The Midsummer Garden
Saturday, June 30, 2012 at 5:00AM As June comes to a close, a mellowing of the garden has occurred. It is midsummer here. Greens predominate, with gold tints and purple and pink accents.
In the Front Garden:
I really love my Lady in Red hydrangeas. According to the acidity of the soil, the blooms may originally be blue or pink, or a combination of both, but as summer progresses they all take on rose tones:
Above: In May, this Lady in Red, located down from the patio, was predominantly blue.
This is the color of the same shrub today.
I painted this birdhouse to reflect the Lady in Red behind it.
My voodoo plant, located in the front garden in a talavera pot, is growing. My original two have multiplied to five! Who knows how many I will have in a couple of years when it is mature enough to bloom. Next year I will have to put some of them in another pot. If you are unfamiliar with this weird plant please read my original post, Under the Spell of the Voodoo Plant, to see why I will be holding my breath when it flowers!
The Woodland Garden is a nice retreat from the hot sun. One can feel the aging here too, with softer, more hushed tones of green:
Have a Happy July!
Reader Comments (25)
The hints of aging and mellowing in your summer garden are so soothing!
The green of your woodland looks so cool and inviting. Your Lady in Red hydrangea is so beautiful the way it changes colour, no wonder you like it so much.
Your Lady in Red are stunning and the birdhouse is perfect with the colors you chose.....I adore your woodland garden....so lush and peaceful....
I like how you coordinated the birdhouse, Deb. It makes a nice vignette and photograph. I like how it this time of year you can really see the texture in your gardens. It is such a calming place to while away the summer.
Your garden is looking rich and thick right now with the summer canopy. I always admire your curved bridge ni the woodlands, because the shape and colour fit in perfectly. That's quite the dramatic colour change for the lady in red Hydrangea. I only have the Hydrangea paniculata that vary between shades of white, pink and red. In your climate, your Caladium get much larger than mine. I grow mine in pots, and in the fall they'll be wishing that they hadn't got shipped to Canada.
Your midsummer garden looks so lush and restful! I love the birdhouse you painted! Next time you're in Portland, you'll have to take a scenic drive out to my garden!
I am sitting here, it 's warm outside, but the birds are chirping, and I feel like I am walking through your woodland garden myself...thanks for this bliss moment.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
Absolutely love your garden Debs, beautiful images as always! And the photos with the green bridge looks superb and enchanting :)
I remain deeply attached to your little turquoise bridge!
lovely picturesof your beautiful garden!! The birdhouse is beautiful with the hydrangeas as backdrop :)
Wow your front garden looks beautiful, that bridge is lovely. Hope you can spend as much time as you can in it. I could get lost for hours in there.
Enjoy reading some of your posts. Will return to read the others. Particularly enjoy reading the post on the Vodoo plant.
Your woodland garden looks so cool and lovely. The lacy look of your 'Lady in Red' hydrangea is beautiful.
Your shots are so very lovely and serene. The garden looks magical.
Gorgeous as always Deb. I love the Colocasia - I've only ever used them in pots. Looks like they'll thrive in the ground too!
As always I love your wood; there is something so peaceful and restful about the shade of woodland. I love your subtle plantings that look so natural but nature was never so clever. Thanks for sharing, Christina
Hot? I've forgotten what that was. Your wonderful woodland would offer shelter from the rain though. As you know I'm slightly obsessed with red-delineated foliage - what is plant in 2nd image from last? Still have not id the hydrangea that was not Lady in Red (thanks for the confirmation on that). Happy 4th July, Deb
What a calm space - such a sanctuary. The Hydrangea is fabulous! Happy 4th July!
I also have a woodland garden and am glad that I found yours as well. Now that I've foud it I'll be sure to keep coming back.
Lovely. I see that the cast iron plants are blending in already.
Your woodland garden looks like such a cool, quiet retreat in a hot summer.
Such a beautiful landscape. The hydrangeas are beautiful as are the colorful caladiums...
Hope Y'all have a happy 4th
Your woodland garden looks so nice and cool! I love that Lady in Red. Hydrangeas are so pretty!
Love the birdhouse/hydrangea combo. And I am always up for a phot of your elegant bridge.
Hi Deb
My stress level always comes down a few notches as I scan photos of your garden. So restful and peaceful. I love it! And what a clever idea to paint the birdhouse to match its surroundings. Thanks for the great shots...