June Walk
Sunday, June 7, 2015 at 3:00PM Summertime is here, hot and humid but not yet fierce, delightful and sticky as honey on the tongue.
The old Southern Magnolia across from the house is blooming, its large fragrant flowers a testament to summer in the Deep South.I had my first watermelon of the year last week, along with hot dogs and hamburgers fresh from the grill. This is the season to sit on the patio in the cool of the day, until the sun sets and mosquitos begin to bite. Mosquitos generally leave me alone, while Lou is much sweeter and the bugs zero in on him. Late afternoon is also the perfect time to take a walk through the June garden.
Here is the view from the patio, looking through the arch toward the front garden.I am happy to have a red banana, Ensete maurelii, growing again beside the patio.
The pink flowering shrub beside the red banana is 'Anthony Waterer' spirea.This wonderful plant is one of my favorites for foliage. While it may survive a mild winter, it is not really hardy here. I learned the hard way, so it is in a large pot, which will be hauled inside when frost arrives.
From the patio one also has a view of the arbor garden:
Steps, which are bordered with an assortment of shrubs and flowers, lead from the patio to the arbor garden. Look closely through the foliage in this picture and you can see the steps:
Leaving the patio and the view of the arbor garden, lets walk under the arch and take a turn in front of the house. This will bring us to the parking court and various views around the front lawn. Green is the predominant color of summer. Because of our big windows, even the inside of the house takes on a verdant tint this time of year.
The combination of Calibrachoa and Tropicana Canna Lily will provide a shimmer of color in front of the house throughout the season.
A closer look at Calibrachoa; these look like small petunias but have a tidier habit.
Tropicana Canna Lily has spectacular leaves. It has proved to be reliably hardy in my zone 7b/8a climate.The Tropicana Canna Lily grows beside this birdbath. Behind the birdbath is Nandina 'Firepower,' a noninvasive nandina that does not produce flowers or berries. Beyond here is a parking area that is bordered by shrubs and flowers, part of the large front garden that wraps around the lawn.
Walking through the garden, one sees an assortment of flowers blooming in June, including this purple petunia:
Stella de Oro Daylily:
and more:
Clockwise from top left: Rosa mutabilis; Sedum; 'Tutti Frutti' butterfly bush; Zantedeschia; Nasturtium; Fuchsia; Black-eyed Susan; Gardenia.
No walk is complete without a stroll through the woodland garden. In late afternoon it transforms into a green cathedral with windows of silver and gold.
Snowflake hydrangea
I hope you enjoyed the walk! Have a great week, Deb
You may also be interested in these posts: Summer Proof the Garden and Summer is Here!
Reader Comments (27)
Hi Deb, I certainly enjoyed the walk with you through your lovely gardens! As the dry heat of summer is just kicking in here, again, what stands out for me is the green, juicy, lushness of your garden in contrast to mine. That green is so soothing for the eye and the soul.
I am completely in love with your 'Snowflake' hydrangea, what an elegant bloom. The Southern Magnolia is also a wonderful bloom.
Wishing you a good start into the new week!
Christina
Thoroughly enjoyed the walk Debs, your garden looks dreamy!
windows of silver and gold
that's beautiful, both the words, and the image you capture with them!
Thanks, Deb! I enjoyed my stroll through your beautiful garden.
'dreamy' is a good ;word to describe your garden, Deb. That swing seat is especially inviting. if I could I'd go through the screen and sit on it. Though Alice Through the Screen doesn't sound quite as good as Alice Through the Looking Glass.
What a gorgeous garden to walk through. I/m so glad Jen @ The Light Laughed recommended I pop over for a visit.
As pretty (or prettier) than some public gardens I've seen.
Everything looks delicious!
(By which I mean "eye-candy") :)
Your garden looks beautiful no matter what time of year. And that banana is growing by leaps and bounds.
Jen
You live in a beautiful part of the country. I looked it up on the map and we have traveled through thate area and spent some time there. I love the beautiful gardens you've created. The red banana plant sure is beautiful! Enjoy your day. Hugs, Diane
What a lovely wander round your garden, it is always a pleasure, no matter what time of year it is, I always enjoy it. To sit in your garden must be such a pleasure, I hope you have time to sit and enjoy it.
Beautiful! The magnolia bloom is stunning and I really love that red banana. Where did you get it?
Love the arbor with the swing! That looks like a great place to hang out. I love your pictures with your trees. Your trees have such great, interesting structures that contrast with each other and the landscape so nicely. Such a lovely garden!
Your garden is looking beautiful. The season is, of course, much less advanced here. I just started planting containers with, among other things, petunias and nasturtium today.
Hello, everyone! Thank you all for stopping by and taking time to comment.Your kind words mean so much to me. Phillip, you asked where I got the red banana. That came from Myers Plants and Pottery, one of my favorite nurseries. You probably are already familiar with it. It is located in Pelham, not far from me. Deb
Your garden looks so wonderfully lush and verdant, and I love the pops of brilliant color you've added. How long have you had the bicycle? I don't think I've seen it before, it's amazing!
Summer does seem to be knocking on the door even here.
You have such a gift for working with texture, color and shape Deb. Most people miss the artistic elements you manage to play with and accentuate. Lovely!
Again, thank you ALL for your comments! Sweetbay, there actually are two bicycles, one on each side of the entrance to one of the woodland side paths. I have had them a couple of years. They don't show up well in photos unless the light is just right, so they don't make it onto the blog very often. I have thought of painting them so they stand out more, but I like their rusty ambiance. Deb
I really enjoyed the walk, but I want to visit one day and see your garden in person. It is one garden I enjoy seeing often in any post you put up. Maybe one day the Fling will come your way???
I'm visiting from Jen's blog, The Light Laughed. Your gardens and grounds are so beautiful. I like the arbour swing a lot. Have a beautiful day. Pamela
Yes, I loved the walk, I can almost smell the scent from the woodland garden. I had to smile when you wrote about the mosquitoes, just like your husband, the mosquitoes won’t leave me alone and I react dreadfully to every bite. I use ‘Ultrathon Insect Repellent Spray' from 3M and it is the most effective I have ever tried, and I have tried most things :-)
I loved the June walk through your very special garden Deb. I am looking out for Canna at the moment, I would also like a banana plant but struggling as to where to store it over Winter.
I'd like to know what kind of special treatment you give your Anthony Waterer and your Tropical Canna Lily. I had 3 Anthony Waterer plants and I'm down to one that appears to be on it's last leg. The canna I killed off after 2 years. Both are in full sun.
Linda, I can't say I give either "special treatment." Like yours, my tropicana Canna Lilies and my Anthony Waterer Spireas are all in full sun, except for one spirea that is in partial shade. I trim my spireas lightly after their first flush of blooms, and this encourages more flowers through the summer. I also feed everything in my garden, including these plants, with fish emulsion, usually once or twice a year for the spireas, about once or twice a month through the summer for the cannas. Cannas also need lots of water and well-drained soil, which I am able to give. They are in front of the house, very close to a water source. Have your plants suffered from disease or insects? Cannas can be susceptible to leaf rollers. Sometimes plants just won't do well, and I certainly know the frustration! Best wishes! Deb
Wow! Your property and gardens are so beautiful. I love the arbour with the swing bench.
As usual, I've enjoyed my walk though your gorgeous garden. The Tropicana cannas are really show stoppers. Why don't I grow these? LOL
Finally catching up Deb....and what a delight. A watermelon...mine are mere little sprouts. And I see your banana is flourishing. That swing looks so inviting!
Deb -- My tropical canna with the striped leaves did not thrive where I had it and just disappeared the third year. Guess I should have moved it. The leaves on my last Anthony Waterer Spirea are turning yellow. Maybe I'll give it some of your fish emulsion and see if that arrests the downward spiral.