Clematis heracleifolia

Was bombarded by mosquitoes this a.m. Don't think my photographic focus process was helped any by the mad slapping and dodging of these little pests. It's really late in the season to be bothered by them - must be all the rain. Also found another round of Japanese Beetles hard at work, making more Japanese Beetles. The bees are everywhere - flowers of choice at the moment are the big pink blossoms of the Eupatorium.

Here's an oddball Clematis: C. heracleifolia that I started from seed in 2006 from Gardens North. Quite a nice lavender blue colour, and it is scented in the evening - smells a little like lily of the valley - which is a real head twist scent for the fall. It could be left to scramble I suppose, but with all our rain, those I've left are hiding under things rather than poking through other foliage. C. heracleifolia is very bushy at the base with long narrow stems - this one is supported in a little bamboo tee pee I made and grows about 175 cm (4-5 ft) high or so. The flowers are small compared to the splashy mid-summer varieties. And like most perennials that are 'easy from seed' it does move around a bit in the garden - so you'll have lots of little plants to share with friends.

Bedraggled Petticoats in the Rain

Started these Hibiscus 'Carolina Mixed' from Aimers in 2006. Last year they had a few meager blooms - this year they're covered in blossoms. Sadly, I think I missed the best of the display as we were travelling for several days.

While the seed package advertised red, pink and white flowers - all four are white with a bright red centre. Here's one I picked up off the grass after the last rain, flipped open and photographed - a girl's gotta do, what a girl's gotta do for a photo these days. Hardly ideal conditions for a close-up, but certainly gives you an idea of the size and the charm of the blossoms.

Yes, We Have No Tomatoes!

It is simply unbelievable. While the garden is percolating along with all this rain, the tomatoes seem to have been frozen in time. Normally, I'd be into the second or third week of harvest - but this year, it looks as if I'll be waiting another 2 weeks or so until these tomatoes are ready. I know that heirloom tomatoes are slow, but this must be some sort of a record year. Fortunately the tomato growing professionals in the neighbourhood have been crying the blues as well, so I know it's not just me. And while I wait for my first toasted tomato sandwich, I'll have to make do with the tiny little black Wonderberries that I've been nibbling for a week and the pear-shaped cherry tomatoes that have just started to redden.

A Creature from Outer Space

This odd-ball looking flower bud is from the Brugmansia that has been hammered by hail. While the leaves are completely desiccated, the buds have formed and look like they'll be putting on a fantastic display in spite of their pathetic looking leaves.

Another rain storm has left more of the garden on the ground. I've completely exhausted my supply of bamboo stakes! I've made a preemptive strike on the sunflowers this afternoon in hopes of keeping them upright, and have gathered together and stuffed into a circle of stakes and twine the Veronicastrum. The window of opportunity is very slim to get these chores done - I have to move quickly between the bouts of heavy rain and the unbelievable masses of bees that are attracted to the slender white blossoms of the Veronicastrum.

Rudbeckia 'Cappuccino' Starting to Bloom

I looked at the last couple of photos and realized that the blog was looking a little pale and anemic - so including this close-up of a Rudbeckia I started from seed this winter. It's a little different from the other 'Cappuccino' blossoms - they are coffee & red cocoa coloured - although this wasn't supposed to happen - do like the stripey effect.

And this will be the only bright colour I'll be seeing for a while - the sky is dark and it's begun to rain yet again. Thunder is all around. What a summer!

A Pale Yellow Salvia - Salvia glutinosa

Here is Salvia glutinosa blooming its little heart out in the depths of the shadiest section of my garden. In the garden now for 3 years - it has grown about 40 cm high and 60 cm wide (15" x 24"). It is completely (flowers too) covered in tiny little hairs that seem to trap small insects or bits of soil that have splashed up in the rain - hence its common name of Sticky Sage. It is also known by the name of Jupiter's Distaff; which I've learned is that pole-like object that Jupiter holds onto while he hurls lightning bolts with the other hand. As you can see, neither the plant, nor the flower bears any similarity to Jupiter's Distaff...perhaps it will all become clear with some very cool looking seed later on in the fall....I'll keep you posted.

Rain, Winds & Hail

We've been fortunate up until now only to have had winds and rain this summer. Yesterday we had a short hail storm and while most of the garden looked perfectly fine - in fact some of the Hosta leaves were covered in chickpea sized ice - tropicals such as this lovely Brugmansia did not fare as well. The way the leaves have broken apart, you'd think that the ice had come from the ground as well as the skies. Luckily, the buds did not seem to be harmed at all. But the poor thing really does look like a mess at the moment!

Some of the Nicest Combinations Happen Accidentally

Last year when I grew Perilla 'Moonlit Seas' from Select Seeds, I was thinking of the plants as a container accent or herb. Yes, they were pretty, but I didn't care for the flavour, so I figured they'd be something I would try, but would not repeat. Well, so much for my intentions, because as Select says, "They reseed." Do they ever!

But, look how nice this combination is: Sedum 'Matrona' with Perilla 'Moonlit Seas'. Now that I know I've got Perilla for the rest of my natural life, I'm going to pair it with my new Rudbeckia 'Cappuccino' and a few other newer plants. If you are daring enough to try this one, remember to pinch out the centres so it won't flower and reseed. It likes sun or shade. However, the colour is always much nicer the more light you can provide.

2008 - The Year of the Hydrangea in My Garden

The hydrangeas have been stunning. No doubt the record rainfall is responsible. I took this snap of Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' this a.m. It is about 125 cm tall (4 feet) and I have it wedged between a Persicaria polymorpha (225 cm & white) and a Rudbeckia 'Herbstsonne' (200 cm & bright yellow). It really looks nice and limey - far more this year than in the past.

It can be a bit bare at the bottom, so it is ideal to combine with perennials and woody plants in a mixed border. It gets sun & shade in my garden - and apparently can handle full sun providing it has enough moisture.

They're Hiding Everywhere!

Was trying to get a beauty shot of my Echinops ritro that is just coming into bloom for my Learning to Garden with Barbara website (www.learningtogardenwithbarbara.com), when I spied the following little insect - no not the little flying one toward the top right, the sneaky earwig that had wiggled in between the bracts and was having a rest between meals. I've never seen that before. Between the earwigs, Japanese Beetles and slugs that have learned to climb my 60 cm (24") pots and then proceed to climb another meter and a half to munch my fancy variegated Brugmansia - I'm just glad I've got lots of different varieties of plants and that they aren't all equally as tasty to these visiting creatures.