GBBD: 8.15.2022

My garden is in transition. These are all late summer blooms with fall Anemones, Cimicifuga, Tricyrtis and mums all budding up but not yet flowering. The August stars have been a few new plants among old favorites that have kept me engaged watching their progress.

I fell in love Gladiolus murielae when I saw it in a friend's garden last summer. I bought a dozen bulbs to try it out in my garden. I'm going to attempt to overwinter my bulbs and will definitely add more next spring.

My two Agapanthus 'Galaxy Blue' made it through the winter, though one is much happier than the other. The plant that is getting a bit more sun has 5 flowers while its partner only has one. But even one of these blossoms is a beauty. 

From the way the flowers emerge between a pair of leaves to the way the spent flowers twist themselves up, I've been fascinated by Belcamda chinensis 'Freckle Face.'  Plus it's a butterfly magnet.

My Phlox paniculata 'Jeana' got beaten up when I knocked this lantern over on them earlier in the season. But they've bounced back. 

'Jeana' is tall and willowy with heads comprised of small flowers compared to most Phlox varieties. 

Geranium 'Perfect Storm' is a new purchase. Initially I thought of putting it with the Phlox, but eventually planted a pair of them with a pair of Geranium 'Crystal Lake' if you can picture that. 

Astilbe chinensis 'Delft Lace' is a mid-size Astilbe that performs well for me. But it never looks, to me, like the picture that all the nurseries use in their catalogs. 

Hosta 'El Nino' is one of the rare Hostas that I let flower. 

I have big patches of Heuchera 'Brownies' all over the garden. Neither the flowers nor the foliage is showy but it is a problem-free Heuchera. Plus the flower stems are very tall making them useful for bouquets. 

Great Blue Lobelia is one of the few natives that I've planted that is doing well. I'm hoping the flowers last until the yellow and white fall flowers around them open. 

Visit May Dreams Gardens to see what's blooming in a host of other gardens. 

Comments

[Beth@PlantPostings]

Beautiful blooms, Linda. The rabbits ate my Great Blue Lobelias, even with fencing. Maybe I should try it in a different spot...

[danger garden]

I think I need to add some Belcamda chinensis 'Freckle Face' to my garden...

[monica]

Lovely!

[Kris P]

Happy GBBD, Linda. Yay for the Agapanthus! I hope they live long and prosper. I tried the peacock gladiola here but it wasn't happy and promptly disappeared. I love the new-to-me Geranium 'Perfect Storm' and will have to look into whether it has a chance of survival in my climate.

[Linda Brazill]

BETH — It seems like there is nothing the rabbits won't eat. This has been a terrible year for them. The last tour I had, I left everything caged.

[Linda Brazill]

KRIS — I have a pretty good success rate with Geraniums. My biggest problem is rabbits keep eating them, so I have been caging them which is frustrating.

[Linda Brazill]

DANGER — I am loving the Belcamda, too. The seedpods are great but I've heard they can be a problem. We'll see.

[hb]

I tried Gladiolus murielae for the first time this year, in a pot. Too hot and dry for them--all scorched. Yours are really gorgeous, just as they should be.

That's an elegant Hosta! I see why you leave the flowers--they are perfect with the foliage.

I sympathize--terrible rabbit problems in my garden as well--they love the geraniums here, too Grrr!

[Lynda Robinson]

Our garden is much neglected this year and after the hot weather here it has finished it off really, I still have some geraniums flowering and my sweet peas have done well this year.

[Linda Brazill]

LYNDA — I can't really complain here. Even though it is what I consider hot and somewhat dry. It is nothing like what you are dealing with in the UK. It is very scary wondering if this is a fluke year or the new normal. I hope the former and not the latter.