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Ten August Favorites

Ginger Lily ( Hedychium coccineum 'Tara') With the exception of a few hot spells, August has been tolerable. However, beginning tomorrow, we are in for a 5-day heat wave. Disgusting! August is the month for plants that really love the heat. I have to begin with the Ginger Lily 'Tara' which is blooming for the first time. I posted a few weeks ago about how excited I was to see the bloom stalk. They have slowly opened with a few flowers every day. It has been well worth the wait.  Other favorites - Continuing the orange theme is Lantana 'Miss Huff' which is growing in a pot (that is the heather 'Firefly' in the foreground). This lantana can survive in the ground if situated in a protected area and it isn't too wet. Previously, one grew in the back garden along the south foundation and got huge (about 3' x 5'). I finally took it out after a particularly tough winter and it was slow to bounce back.  Allium ' Millenium' is a small charme...
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Fuchsia Friday

 

'Little Giant'

It has been a while since I've posted photos of our fuchsias. We have lots on the deck in containers. Many were overwintered in the garage. However, I've learned that they are so slow to regain their growth and start blooming again, that I think it might be best to just purchase new ones every year. Some are cold hardy and I've transplanted several in the ground (one of them is 'Little Giant' pictured above).

Some others growing in the garden are:

'Cardinal'


 

'Lady Boothby' can be considered a climber. It is scrambling up our paperbark maple and has so far reached at least six feet.

 

'Lady Boothby'

 

'Queen Esther'

'Santa Claus'

'Hawkshead' - one of my favorites. It is all white and about 3' tall.

'Voodoo'

And some of the potted fuchsias -

'Erecta'

'June Bride'

'Shrimp Cocktail'

'Delta's Sarah'


 

'Whiteknights Pearl'

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

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Comments

  1. Hoover BooSeptember 11, 2020 at 1:38 PM

    Love them all. They are beautiful, Phillip. When I was growing up Fuchsias were everywhere in Southern California. Everyone seemed to have them in their gardens.

    The plants we remember from childhood somehow seem more special.

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  2. Lisa at GreenbowSeptember 11, 2020 at 2:18 PM

    One of my first gardening loves. I will never forget the first fuchsia I ever saw and it has always been my favorite.

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  3. ksSeptember 11, 2020 at 4:33 PM

    I do love my Fuchsias ! It is hard to find some of the more interesting named varieties here in California I remember the days back before Fuchsia gall mite when the selection was abundant. I get most of mine now mail order from Joy Creek. I'm intrigued by Lady Boothby -I may have to seek her out !

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  4. Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax!September 12, 2020 at 4:03 AM

    Such pretty ballerinas!
    I try to persuade myself that if we throw away cut flowers, it's ok to throw away old plants too. It's hard though.

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  5. chavlinessSeptember 12, 2020 at 9:28 AM

    A nice collection. I'm not growing fuchsia, but than again, never say never.
    I'm fascinated with the photo of 'Shrimp Cocktail': is the two-tone of the flower unique to that specific bloom? The out-of-focus bloom next to it seems to have no stripe.

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