Summer is Here!

Sweat, sex, saunas, and summers in the Deep South - all are associated with heat and moisture. This morning at 8AM, already the thick air draped like a wet, hot towel. I'm going to have to get up much earlier if I expect to do any heavy gardening. Most likely I'm done till September. Till then it's about keeping plants, animals, and humans watered and alive. We are fortunate to have had plenty of rain so far this year. We enter into summer with well soaked roots, and the ground is damp for inches below the surface. Despite the heat, plants are still looking good.

Many hydrangeas are at their peak. While I have already posted on both oakleaf and Lady in Red, I couldn't resist a few more photos of these and other hydrangeas in my yard.Oakleaf hydrangeas separate the lawn from untamed woodlands near the front of our property. Top row: Endless Summer. 2nd row: Annabelle. 3rd row: unknown hydrangea that appeared this year after having "died" two years ago ; Lady in Red. 4th row: Lady in Red and Nikko Blue ; Nikko Blue.

There are some colorful blooms and foliage along this path that curves through a sunny part of the woodland garden:Top: 'Tropicanna' Canna Lily; Clockwise from above left: Elephant Ear 'Mojito' ; Heuchera 'Stormy Seas'; Also 'Stormy Seas' - different plant; Caladium.

 I love the colors of this calla lily that grows beside the stone path in the woodland garden.Clockwise from top left: Gerber Daisy; Heuchera 'Palace Purple'; Rosa Palustris; Purple VerbenaBirds like this garden area, too! Can you find the mockingbird in this photo? This is part of the hillside overlooking the colorful plants featured above.

On the other side of the yard, A pink 'Anthony Waterer' spirea is blooming near the patio. Blue star juniper and rosemary grow in front of the spirea in the photo below.

And finally, even the dog lot has its blooms! A climbing rose, 'Red Cascade' blooms on the picket fence near an old doghouse. The doghouse belonged to Rock, my dad's black chow who came to live with us when my parents were too ill to care for him. My parents and Rock have all passed away now, and our dog Lily, who has her own doghouse, uses this one as her summer house. 'Red Cascade' is a fantastic low maintenance rose with multitudes of one inch red blooms all season. It grows about ten to fifteen feet and looks great draped over fences. Rock's favorite place was the shady corner under the rose between his house and the fence.

The first day of summer is June 21. By then, we'll be counting the days till fall!

Happy blooms to you!  Deborah

Hydrangea 'Lady in Red'

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Lady in Red' is one of my favorite hydrangeas. It is a low maintenance shrub and has several noteworthy characteristics.This Lady in Red is growing in the woodland garden.

Its blue-green foliage has distinctive red veins and stems, and they are stunning when backlit by the sun.

Blooming in late spring, the lace cap flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. They open pinkish white to bluish white, depending on the soil ph, with the blue flowers blooming in more acid soil.  The 'Lady in Red' hydrangeas in my woodland garden are located in an area with rich, sweet soil.  The black earth here is one of the main things that prompted me years ago to develop a garden in this area. (If you want to read the story of the making of my woodland garden, click here.) The flowers on these shrubs are pink. I have more Lady in Reds on the other side of the property, where the soil is more acidic, and their flowers are blue. All of the flowers will change to rose or burgundy as they mature. Beautiful!

 

'Lady in Red' will grow about three to five feet tall and wide, and they look great grouped together or with other woodland plants. They should be planted in partial shade in moist, well drained soil in zones 6-9. Avoid hot summer sun and keep watered during dry spells. We had a drought a couple years ago, and hauling buckets of water down into the woods to keep them watered was a chore! But it was worth it, for they are mildew resistant and generally easy care plants. They don't require much fertilizer, maybe just once in early spring with an all purpose fertilizer. Because of the nice mounding habit, pruning is optional. However, any pruning for shaping should be done after flowering and before July to August, since new flower buds are set on old wood. 

The lovely leaves of 'Lady in Red' turn shades of reddish-purple in the fall, stretching enjoyment of this great shrub well into three seasons.This fall, 2009 photo shows Lady in Red as it is developing its autumn colors.

My 'Lady in Red' hydrangeas are so beautiful this year I want to plant some more!

You may also like my previous post Oakleaf Hydrangea for All Seasons.