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| Angel's Trumpet (Brugmansia 'Charles Grimaldi') |
This looks more like a July Bloom Day rather than August. We have had spectacular weather (although some might disagree) with really mild temperatures. Lately, most of the high temps have been in the 70s with a few days creeping into the 80s. It hit 90 on Tuesday but those days have been rare.
On to Bloom Day which is the 15th of each month, a day for garden bloggers to post about what is blooming in their gardens. This brilliant endeavor was created by May Dreams Gardens and if you follow the link, you will find links to other garden blogs with more flowery eye-candy.
August brings out the tropical-type flowers. The Angel's Trumpet (Brugmansia 'Charles Grimaldi') resides in a tall ceramic pot. There are a dozen blooms in the photo above (taken two days ago) and on Wednesday, there were 16. This plant is sitting on the south side of the house near the bedroom window and at night we can catch the delicious fragrance. We give it bloom booster fertilizer at least once per week and sometimes I will throw in some fish emulsion. This was a plant that I had doubts about in our climate but it is doing well.
Another tropical flower in a nearby pot is Princess Flower (Tibouchina) -
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| Princess Flower (Tibouchina) |
A tree (or shrub if you like) that I thought would be a heat lover is the Chaste Tree (Vitex). It is blooming like crazy though on a rather small plant. There is a lovely tree-sized one at Joy Creek Nursery.
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| Chaste Tree (Vitex) |
And one more for the tropical category - Spiked Ginger Lily (
Hedychium spicatum), planted just this year, from Far Reaches Farm.
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| Spiked Ginger Lily (Hedychium spicatum) |
The hydrangeas have been beautiful this year. Some are beginning to fade but others continue to shine -
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| I failed to note this one but I'm pretty sure it is 'Bloomstruck', a bargain found on the Home Depot clearance rack. |
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| Hydrangea 'Pistache' - this one took a while to start blooming. It has a tendency to look either really bad or really good. Right now, good! |
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| My favorite oakleaf hydrangea 'Snowflake' (discovered in Alabama). |
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| I am becoming very fond of the mountain hydrangeas. This is Hydrangea serrata 'Omacha Nishiki'. |
The roses are in re-bloom phase. I was particularly happy that the rambler 'Phyllis Bide' rebloomed nicely. I have not taken a photo but I did get shots of -
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| 'Gold Medal' |
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| 'Lady Emma Hamilton' |
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| 'Eden' (Michael took this photo) |
Other miscellaneous blooms -
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| Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) is about 8 feet tall. Blooming in front is Salvia 'Rockin Fuchsia', 'Casablanca' lilies and the rose 'Princess Alexandra of Kent'. |
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| Pineapple Lily (Eucomis 'Sparkling Burgundy'), a bit past prime. |
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| Clematis 'Polish Spirit' and 'Kiri Te Kanawa' |
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| Clethra 'Ruby Spice' |
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| Coreopsis 'Leading Lady Sophia' |
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| Crocosmia 'Twilight Fairy' |
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| Dahlia 'Lolipop' |
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| Unknown Dahlia |
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| Kniphofia 'Poco Orange' |
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| Persicaria 'Blackfield' |
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| Gladiolas have been really spectacular this summer. |
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| An unknown Hosta with particularly large blooms. |
Happy Bloom Day!
Text and photos by Phillip Oliver,
Dirt Therapy
Comments
I'm making a note of your Crocosmia 'Twilight Fairy'. I got rid of 'Lucifer' that was too vigorous; kept a couple of corms for the joy of humming birds, and planted NOID orange variety: smaller and better behaved. I'd like to have another red that isn't so thuggish, and 'Twilight Fairy' may just be the one, if I can find it.
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