Garden in the Sun

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting my friend Jean Plecker's garden. Unlike my own garden, hers has abundant sunshine.I was a little jealous of all the sun-lovers she can grow on the hillside behind her house. Many people may look at a hill and, judging it too much work, will give it over to a few trees and mulch (or weeds!). But Jean has planted a wonderful assortment of colorful plants, with a succession of blooms through the seasons. 

When I visited, her day lilies were in full bloom. 'Watchyl Dreaming Purple' may have been my favorite:

However, Jean had a number of other gorgeous day lilies, so it is hard to say:Clockwise from top left: 'Christmas Wishes'; 'Silk Mystique'; 'Forever redeemed'; 'Choo Choo Magic'; 'Barbara Mitchell'; 'Beside Still Water'; 'Primal Scream'; Unidentified - Anyone have an ID for this one?

Other colorful plants in Jean's garden included Russian Sage, Perovskia atriplicifolia:

Homestead Purple Verbena and Texas Square Bud Primrose:

Klanchoe lucia 'Flapjack':Klanchoe lucia 'Flapjack' grows in this pot with Sedum mexicanum 'Lemon Ball.' and Senecio 'Blue Chalk Fingers.'

Cyperus alternifolius, commonly called Umbrella Papyrus, Umbrella Sedge, or Umbrella palm. Cyperus is a member of the sedge family:

More lovely plants:
'Christmas Cheer' daylily growing in front of Asclepias, also called Butterfly Weed.

Clockwise from top left: Green Santolina; Monarda Raspberry Wine, Bee Balm; Gold Bar Maiden Grass, Miscanthus; Cranesbill Geranium.Tropicana Canna Lily:

A pretty pot of flowers:

Jean also had a few spots of shade. This variegated hosta was growing in two places, one in shade and the other in a much sunnier location. Notice the hosta on the left, the one in shade, is a richer green than the one on the right, which grows in sun:

Jean's garden is unlike my predominantly shady garden. I think how the conditions of the landscape dictate the type of gardens we have. While our taste in plants is often molded by what works in our own gardens, our eyes may be opened to new possibilities by seeing what other gardeners are doing. That is what makes visiting various gardens so much fun. In almost every space there is a takaway, an idea that I can bring home. Klanchoe lucia 'Flapjack' now grows in a pot on my sunny patio. Thank you, Jean!

Mid-August in Deb's Garden

Can it be? Summer is slipping around the edges, loosing its intensity, with cool nights and early morns. Humidity is also less, so that even mid-day temps are more tolerable. The garden has taken on a mellow, relaxed atmosphere, hinting of autumn to come.  Fall colors are beginning to show in these Japanese maple leaves.

Lets start a tour of the mid-August garden with images taken in and around the front garden:This trail leads from the patio steps, with the hydrangea walk on one side and the arbor garden on the other.

This trail leads from the jasmine arch by the patio. It borders the main part of the front garden.

This image shows the upper part of the hydrangea walk. The burford holly is laden with berries, which will turn red later in the season.

A couple of loving bugs on the holly.There are a couple of things to note inside the front garden. First, the voodoo lily has grown tremendously this summer. In the pot, it reaches well over five feet tall. Another thing is that I have eliminated the invasive liriope that once grew in abundance on both sides of this path. Since this photo was taken, I have planted about three dozen foxglove plants in this area, pass-alongs from a dear friend. A variety of other plants will also grow here.

Trail inside the front garden.

The first image in the collage below shows liriope growing around the base of a tree in the lower front lawn. This is easily controlled with a lawn mower:Clockwise from top left: Liriope; Crepe myrtle; Variegated fatsia japonica; Easy-to-grow mushrooms!

More photos from the front garden:

A close look at the center of this orange hibiscus.

Some images taken inside the woodland garden:

Finally, a view of the sky, so typical this month. I am thankful for abundant rain.Sky before a summer thunderstormI hope you enjoyed the tour. Can you feel a new season coming?