I will begin with the bloom I am proudest of, this Carpenteria californica ‘Elizabeth’. It did not bloom last year, after having been wrapped up very carefully against the harsh preceding winter. So…no wraps, and greater success. It also smells terrific.
And another surprise success story. I planted a few bulbs of Brodiaea ‘Pink Diamond’ a few years ago and had given them up for lost. This year a single stem pushed through the ground cover and produced a flower. Sometimes I find a lone specimen to have greater impact than a swath of them.
But speaking of swathes, starting with a single Phlomus russeliana and dividing it several times has resulted in a border where its repetition lends continuity.
The lighting in this shot accentuates the little top-knots that I find so endearing.
They seed around like crazy, but Sisyrinchium bellum (blue-eyed grass) is so winning when in bloom that I have to put up with the occasional wholesale uprooting of the extras.
The colors will deepen and become ever more dramatic on the flower stalks of Acanthus spinosa and they will last well into the fall.
The Kiwi issai has been in place since ’03. It began blooming last year, but has yet to produce the promised fruit.
Stachys ‘Helen Von Stein’ produces flower spikes with a lovely fragrance. They are surprisingly effective in bouquets, with plenty left over to keep the bees happy.
The individual flowers on this unnamed Saxifrage from our bloggers’ plant swap are so interesting and unusual…and just the frosting on a plant that won me over with its foliage…ID, anyone? (thanks, Linda, for clearing that up: it’s S. stolonifera)
Sweet little flowers on a wicked plant: that’s Solanum pyracaniminum for you.
Long after the tree peonies have given out, the herbaceous peonies come along. Mine were very cheap, from one of those tacky mail order catalogs. It took a few years, but they are performing admirably now, and last much longer than the blooms on the tree peonies. This one could even get me to start liking pink.
Eremurus ‘Cleopatra’, my pride and joy.
Rosa rugosa ‘Buffalo Gals’…it’s redder than it looks here.
And finally, ‘Dortmund’. These two roses, along with Rosa glauca, which I have for its foliage, are the only roses here, other than a few that came with the place. I must say, they give the lie to the commonly held view that roses are a lot of trouble. See what others are featuring this month by going to May Dreams Gardens. It’s worth the trip.
So glad you identified your Eremurus ‘Cleopatra as your pride and joy, rightfully so! It’s gorgeous…
That’s my Saxifrage ! The shop labeled it hardy begonia , wrong. I did see one at Joy Creek , but sieve brain that I am …can’t remember, should have noted it in my notebook.
Speaking of Joy Creek I’m heading over there this morning ( Sunday) If you are thinking of visiting as well.
I can’t wait for the next exchange, especially if it’s going to be at your place! So many beauties. I can’t wait for the P. russeliana to go nuts in my yard too.
What is the ground cover in your second shot? It looks a bit like marjoram.
I’ve never seen these leaves with spines before. Ferocious!
It’s Saxifraga stolonifera , the strawberry begonia. Just been to Joy Creek… came back with quite a haul !
I have some Blue-eyed grass, some from a mail order place (freebie) and some in the edge of my woods growing wild, love it!! I am really fond of Rugosa roses, love their fragrance.
Have never heard of Carpentaria … will have to do some reading about it.
Oh, wow–I love that hedge of Phlomus russeliana. What a knockout! It’s such a whimsical looking plant.
Thanks for stopping by my blog and for the warm welcome. Makes my day!
Loree~Fewer of them this year, because two of the plants were overtaken by Stachys…always something, in this quest for perfection.
linda~Thanks for the ID…and the plant! Sorry we couldn’t meet up at JC…Father’s Day BBQ & hotly contested croquet game here.
Heather~You won’t have to wait long.
Linda~It’s golden creeping jenny…burns a bit in the sun, but that’s not been a problem so far this year.
Janet~The Carpenteria takes a bit of coddling in our zones, but it’s worth the trouble.
Bria~Whimsical is the perfect word for it.
No pink for you, huh? 🙂 I love the peonies and roses but all your plants look wonderful. My poor Carpenteria is now, officially shrouded by the Japanese maple. I’m either going to have to move it or dramatically prune the tree. Hmm… Great post.
It looks like you’ve got summer starting to happen up there. The solanum might even be better for foliage day, since the bright orange spines growing on the leaves are so spectacular. Congrats on the carpenteria. Mine gets more floriferous each year, so hopefully yours will do the same. I have it three feet away from the path and hadn’t noticed its scent until someone pointed it out to me a few months ago. I’m sorry I didn’t put it closer to the walkway now…
Happy belated bloomday to you!
Grace~Between you and the peonies, I am beginning to come around. My Carpenteria is in a big pot, so I can move it around if necessary.
James~Your zone probably makes the Carpenteria happier than ours, but I hope this year’s success is the start of something big.
I really love to have some Blue eyes. Blue eyes are great because it has the same color as the sky. *.,`.
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