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...
Red can be such a challenging color to deal with. The red of Lobelia tupa versus the red of Rudbeckia 'Sahara' ... they are both red but they clash horribly. I really struggle with where and how to incorporate red flowers into my garden. Pretty sure I'm overthinking ! 'Midnight Marvel' is really nice-love the dark foliage.
ReplyDeleteRed can be a problem I agree but it's a lovely colour to play with as there as there are so many shades of red, as you say. Some go stunningly well with purples, some absolutely not, others go well with dark black foliage others not etc etc. However the one colour they all go with is green, from chartreuse to dark dark green, making this one of the easiest shades to match to red. You can make a very ordinary shade of red (is there even one) look absolutely luxurious just with the right shade of green. Red and green shimmers and dances. Place a scarlet shade umbrella against a back drop of shiny dark dark green leaves and you have a focal point like no other.
DeleteOh Lovely Red Flowers.I loved the hot red Mandevilla flowers the most among all other Red flowers.It would be my pleasure if you join my link up party related to Gardening here at http://jaipurgardening.blogspot.com/2020/09/garden-affair-teaching-from-gardening.html
ReplyDeleteHot red blooms are the centerpiece of the dog days of summer. Hibiscus 'Midnight Marvel' is stunning, and I also love Crape Myrtle 'Dynamite which isn't seen very often in Seattle.
ReplyDeleteIf only Bat Face Cuphea had bloomed later, towards the end of October, in time for Halloween!
So red of you. Love each and every one. Our crepe myrtle didn't bloom this year. It froze to the ground this winter. I hope it survives next year and blooms this beautiful red.
ReplyDeleteLove red! I'm making a red bed in my garden. I have another hibiscus that I'm already planning for next year.
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