Bumbly on Verbena bonariensis
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The first Crepe Myrtle blossoms have opened on median strip trees near our home. It surprised me to see their pink fluffiness in the upper reaches of these trees which so recently sported only bare branches.
It still feels like witnessing a miracle to watch the annual progression of leaf and blossom, a miracle which still thrills me.
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Oakleaf Hydrangea, showing the first tint of pink in its blossoms.
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I was chasing two does out of our garden this afternoon, when I noticed a new soft blueness from the corner of my eye. Looking more closely, freshly opened mop-head Hydrangea flowers came into focus in the depths of our shrub border. These were well hidden, out of reach of hungry mouths scavenging for any greenery not lately coated in Repels-All.
The nearby buds of a R. ‘John Paul II’ were gone. We’ve had days of rain lately, so no use worrying too much over what’s been nabbed. We’ve done our best.
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Our flowering carrots have proven very satisfying.
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But my day’s ‘to-do’ list is still not done. I’ll head back out to the garden at dusk to spread what’s left of our bag of Milorganite. Maybe that will discourage further trespass.
It’s impossible to remain grumpy for long, when in the garden. For every hoof print or buzzing bitey, there are a dozen newly opened flowers to enjoy.
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We stopped to enjoy this Zebra Swallowtail feeding on milkweed while in Gloucester yesterday.
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It is fabulous to watch our summer garden finally unfold. The first Canna flowers opened today, too, and the first vibrant spikes of Liatris are showing color. Everywhere I look, there is something new to discover and to enjoy.
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First Liatris flower from the bulbs we planted this spring. Pollinators enjoy these, too. The feast is spread; where are our butterflies?
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We celebrated this turning towards summer yesterday with a day trip to Gloucester. It is a beautiful drive, first of all, along the Colonial Parkway and over the Coleman Bridge. The York River was alive with small craft. There’s an active Osprey nest nestled into the bridge’s structure above the control booth, and I always watch for a glimpse of mother or chicks.
We visited at the Bulb Shop and spent a while meditating on the new season’s growth in the Heath’s display gardens. I’m always studying how they assemble groupings of plants, looking for fresh ideas.
But I was distracted at the Heron Pond, photographing their newly opened water lily blossoms. There is so much to see, so much to learn, and so much to enjoy.
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Now that their summer stock is marked down by half, I took advantage of the opportunity to try a few new perennials. I’ll be planting our first ever Kniphofia. I don’t know how to pronounce it, so we’ll just call them ‘Red Hot Pokers’ and you’ll know what I mean. This is another perennial I admire growing in huge clumps near the Pacific beaches in Oregon. Pollinators and butterflies love them , and so I plan to plant a clump in our front garden to see how we like them.
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Daucus carota
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Other than moving the remaining Caladiums out to the garden, our spring planting is about finished. Now comes the joy of it all, as we sit back and enjoy watching everything grow; and enjoy, even more, sharing it with friends who stop by for a leisurely summer-time visit.
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Calla lily, or Zantedeschia, with Black eyed Susans nearly ready to bloom and starts of Obedient plant given to us by a friend.
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Woodland Gnome 2017
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“Bees do have a smell, you know,
and if they don’t they should,
for their feet are dusted
with spices from a million flowers.”
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Ray Bradbury
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Allium
Forest Garden 