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...
Beautiful photos of a beautiful garden, Phillip! However, given that your bench shot shows that a geranium has taken over, it looks as though you haven't given yourself many opportunities to sit down and enjoy it ;)
ReplyDeleteThis is true. I wanted to cut it back and Michael insisted we leave it.
DeleteGorgeous, Phillip! You do August right! I am tempted to get a Vitex now that you've shown it here and in your July favorites.
ReplyDeleteJerry, you should. I love it.
DeleteOh, my! So beautiful. I remember when you put those steps in...
ReplyDeleteThe bench shot in particular is romantic and magazine worthy: I'm glad Michael insisted :-D
I see your Phormium is fully recover since a couple of winters ago. Right above it in the far left corner: are those 'red twig' dogwood branches in the large pot?
Chavli
I have cut the phormium down close to the ground for the past two seasons. Now that I know it will rebound, it is painless. Those twigs are a variety of different things, spray-painted red by Michael.
DeleteHow beautiful, you've created a masterpiece! I especially love the path photos #3 & #5. So lush, your garden looks like it appreciates the mild summer.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteYour garden is so lovely, Phillip! Each path draws your eye further in...so lush. Debbie Crockett
ReplyDeleteThank you Debbie! I loved your garden.
DeleteI've been following you and your garden for a while via your emails, and it just gets more beautiful every year! Thanks so much for sharing your gardening passion!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Sandy!
DeleteLove these photos. An inspiration for a Vancouver Island gardener. What is the purple flowering bush, very tall, in photo #8? Love your use of colours. Divine!
ReplyDeleteThank you! That is a chaste tree (vitex).
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