Foliage

At this point in the summer, the garden is moving from the heavy blooms of late spring to what I hope will be the equally heavy blooms of late summer. However, in the lull before dahlias, joe pye weed, and anemones burst forth, I'm enjoying foliage. A few flowers are indeed in bloom--just to make all that green look even better (and to distract from hail damage and powdery mildew)--but mostly it's all about shapes and surfaces around here.



In the old side bed, here's the verdant array, running clockwise from the upper right: Garden phlox Phlox paniculata "David," ladybells Adenophora confusa, shasta daisies, peonies, tickseed Coreopsis verticillata "Moonbeam," lamb's ear Stachys byzantina, and blue star Amsonia hubrichtii.

September equinox

Tethered between the seasons, today's September equinox is pretty quiet around here. Much of what's in flower is the second, weaker flush brought on by shearing back an early bloom.

Angelonica, which was cut back hard upon transplanting in August, looks quite youthful for an annual that's been around for months.



Despite only fertilizing once this summer, my climber offers a few rosebuds. Some folks recommend against clipping off spent flowers at this time of year, so that the bushes will turn their energy to producing rose hips rather than delicate new foliage. Each winter, this bush does sustain a bit of damage to young lateral branches, probably the result of my autumnal efforts to clean up. So this year, I am thinking that, as with fertilizing, I should stop pruning after August and instead devote my attention to securing the canes against the winter winds.



The sedums and the salvia farinacea "Victoria Blue" are abuzz with big bumble bees. After summer merrily, merrily . . .



Where the bee sucks, there suck I;
In a cowslip's bell I lie;
There I couch when owls do cry.
On the bat's back I do fly
After summer merrily.
Merrily, merrily shall I live now
Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.

Summer solstice scenes

This time of year, the sun is high in the sky, the days are long, and the scent of roses is in the air. Here's an account of what's in bloom from the back quarter acre.

Along the house
Going: Peonies
Holding steady: Siberian iris "King of Kings," larkspur, angelonica, Salvia farinacea "Victoria Blue," bellflower Campanula persicifolia "Chettle Charm", climbing rose "New Dawn"
Coming: Phlox panticulata "David," shasta daisies, yarrow Achillea x "Summer Wine"



New side bed
Going: Bearded iris, columbine Aquilegia "Grandmother's Garden" and "McKana Hybrid"
Holding steady: Yellow foxglove Digitalis grandiflora, hosta "Gold Tiara"
Coming: Astilbe japonica "Rheinland"
Neither coming nor going: Lirope



Old side bed
Going: Bearded iris, columbine Aquilegia, peonies, bluestar Amsonia
Holding steady: Lady's mantle Alchemilla vulgaris, catmint Nepeta x faassenii "Walker's Low"
Coming: Phlox panticulata "David," shasta daisies, Ladybells Adenophora confusa



And just breaking ground: Dahlias!

Measure at midsummer

With the summer half over, it's time to consider the big picture in my small garden.

Angle of repose: the old side garden does indeed like to spill out of its bed. Here, a week or so ago, the lilac blue of catmint, ladybells, and hostas alternates with the white of shasta daisies and, in time, phlox panticulata "David."


However, this bed is best viewed obliquely rather than dead on, especially after deadheading. Ouch! Only the phlox is left to pull through the rest of the summer.


Across the yard, the new bed is looking decidedly . . . new. So much bare soil is practically indecent.


And along the back of the house, the usual suspects are behaving in their usual ways: the phlox is coming into bloom, the sedum is preparing for its autumn show and, at the far end, the rose is climbing over its trellis. While the larkspur, in the center, heads towards seed, its stems embrittle and turn pale. I need to mask this skeletal sight--but with what?

In bloom

Weather changes moods. Here's what is blooming in the garden today.

Robust yellow and white irises. How great to have a sister-in-law with her own landscaping company and a willingness to share plant divisions!


The line of spirea is at its most extravagent, as its boughs bend and tussle with blooms.



Rhododendron "Lodestar"



While in the woodland garden, there is a scattering of phlox divaracata that followed me north from Chevy Chase . . .

. . . a stand of our state flower, the mayapple . . . . . . and even a few jacks-in-the pulpit.