An unapologetic plant geek shares advice and opinions on gardening, the contrived and the natural landscape, as well as occasional topics from the other side of the gate.

June 15, 2016

Bloom Day - Excuses, Excuses

     Yes, I am still here. I just haven't felt like giving up precious time to the blog. I am very busy at work, the weather has been pleasant, my writing assignments have bordered on excessive, I prefer the seat of my kayak or bike to that of the computer, and the garden calls. At the moment hydrangeas, coneflowers, daylilies, and gardenias, and others, are vying for my attention.

     Greeting me when I got home yesterday afternoon were blooms from my giant coneflower (Rudbeckia maxima). I have had this plant two years, and these are the first blossoms.
Rudbeckia maxima

     We are in peak hydrangea season right now, and Annabelle (H. arborescens 'Annabelle') seems to be having a very good year.
Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'

          H. macrophylla 'Mariesii'
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Mariesii' (1)

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Mariesii' (2)

     H. macrophylla serrata 'Kiyosumi'
Hydrangea macrophylla serrata 'Kiyosumi' (2)

     H. macrophylla serrata 'Bluebird'
Hydrangea macrophylla serrata 'Bluebird' (1)

Hydrangea macrophylla serrata 'Bluebird' (2)

     H. quercifolia 'Little Honey'
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Little Honey'

     H. macrophylla 'Frau Kinue' (Angel Robe)
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Frau Kinue' (Angel Robe)

     My daylilies are blooming right now, and I kick myself for not keeping better records of which cultivars I have. 
Hemerocallis (unrecorded)

Hemerocallis (unrecorded) (2)

     Gardenia jasminoides 'August Beauty'
Gardenia jasminoides 'August Beauty' (2)

     Callistemon 'Woodlander's Hardy'
Callistemon 'Woodlander's Hardy'  (2)

Callistemon 'Woodlander's Hardy'  (1)

     Sinningia sellovii (Hardy Gloxinia) is one of my newest plants.
Sinningia sellovii

     Kniphofia 'Papaya Popsicle'
Kniphofia 'Papaya Popsicle'

     Cestrum aurantiaum 'Orange Zest'
Cestrum aurantiaum 'Orange Zest'

     I am especially pleased to see tthe unusual amount of Echinacea purpurea seedlings in my garden this year. I know this is a very common perennial, but it is one of my favorites, and I have found that the straight species is as prolific as the seemingly hundreds of new cultivars are not.
Echinacea purpurea (3)

Echinacea purpurea (1)

Echinacea purpurea (4)

     To see what other gardeners are especially pleased to see, visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens, who hosts Garden Bloggers Bloom Day on the 15th of each month.

8 comments:

  1. just beautiful!!! made my day! dixiegirl02

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  2. Sounds like you have a balanced view of life Les. Blog when you feel like it and get outside and enjoy the good days. I love your day lilies with the purple edges. And I'm a sucker for cone flower too. Your garden rocks !

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  3. I like your photos. They are very dramatic.

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  4. So glad you took the time to post! Love the photos, such a treat for the eyes!

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  5. Lovely! Our hydrangeas aren't in bloom yet so I'm enjoying yours vicariously. It is harder to blog on these lovely summer days. Enjoy!

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  6. I love the Rudbeckia maxima. Would like to try that.

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  7. sybil said it very well--balance, balance.

    Beautiful photos, enjoyed them all.

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  8. It's still peonies, poppies, and irises here. Daylilies are in my future, so it's fun looking at yours. And many of those hydrangeas would never bloom for me. I do have a macrophylla with buds on it, though.

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