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Hibiscus flowers fill our garden each summer from July through September.
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Tree Hibiscus, also known as Hibiscus syriacus or Rose of Sharon; were first planted by earlier gardeners on this site. Now they reseed themselves all over our garden. Deciduous, their lean frames catch winter’s snow, and hold seed filled pods to sustain our birds all winter.
Both leaves and flowers open a little late, but the flowers keep coming into September. Butterflies, every sort of bee, and hummingbirds feast on their nectar from early July until autumn.
Rose of Sharon flowers remain fairly small, only a couple of inches across. Our other perennial Hibiscus sport huge, saucer sized blossoms.
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Native Hibiscus moscheutos, which grows wild in the marshes near us, grows rapidly once the weather warms in early summer. Though its flowers are short lived, they keep coming over several weeks. The dried seed pods linger into winter, when we finally cut back its woody stalks.
Beautiful swamp Hibiscus, Hibiscus coccineus, will soon burst into bloom in our garden, sporting scarlet flowers on towering woody stems.
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Hibiscus coccineus, another native Hibiscus, will bloom before the end of July. Its beautiful slender leaves gracefully clothe its tall stems. it will tower above the surrounding garden when it blooms.
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These showy, generous blossoms blend into a collage of color in our garden, animated by the many pollinators buzzing from one to the other, sustained by their sweet nectar.
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Woodland Gnome 2017
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For the Daily Post’s
Weekly Photo Challenge: Collage
Forest Garden 