More Midsummer Garden Views

With temperatures hitting the 90's this week (upwards of 32 degrees C), it really feels like summer.  It has been a slow process to get more midsummer color in my garden, but I feel like we are finally reaching that goal.  In the front yard a few daylilies are blooming along with 'Walker's Low' catmint, but most of the interest comes from different leaf colors and textures.  

The long-blooming 'Walker's Low' catmint is ready for a trim to get rid of the spent bloom stalks, then it will keep producing flowers until frost.

I posted lots of pictures of this area last week, but I can't resist a few more.  The 'Red Velvet' lilies are at peak bloom and I've fallen in love with this new addition to the garden.  

'Arabian Night' and 'Purple Haze' dahlias are blooming behind fragrant 'Purple Prince' lilies.  Despite the name, this trumpet-shaped lily is actually a deep pink.  The color plays well with the second round of blooms on 'Caradonna' salvia and the main flush of blooms on 'Millenium' allium.

This is the best July ever for this section of the garden.  The lilies are such a special addition.

In this view the 'Fujian' Orienpet lilies are opening behind the 'Red Velvet' stalks.  'Fujian' is a show-stopper with large flowers that are strongly fragrant.  Both types were ordered from B&D Lilies last fall.

The 'Big Smile' daylilies are opening next to the swing set while the 'Lady of Shallot' roses in pots take a break from blooming.  The honeysuckle growing on the frame has hosted several Pine Siskin finch nests this year, and at least two of those nests have been taken over by bumblebees.  

A view toward the northeast corner of the backyard is very green and calm.

The area right behind the swing set is full of floppy 'Chantilly Peach' snapdragons (they'd like more sun) and several types of Veronica.

I just planted a 'Thoweil' Hinoki cypress in this area and have another in a pot to plant in fall after I transplant a viburnum.  The dark, wavy texture will be pretty all year.

The white section of the garden features an 'Annabelle' hydrangea and 'Meidilland White' rose in peak bloom.  Dahlias, anemones and more lilies are set to open soon.

I replanted another white clematis at the base of the arch after the first one died last summer (I think it had fungal wilt), and it's slowly starting to climb up the side. 

Just past the arch are 'Purple Candles' veronica and a young 'Invincibelle Blush' hydrangea next to the birdbath.  

I'll finish with the view of the east side of the house.  Short 'Maggie Dayley' and tall 'Purple Candles' astilbe are in bloom in front of a 'Comtesse de Bouchaud' clematis.  I love the chartreuse leaves with the mauve flowers.

July Bloom Day

July is here and the northwest corner of my garden is blooming hard.  Above are 'Arabian Night' and 'Purple Haze' dahlias, a second flush of bloom on 'April Night' salvia, 'William Shakespeare 2000' roses, and 'Millenium' allium.  I've linked to May Dreams Gardens for the monthly Bloom Day celebration.

In the broad view of the area, you can see that the 'Caradonna' salvia is nearly finished blooming while the 'Millenium' allium are just about to hit their peak.  'Blue Chip' butterfly bushes will soon start producing color at front, while 'Purple Prince' lilies, Russian sage (Peroskvia) and 'Jeana' phlox will come into bloom at the back of the bed.  Next year this view might include deep red blooms on the newly planted 'Florentina' roses on the tepees.  

The 'Berry Awesome' hibiscus will bloom sometime in the next month, but for now the mauve-green spiky leaves are beautiful against the darker smoke bush foliage.

First-time bloomers this year include 'Red Velvet' lilies with dark red candelabras.  I ordered a dozen of this type from B&D Lilies last fall, and the large bulbs are producing numerous flowers already.  This hybrid is supposed to be tough as nails, so I'm hopeful they'll continue to bloom reliably for years to come.

The 'Red Velvet' lilies are planted among 'Visions in Red' astilbe, 'Caradonna' salvia and 'Summer Beauty' allium.

A view of the area from the opposite direction includes 'Big Blue' sea holly along with drumstick alliums and faded seedheads from 'Ambassador' alliums.

'Darwin's Blue' veronica and 'Blue Paradise' phlox cool down the palette of deep reds and purples.

Just after sunset the area looks restful.  From this distance you can't see the jagged edges of leaves eaten by root weevils or the holes caused by slugs and earwigs.  We've been spraying Neem and Spinosad for organic control of these pests.  I'm crossing my fingers that the pest populations get knocked down by our efforts before the weevil larvae do more extensive damage to roots next winter.  Some of my peonies, hostas, geums and heucheras were smaller this year because of last winter's root damage by the larvae.  It's a continuing adventure, right?