planted elsewhere are looking great.
You have many stunning beauties blooming currently. I noticed Blue-Eyed Grass blooming and and naturalizing all over the place in Florida–even in fields near parking lots at environmental centers. At my parents’ Florida retirement community, they simple mow it once a week along with the other grass. And then it perks back up and blooms again. That shade of blue is intoxicating (IMHO). Lovely post, Ricki.
Hmmm…that might be an idea. I could plant some of the plants I pull up out in our so-called grass. We only mow about once a month, so it would have plenty of time to recover.
That first iris is absolutely stunning! Especially paired with stachys. Mahogany Beauty sounds like a fitting name, to me. One of my favorite flower colors, along with blue and orange. Your ceanothus and helianthemum are beautiful, too.
Consider it named: Mahogany Beauty it is.
Lots of great colour, I love those dark velvety Irises 🙂
The darkest of irises, ‘Raven Girl’, failed to bloom…maybe next year.
Your mystery shrub is definitely a fothergilla. Give it some afternoon shade and it will be a happy camper. I have them in my garden. They’re southeastern natives. It is a long way from home! Your iris does look like satin! 🙂
Thanks for the positive ID. It should have blazing fall color then?