The garden is a drab mess in August and this year is no exception. It is too hot to weed or do anything else for that matter. Dragging hoses around to keep everything watered is strenuous enough and just running out for a few minutes to do that leaves you wet and sticky. I just hate this time of year.
Most plants in the garden look desperate and I can count the ones with blooms on one hand. One that looks somewhat decent is the Plume Poppy (Macleaya cordata), a tropical looking, big-leaved beauty that commands attention. Even when stressed by drought and heat, the leaves turn a golden color that looks metallic when the light hits it a certain way. Underneath, they are white and downy. In late summer, delicate sprays of tiny white flowers appear - attractive but to me, the leaves are the star of the plant.
I bought the plant a few years ago at a local plant sale and I was warned that it could be rampant. I wisely planted it in a sunken plastic container. It spreads by underground rhizomes but thankfully the sunken container seems to keep it in check. From time to time, I spot it popping up in other places but it is easily identifiable and easy to pull up.
Plume Poppy is tall and dramatic and can be used as a dramatic focal point in the garden. Just keep an eye on it!
Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
Comments
It's been a hot, dry August here too , which is unusual as it's usually the rainest.
I saw the first bloom of Sweet Autumn clematis today so that show will be awesome.
The cooler days of Fall will soon be here!
We had 6 inches of rain over the last week, so we're in good shape. I'm having the best August blooms ever, but I plant for drought. My white butterfly ginger is already in full bloom.