Summertime: Good Things in the Garden

I don't like summer in Alabama. There, I have broken my rule about not complaining; it is not the first time and won't be the last, though I usually emphasize the positive. However, the humidity, as much as the high heat, takes the joy of gardening from me.

But summer has its wonderful moments. The other night Lou called me outside.

"Look at that!"

My eyes followed his pointing finger, and I gazed into the darkness toward the woods on the other side of the drive. There were hundreds, maybe thousands of twinkling lights amongst the trees: fireflies, or lightning bugs as I have always called them.This public domain photo (not mine!) is a great image of fireflies in the woods.I have not seen such numbers in many years. When I was a child we always looked forward to catching the little critters each summer, putting them in glass jars to watch their blinking lights. Sadly, for whatever reasons their population lessened over the years. But this year they are back. It looked like Christmas lights, sparkling in the woods.

Other delights wait in the garden for me when I venture out in early morning or late afternoon. Green predominates, but the flowers of summer catch my attention:Vinca and pentas grow in a planter in front of the house. They don't mind the hot sun, but I must keep them watered.

1st row:Crape myrtle; Joe Pye weed; Late blooming native azalea. 2nd row: Monarda; Butterfly bush 'Tutti fruitti'; Encore azalea 'Autumn embers.' 3rd row: 'Tropicana' canna lily; Lantana; Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight.'

After a recent rain I took these images of the 'Tropicana' canna lily that grows in front of the house:

This hardy plant flaunts its hot summer colors and tropical heritage.

Snowflake hydrangea blooms linger for months in the woodland garden:

A pop of blue is always welcome in my garden! This little bottle tree has tiny cobalt bottles:

Here are some images from shady areas of the garden:Clockwise from top left: Heucherella; Old bench on the edge of the fern glade; Boston fern that grows in a large urn in the center of the arbor garden; Japanese felt fern (Pyrrosia lingua).

And finally, a couple of views from the August woodland garden:

Positive thoughts of wonderful moments and blessings to you all!   Deb

Deep Green World

The shady areas of my garden are lush and restful. In July they have become a deep green world with accents of white and an occasional pop of pink, orange or burgundy. The woodlands are a welcome shelter from the white hot sun. It is not the time of year for heavy or even moderate gardening, but for languid strolls, embracing the moist tropical air and keeping a bottle of cold water at hand. I take my time. I pause to take in the overall view, then slowly search out details of individual plants.

Here are some images from my deep green world. Some views will be familiar to those who regularly follow my blog, but I like to provide images through the changing seasons:

This very old birdhouse in the Trident maple has acquired a mossy patina.

 

Ligularia

Hardy begonia

Stromanthe 'Tricolor' is a potted tropical plant that spends the winter indoors.

Variegated toad lily

Zantedeschia

Hepatica, also called liverwort

Autumn fern peeks between leaves of Hosta 'Francis Williams.'

Dracaena marginata is another tropical plant that comes inside for the winter.

A potted ivy hangs from a decorative bracket beneath a birdhouse near the entrance to the woodland garden.

The sun glinting off this fern was almost too bright, until I turned it black and white:

Hydrangea 'Lady in Red' remains one of my favorite woodland plants:

Cercis canadensis ‘Whitewater’

Clockwise from top left: Pieris japonica; Hosta 'Sum and Substance' bloom; Snowflake hydrangea; Variegated hydrangea; Limelight hydrangea; A summer-blooming native azalea.

I hope you enjoyed these views of my deep green world. Have a great week!  Deb