Still perfect

It seems like everywhere I look in my garden I see unfinished areas. It's been so hot that I haven't been able to make myself deal with most of them. Instead, I am luxuriating in the one area of my garden that is picture and pollinator perfect.

It took a number of years and a lot of loss and learning but I finally came up with plants that can take sun, poor soil, snow, winter road salt, massive summer road construction and never slow down.

Geranium wallichianum 'Crystal Lake' is a sprawler that needs companions to thread itself through. Beautiful markings and a color that is bright without overwhelming everyone else. 

'Crystal Lake' is growing with Alliums and Calamintha and hasn't overtaken either plant. 

This little bed has clumps of Penstemon 'Dark Towers'  at the back corners and blue Hostas (probably 'Halcyon') at the front corners. In between are three clumps of Allium 'Millennium' which is much pinker than A. 'Summer Beauty' which is also in bloom elsewhere in the garden. Calamintha nepeta ssp. nepeta fills the rest of the space. This garden always looks like a slight breeze is blowing but it's the movement of all the bees that create that impression. 

We're not losing our gutter here, so the big machines never get too close. They have never even broken a stem in this plot. 

They still do get close. Here they're digging trenches for storm sewer pipes and moving the dirt into the nearby dump truck. Note the workman down in the hole. (Double click the photo to enlarge it.)

You get a sense of the size of the bucket with Jake, one of the crew who's about 6'3" tall, standing next to it. Jake is covered with tattoos that he's had done by artists around the world. A very friendly guy. 

Comments

[danger garden]

I love your observation that this area tends to look like a slight breeze is blowing but it's the movement of all the bees!

[Beth@PlantPostings]

Ah, that IS picture perfect. But I think your entire garden is, so... Enjoy the beautiful weather. Just a little rain would be nice, but otherwise it's been perfect. :)

[Kris P]

That's a beautiful mix, Linda. I wish I could copy it! Relatively few true Geraniums can take the dry conditions here, although one, Geranium incanum, is a bonafide weed.

[Linda Brazill]

KRIS — A Geranium I've never heard of. I'm going to have to look that one up.

[Linda Brazill]

BETH — Definitely need more rain. Started watering again this morning.

[Susie at pbmGarden]

Really inviting space you've created for the pollinators.

[Chavli]

You are right, this is absolutely picture perfect!
The colors in this bed are so wonderful; I feel the blue Hosta (probably looks better without the construction dust) anchors the group's palette very well.
Also, that has to be the best looking Allium I had ever seen! In fact, I don't think I'm familiar with this clumping type at all.

[hb]

That area looks perfect. Perhaps the work crew is also enjoying it when they have a moment. It would brighten anyone's day, even in the heat.

[Linda Brazill]

CHAVLI — In late 2021 I pulled out all the Hostas that filled this space but two blue ones. Thrilled with my redesign. Allium 'Millennium' is a new one that all of us Madison gardeners discovered at our botanic garden which is a wealth of information and inspiration.

[Linda Brazill]

hb — O​ne of the guys is a retired landscaper and he actually toured our garden and was very complimentary. His job on this project is just walking around with a big book of everything that needs to be done. He checks things off as they are accomplished if I understand it correctly.

[Jerry]

I've read about that Allium 'Millenium'. It's a beauty. Nice contrasts in foliage, flower, form, and color in that corner bed. You've done a nice job finding plants that stand up to a lot of stress.

[Linda Brazill]

JERRY — I am really impressed with this Allium. Much stronger stem, foliage and flower head than my 'Summer Beauty.' It makes 'Summer Beauty's' pale lilac flowers seem blah in comparison.