Friday, June 15, 2012

June Blooms

A wave of flowers is beginning again after a bit of a lull following the peonies. Here's a sampling of what's blooming in mid-June this year:

Astilbe 'Visions in Red'
Astilbe - this one is 'Visions in Red'. It is the earliest of my three astilbes to bloom, and the most compact. I love the deep red color of the blooms!

Astrantia 'Roma'
 Also blooming in the shade are these astrantias (Masterwort), which are still quite small (planted bare root this spring). I love the delicate silvery-pink flowers, and the foliage is quite attractive as well. They are difficult to photograph - here's a close-up of the flowers:

Astrantia 'Roma'
Thalictrum ichangense 'Evening Star'

This diminutive thalictrum is delicate wonder in the shade. As you can see, it looks very unlike the more familiar tall thalictrums (which I also love) - this less common species from China is a tiny creature, with wonderful silver-veined leaves, red stems, and delicate starburst pink flowers. And, at least so far, the rabbits have not taken a single bite of it (something I can say about very few plants in my garden - my rabbits have very adventurous palates!). Behind it is Carex flaccosperma, which I think makes a good foliage companion.

Rose 'The Fairy'
My new little Fairy rose is blooming - the blooms are so cute! I picked this popular rose up on a whim at a garden center. It's a very ordinary plant, but no less valuable to gardeners who love easy, healthy, happy roses.

Tradescantia andersoniana 'Blue Stone'
The tradescantia (spiderwort) keeps pumping out blooms. The foliage is a bit "informal" (read: messy looking), but it blooms all summer and the overall effect is cheery. Sedum 'Angelina', spilling out over the rocks, is sending up its alien-wand flower spikes and will bloom soon.

Asiatic lily
This red Asiatic lily was a gift, so I unfortunately do not know its name. It has proved to be a trooper though, coming back strong this year despite repeated rabbit attacks. My LA hybrid lilies are just about to pop, and the Orientals have lots of buds. Hopefully it will be a good lily year!

Penstemon 'Riding Hood Blue'
These penstemons (Beardtongue) are another recent addition I made this June. I have totally failed to capture their wonderful airy blooms on camera properly - in real life they infuse this little corner with a silky blue-pink haze. I'm not sure how long-lived they will be (I don't normally go in for things with short life-spans...), but for now, they are proving satisfactory in this spot. As you can see, Geranium sanguineum var. striatum continues to bloom in the background. This will need shearing soon, after which it will grow new foliage and resume blooming from late summer into fall.

Visit Carol's Garden Blogger's Bloom Day to see what's blooming in gardens across the world on this day!



17 comments:

  1. spruge,I love tradescantia, so modest and nice, flowering a long time.

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    1. Hi Nadezda, I love tradescantia for the same reason! It's not a big show-off plant, but it seems to always wear a quiet smile.

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  2. From the small to the large, your blooms are gorgeous. Your garden looks beautiful.

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  3. Lovely display of flowers :-) I think I have the same red Asiatic lily as you! It is gorgeous.

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    1. Thanks Helene - I love dark red flowers too. Wish I knew the lily's name!

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    2. Well, mine is called ‘Blackout’, you can see them here, on a post I wrote in June last year: http://graphicality-uk.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/0206-red-is-colour.html Unfortunately they haven't done as well as my other lilies this year, only two out of eight came up. None of my lilies have flowered yet, seriously late this year, but they're nearly there!

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    3. Thanks Helene - now I have something to call mine (even if it's not right). Can't wait to see yours when they open. Odd that you are behind us - I thought England had a milder climate and you'd be ahead!

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  4. Gorgeous blooms! All the flowers I can't grow in my garden. I like the fairy rose because it has a lot of buds.

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    1. Thank you - you have so many wonderful tropical plants in your garden, no need to grow my boring old things! I guess everyone thinks plants from another area are exotic.

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  5. Oh, I love the astilbe! I have some newly planted that I'm hoping ( with fingers crossed) will make it! I've always admired this plant in pictures, but for some reason, I haven't had much luck with it. Yours is gorgeous. And of course, the lily is beautiful, and the rose, too!

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    1. I've had astilbe shrivel up on me - I keep moving them around to find a good spot! It takes them a while to recover, but then they bounce back. They like a cool shady spot and lots of moisture. That's all I know!

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  6. Rebecca, you have quite some lovely plants blooming in your garden right now! I especially love the astrantia 'Roma', your red Asiatic Lilly and since I am a rose lover 'The Fairy' rose, of course :-)! To me this rose is not an ordinary one, but it is extraordinary. I know it blooms in profusion and as you said in a climate that suits her it is healthy. The blooms are so charming and seeing a Fairy rose or maybe a few of them planted together in full bloom is a stunning side. Good luck with yours!
    Christina

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    1. Thanks, my Fairy was just planted a couple weeks ago, but I hope one day it will be as stunning as yours! I've seen them here and there and they always seem to look great.

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  7. You and I grow a number of similar flowers, but my garden seems to be about two weeks behind yours. My early Astilbe are in bud, but have not yet begun to bloom, and the first flowers of Astrantia 'Roma' are just starting to open. Visiting your garden is like a preview of what I can look forward to in mine. :-) -Jean

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    1. Thanks Jean, I look forward to see my flowers in your garden :-) - yours are probably well established and not nearly so puny as mine. Show us some garden shots once they open!

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