Something soothing

At this point in the growing season, I see bright colors everywhere I look: Asters, Dahlias, Zinnias, sunflowers and goldenrod. Not in my garden. With a summer that has been both hot and dry, I want a visual break; a sip of something soothing to cool everything down. The following are a few favorites that provide that experience in my garden.

Astrantia major  'Vanilla Gorilla' tends to throw out a number of solid green reversions in midsummer. As long as I cut them off, the plant quickly perks up with new variegated leaves. It is a different shade of green than every other plant I grow. 

Hedra helix 'Glacier' needs light to full shade which makes it a treasure in my shady garden. I've been growing this since 2017 and have not lost any of it to polar vortex weather. So far it has not spread more than I want it to nor have I seen any kind of flowers or seeds on it. 

I discovered a small clump of unhappy Brunnera 'Dawson's White' and moved it to a sunnier and more moist spot where it has quickly started to spring back to life

The pond re-design necessitated pulling out a big sweep of Carex siderosticha variegata. I moved it to the slope that I am reclaiming from dying grass and weeds. I love this Carex but don't see it for sale anymore. 

I am absolutely in love with the way Carex pennsylvanica flows down this slope like a waterfall.

Hope your garden is helping you to stay cool.

Comments

[Elizabeth]

Beautiful! I can imagine sitting in your tea house, enjoying a spot of tea or a splash of gin, and letting my eyes travel over all that lush green. A long sip of cool and refreshing is what it is.

[Kristin]

Oh my gosh, that carex is amazing. I can't get hakonechloa to live in my yard, so I think I need to try this!

[Kris P]

Soothing indeed. I do love woodland gardens.

[danger garden]

I love that waterfall effect! So do you have issues with mixing white and yellow variegation? Here I see white, but in another post I remember seeing yellow (hakonechloa maybe?). By issues I mean, does it bother you? Do you try to segregate them?

[Linda Brazill]

LOREE — For the most part I try to keep different variegations somewhat separate. Had to laugh that you asked that, as I have been thinking about it alot as I consider where to plant a few things and what I might order for next year.  Don't really want them mixed or at least not in the same view.

[Linda Brazill]

KRISTIN — It took many tries before I finally had luck with Hakonechloa. The Carexes have been much easier and there are so many kinds.

[Lisa at Greenbow]

The grass flowing in the last picture is sensuous. It makes me want to run my fingers through.