Clems, Roses and Good Things Coming To An End

It is time to enter a new phase in the flowering plant show in the garden. This new phase is a little bit trickier to pull off. Spring is so easy with the bulbs, flowering shrubs and early perennials. Effort is required to get the same amount of color until the fall show begins mid September. Some of the clematis will continue producing blooms, like the above c. ‘Multi Blue’, that grows on our mailbox. Don’t you agree that freestanding mailboxes down by the street demand at least one clematis, better yet, several?
C. ‘Betty Corning’ is a prolific bloomer winding its way up the support post to the garage deck railing. This one was planted on an arch between the main house and the garage, along with many other climbers. All had to be moved when the two buildings were joined. It has been two years now since the replanting, and Betty has not only rebounded but is now thriving in more sun and moister soil.
Shown above is one of two c. ‘Etoile Violette’ that were planted on the original front arbor that housed the rose Killer, r. ‘Alberic Barbier’. Killer is long gone from the front, relocated to the back and finally relocated to rose heaven. But the two clemmies are still growing lustily. This one likes the bird netting wrapped around the porch support to grasp with its leaves, the other has to do battle with a vigorous carolina jessamine, and is not producing the same wattage purple flower show as the lucky porch post dweller. Say that three times quickly.
On to the the roses, r. ‘Veilchenblau’, pronounced here as vale-ken-blawwwww, planted on the shed, is past prime but still offers a color jolt at the top of the hill.
This has been a banner year for so many plants, or it should be said, for all the plants so far. The once blooming climber will be hard pruned after all the petals have fallen to keep it narrow by the path to the blueberry patch behind the shed. This rose is nearly thornless, but the newer canes still have some spikes that can tear clothing and skin.
This looks like the work of the fairies, playing with the flowers and lining them up in a row. We have two metal pillars, cheap flimsy things, on each side of the bench that overlooks the knot garden that are planted with the miniature climbers r. ‘Magic Dragon’. New last year, poor dears, they survived the drought and it is hoped they get real perky this year, but it is only the second year, so is this the ‘creep’ year?
We are awash in nigella. It has been allowed to flower in most of the spots that the volunteer seedlings sprung up, since the sky blue color is so pleasant. It seems that a few white centered ones from neighbors Mae and Mickey up the street have entered the gene pool. We have always had solid blues, they have always had the white center, until now. Hope the all blues can hold their own genetically, I want that sea of blue.
Although the other baptisias are long ago finished with their blooming and have seed pods that rattle in the breeze, this late comer is just now opening. The first one planted, brought to Texas from our first Tennessee garden, and brought here from Texas, this guy has seen a lot of different scenery. This is normally a plant that should not be moved, for it has a long taproot. We dug a huge rootball and hoped for the best with each move. The funny thing is that I thought this one had the usual blue flowers. Nope, it is the great black stemmed white flowering type mail ordered many years ago from White Flower Farm for our first all white garden, back in the eighties. It is just a late bloomer.

More late bloomers are these pink poppies. Normally the pinks flower first, then the reds kick in. The reds have finished blooming in the rest of the garden and we are waiting for the seed pods to open along the top crown like little salt shakers to annouce that they are ready to harvest. The seeds from these nice pink singles will be saved as well.

The final herbaceous peony bloom is this silly too many petaled pink beauty. Their time as stars lasted nearly three weeks, much longer than usual due to our cooler temps and light showers. See you next year, HPs!

Inherited with the property is this siberian iris, probably Ceasar’s Brother. We hardly even pay attention to the bloom of these, they are over with the peonies at the side of the house with the heater. This fellow was hidden under some daylily foliage and actually looks pretty good. His siblings finished up their show weeks ago.

A viola seedling up in the knot garden gravel that opened too late to be included in the beauty contest is ravishing. She could have been a contender!

The forgotten allium caeruleum is blooming heartily hidden behind a giant red poppy whose seeds will be gathered for fall sowing. These little alliums were newly planted last fall amid some daffodils. They are smaller than we expected but the flowers are that true blue that we love so much. They should be moved after the foliage yellows to have a more prominent viewing position, for they are exquisite.

~~~

The next wave of flowers should be the daylilies, we have those in abundance, being addicted to visiting the numerous daylily farms in this area. Several have budded scapes now. The butterfly bushes are budded, as are the liliums. The annuals are getting their roots established so they can step up when needed to add some liveliness to the design here in the garden. Less time will be spent planting new purchases and moving perennials for better showing as the temps rise and the rain is infrequent. Less, not none, for the purchase of plants never really stops completely, even during the winter, for there are always bulbs, and then bulbs on sale, then seeds, and so on….

Frances

This material belongs to Faire Garden and may not be copied or used without permission.

This entry was posted in Musings. Bookmark the permalink.