Tuesday, June 12, 2012

These June Days


Ahh June. A perfect month, except for the weather of course. Not that it is bad, I just wouldn't call it perfect exactly. Temperamental and heavily wet. However, the plants are happy, new plants especially, they are robust with loads of lush growth. A recent student of mine, inspired by Walt Whitman, went out into the woods and wrote a poem that included this line: "the growing; is growing." I think that just about sums it up.

These pictures are from my own, small garden, but this is about its third to fourth year and I am starting to see some of that time paying off. The plants are starting to fill in and I am moving them around less. I am particularly happy with the above rose -clematis combination that I planted to cover up the ugly water collection tank. Climbing Rose 'New Dawn' and Clematis 'Henryi' are blooming together.


A bright spot of Trollius chinensis 'Golden Queen' with blue Campanula persicafolia. Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Overdam' is here in the foreground. I love the shapely outline of those giant Thalictrum rochebrunianum, those specimens came to me folded up in a napkin as practically dead one inch sticks!


 Leonotis menthifolia
Walker Farm grows hundreds of unusual and incredible annuals.  I tend to buy at least ten or more plants each year that I have never grown before. I saw a Leonotis blooming in October in England last fall and was happy to find two different species at Walkers this spring. I picked this species for its tiny, textured leaves.


I think I am on the brink of having a penstemon problem! I have numerous different species and cultivars and the species P. digitalis is spreading itself around. Each year I find hundreds of seedlings, like this giant one on the path's edge. These elegant dark red spires with fuzzy pink buds are stippled all through the beds. I might start harvesting them and selling them soon, a real cash crop! The Physocarpus opifolius 'Gold Nugget' here in the corner is loving all the rain and heat. It is vibrant and lush and edging out its neighbors. The Continus 'Grace' is newly planted. I bought it for a client, but soon realized it was the wrong one. However, it was so beautiful with its big leaves and numerous buds I decided my garden could easily absorb it.


Our sweet little native blue eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium.

4 comments:

  1. Hi Helen,
    The garden looks great. Aren't we lucky to have Walker Farm as a resource?

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  2. Hi Helen, our New Dawn started blooming this week. I have tried so many roses, but this one is my favorite. And the delicate scent is heavenly. It looks great with your Clematis.

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  3. Helen...what magic the earth holds and yet so many just think it's dirt...Plant on...

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  4. Trollis lights up any garden so well. Leonotis menthifolia is new to me - thanks! Everything looks great, Helen. I agree, keep planting :)

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