I put the new dark iris here, with Ceanothus impressus ‘Victoria’ blooming in back. C. ‘Blue Jeans’ blooms earlier, but between the gray skies and the more muted blue of the flowers, it is way less showy.
Here’s a closer look at that iris in full bloom.
Down at the other end of Delusional Drive, a mahogany iris (again NOID) shows up nicely against a background of Stachys ‘Helen Von Stein’.
On the other side of the drive, foxgloves volunteer en masse.
In Richard’s Berm of Sorrow, so called because he has it crammed with weeping and prostrate plants, Rhododendron ‘Ebony Pearl’ is sprouting shiny new red leaves that will eventually turn the dark color that gives it its name (much preferable to the pink flowers which, thankfully, are fleeting).
Eremurus ‘Cleopatra’ is working up to a fine showing. Cleo adds a few more stems each year.
Since Cleo seemed so happy here, I move E. ‘Ruiter’s Hybrid’ to keep her company. This seems to be the sweet spot for these treasures. I’m at least as happy as they are.
Look at the cute little candy striped bud on the Rosa rugosa ‘Alba’ I got from Anna at last year’s swap.
It looked like it would bloom pink, but I should have known to trust Anna.
I wanted to cluster pots out front, but I didn’t want the hassle of grass growing up all around and between them. My solution was to lay down thick layers of newspaper, position the pots and fill in around them with pea gravel.
The orchid-like blooms on the strawberry saxifrage I got from Linda are light and airy.
They quickly filled this big pot. A small Chamaecyparus lawsoniana ‘Somerset’ will have to do some serious growing to hold its own.
Inside, an orchid that has sat unnoticed on a windowsill is proving that neglect is its favorite kind of treatment.
I was thinking that repotting was in order when I noticed a bud. On closer examination I found three more budding stems.
Not one to argue with success, however unearned, I plopped pot and all into this wonderful tin cachepot. Now I can look forward to several months of continuing beauty. These are just a few of the highlights revealed by a stroll in early June. How is June unfolding at your place?
I got a start of that Saxifrage from Linda last year too. I put mine in the ground, in a spot where it can run to its heart’s content. I love your terra cotta pots in gravel. I wonder if i should try that Ebony Pearl Rhodie. I don’t seem to have good luck with Rhodies, I’m not sure why.
Those dark iris are AMAZING!
I think my Saxifrage has disappeared …next swap ?
Good idea with the pea gravel under the pots–I might have to try that. Love the Eremurus. I’m going to do a little research on them when I sign off here. Your garden looks great in June!
Ah your Eremurus are amazing…and I like what you’ve done with the gravel and containers. No blooms yet on my R. ‘Ebony Pearl’…of course when they do show up I’ll make quick work of getting rid of them…
Wow! Things are looking good at your place! You have some good combinations; especially liked that first dark iris with the yellow of the golden thread cypress! Love your grouping of terra cotta pots. May I steal your gravel idea? You’ve not only kept an orchid alive but it’s re blooming for you? Too cool! June is unfolding in a rather disorganized way here as I’ve had very little time to garden this spring; everything looks lush and green including the waist high weeds.
Alison~The Rhodies need good drainage and a bit of shade. The site rhododendron.org has all the info you could ask for and more. Good luck.
Emily~I agree, and it is not even as dark as the one I’m after ‘Before the Storm’.
Linda!I now have plenty to share, just remind me before the swap.
Beth~I tried eremurus in several spots before I found one to their liking. Research would probably be a more efficient way to go.
Loree~It took our Pearl a couple of years to produce those pesky flowers.
Peter~The gravel idea is yours for the taking. Think of the drudgery we could avoid if we just decided to admire the weeds.
Lots of good things happening in your garden this month! Eremurus and Ceanothus are two things I’m eager to add to my own garden. I love the 2irises at the top and your gravel container pad. I’d like to install a whole gravel garden at my parents’ house but I’m not sure they’d go for it.
Evan~The Ceanothus are pretty fast growing and seem unattractive to the deer (words of encouragement). Are you responsible for two gardens? I can identify, as we have to keep up on the garden at our rental house too. I’m always torn, as they both need lots of attention.
I wish I could keep the Strawberry saxifrage alive for more than five minutes. Actually I had it until winter. I need to research how to keep it happy. I think this time I let it dry out too much. It’s sure a cool plant. My Ceanothus survived the winter but my friend Carol’s totally bit the dust which makes me all the happier to have a living breathing one. The bees are sooo happy! And so am I. Love the little rose blossom and would pink really have been so bad? Wink, wink. LOL
Grace~If anyone can win me over to the pink side, it is you.