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Sunday, July 26, 2009

Morning, July 25

A morning garden walk, nearly August, yet the usual heat and drought of summer hasn't come. The cool, rainy days we've had since spring are warmer now: highs this week will be in the mid-80's and the rain will come as thundershowers, not lingering drizzle. Communities of plants, their time come round, bloom in successive waves, a phenomenon magnified for me because I see it only on weekends. Morning light is still bright, muting colors, but some of the haze and fog so typical of fall is beginning to briefly settle in.

Rudbeckia maxima in full bloom with Physostegia virginiana 'Miss Manners' (Obedient plant) as a low background (below), and Pycnanthemum muticum (Mountain mint) just turning silver behind it ...

Rudbeckia mixing with the tall, heavily budded stalks of Silphium terebinthinaceum (Prairie dock) ...

From the opposite end of the garden, looking toward the area of the photos above ...

A closer view ... bright pink of Filipendula rubra 'Venusta' has faded to a more acceptable copper-pink color ...

The Joe Pye Weed has begun to take on color (right). I'll cut the floppy Lysimachia ciliata 'Firecracker (left) next weekend.

A closer view of the Filipedula flowers as they fade from pink to copper ... the foliage, particularly its angular shape, is an asset to the end of the season.


A distant view from above, the early morning haze presaging season's end ...

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6 comments:

  1. Helen/patientgardenerMonday, July 27, 2009 7:23:00 AM

    I have a real love hate relationship with
    Lysimachia ciliata 'Firecracker. I cant decide if I like it in flower or not! This year I have a few that escaped the chop and I have to admit it is growing on me

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  2. Benjamin VogtMonday, July 27, 2009 7:46:00 PM

    "bright pink of Filipendula rubra 'Venusta' has faded to a more acceptable copper-pink color" Couldn't agree with you more. I was walking by mine the other morning and thinking how I miss the swet, rosey fragrance along the path, but the I realized I don't miss the highschool-pompom-candy-barbie thing it reminds me of. On a side note, I have two helianthus 'lemon queen' blooms: the end is near.

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  3. James GoldenMonday, July 27, 2009 10:24:00 PM

    patientgardener, I do wish it didn't bloom then collapse, but it's such a successful plant in my wet conditions and contributes so much early color I can't help liking it.

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  4. James GoldenMonday, July 27, 2009 10:26:00 PM

    Benjamin, I always look forward to the fading of the Filipendula. It does give a big splash of color but the cotton candy color doesn't look natural.

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  5. James A-SWednesday, July 29, 2009 6:00:00 AM

    Goodnes, your garden is looking fabulous. Very subtle, very lovely. I have got bored of Firecracker, I'm afraid, both the floppiness and the rather irritating shade of yellow. I tried 'Chelsea Chopping' it in May but that doesn't help much aesthetically so it is now on my Persona Non Grata list.

    PS Have I ever thanked you for the links? I should have done: thank you.
    (I have a new look shiny website if you have a spare moment)

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  6. James GoldenWednesday, July 29, 2009 7:29:00 AM

    James A-S, I will continue to wait out the fading of the yellow flowers, just as I wait for the pink Filipendula to morph to copper splendor. I read about your new website on your blog. Can't wait to check it out. Will change the web link too - a dead link is certainly annoying.

    ReplyDelete