Suddenly, it’s gone from a cool spring to a warm summer.
There’s Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ in the back garden, as well as in front. Surprising to me how it thrives in a fairly shady spot. This photo was taken at the very end of May. Those golden flowers at the far end are Golden Groundsel (Packera aurea).
Here’s a closer look at the Golden Groundsel. The flowers lasted through most of May but then suddenly went to seed when the temperature zoomed to 90F degrees one day. This is a groundcover that does fine in shade. In fact, I am learning that it can spread a little too aggressively.
This is Allium karataviense. I realized too late that I planted it last fall in a spot that is prone to flooding. Impulsively I moved most of them to a drier spot even as they were blooming. The results weren’t pretty. I won’t even show you a picture.
A few of the A. karataviense were left where they were.
Looking back to the entrance gate over the Back Island Bed.
I’ve grown fond of Long-Beaked Sedge (Carex sprengelii) as a grass-like plant for shady gardens. Nice texture, and it’s tough but well-behaved.
I planted a bunch of Amsonia ‘Blue Ice’ in the Back Island Bed. They’ve been in slow decline but they still have some nice flowers.
A patch of Solomon’s Plume (Maianthemum racemosum) at the base of the Silver Maple. The blooms eventually produce red berries.
However, the red berries always, always weigh the stems down to the ground. Which doesn’t look good. So this year I’m going to do something radical: cut off the berries before they are completely ripe. That way I should at least have the foliage looking nice through the summer.
There’s a couple of old Peonies at the edge of Thicket Corner. They are in too much shade and sadly neglected, but still put out a few blooms. This is ‘America’, from which you can infer whatever metaphor you like.
These are ‘Abalone Pearl’.
Here’s a view of our patio and the east fence of the Back Garden.
The Calladiums started as bulbs indoors have been successfully transferred to containers on the patio.
These are new: Allium ‘Mt. Everest’ I planted last fall.
Having just 4 of them there looks a little odd. But if they multiply like the other Alliums, that problem won’t last long.
Summer has started! Try to keep up, and have a happy June!
gardeninacity 
Your garden is inspiring me to work on my Garden of Benign Neglect… This fall when it’s not in the 90s! Love the alliums. Mine have all disappeared! Wondering if the too wet winter soil is a problem.
Well, if you have wet clay in winter that would probably discourage them. Though Camassia might like it – have you tried those?
Looking mighty lovely! We had our first 90° day yesterday and already I’ve had enough. However, the tomatoes are happy with it, so I’ll put up with it. Those new white alliums are certainly striking! Nice choice.
Thanks. I like to have a lot of white flowers and foliage in the shady garden.
Aren’t alliums dynamic in the garden? I planted some tall ones in a space and one of them popped up white within the purple ones. That looked strange indeed. Your garden look lush. Those white caladiums really stand out in your shade garden.
There are so many more Alliums that I wish I had. Such great plants.
Magnificent.
Thank you, John!
It all looks so inviting and cool! I like how you have names for the beds, like the Back Island Bed! I do that too, but don’t have nearly as much variety, and no shade beds.
Shade can be nice, but I wish I had more sunny spaces.
I’m all about those white Calladiums! I’d love to say that summer is starting here, but it’s more the official start of the rabbit season. Just chased one off the deck. Sniffing around my potted things, the rotter.
Hanging is too good for them.
Great views of your garden! And lots of interesting plants.
Thank you!
Mount Everest happens to be the allium I might try first. I might try one of the big flowered sort in an ‘allium’ color. I can not decide. Yours look big and fuller than I would expect.
Pretty pleased with Mt. Everest, myself.
If I must try alliums, I will prefer to start with one that I like in pictures, and this seems to be my favorite white. Actually, it is the only white that I see commonly available. I might try one of the more common ones as well, such as ‘Summer Drummer’, or one with big blooms.
I hadn’t realised that alliums would grow in the shade, must give them a try there as I have so much shade and yours look very happy indeed.
I do like your red peony – very elegant unlike some of the blousy ones typically grown. Also love the white Alliums. They are just as striking as the purple ones and are a real eyecatcher. As are the Caladiums, which make your patio come alive. 😃
I thought they were a nice contrast to the purple.
Lovely to seeyour summer garden looking so beautiful. Packera aurea is new to me, I will look out for it. Love the peonies too.
Thanks. Packera aurea is a bit aggressive, so be warned.
Your garden is full of surprises, interesting to see what is growing in your summer, (so much greenery) and of course I too love the peonies.
(have you changed over to the Gutenberg block system?)
Gutenberg block system??
WordPress now has ”Classic Editor” (used to be known as Gutenberg block system) a new way writing a post in ”blocks”…I’m trying to use it!
Looking good! My Calladium bulbs were duds, and I had to move my Alliums as well, and it wasn’t pretty here either.
Sorry about the Calladiums.
I bought myself a loner plant last week, without any explanatory ticket on the pot. Just because I liked it. And was wanting to know, what exactly it was ever since. Found out now, looking at your pictures – it is Allium karataviense. Thanks for that 🙂
A. karataviense is supposed to be a real winner in the right sort of spot, which I may not actually have.
I will have to wait and see what becomes of mine… will keep you posted
Please do!
Your shady haven is gorgeous–well done!
Thank you!
I love the green and lush look. Amelia
With all the rain it’s been a lush year.
Ha! yeah, things start to happen really fast in June. I have the same problem with my peonies. I finally dug them up and moved them to a sunnier spot but to my surprise I must not have gotten all of the plant, which continues to bloom weakly in the shade of oaks. The transplanted ones are looking healthy enough but not blooming.
The groundsel…that is a native, isn’t it? Very pretty. I didn’t know it would cover ground…hmmm….
Yes, the groundsel is native. I’ve been warned that moving mature peonies is a major undertaking.
I tried moving mine…. they are alive but haven’t bloomed since I did it. Maybe next year?
I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
What a place of beauty! And enchantment. Bring on the metaphors.
I’ll do my best.
I always love the shade garden best: so much and so many shades of green. A fun shot of the remaining Allium karataviense. I wonder why the Amsonia is in decline. Just natural progression or something else… I have Amsonia ‘half way to Arkansas’ which I love.
Sounds like an interesting variety. I can only guess the problem here is not enough sun or too much root competition from a nearby silver maple.
Wonderful alliums! I love the combination of purple and yellow. Your peonies are lovely. It was good seeing a green lawn, ours is yellow due to a lack of rain.xxx
Oh, I hope you get rain soon. I hate drought.
I like the caladiums. I used to grow them as house plants but I never saw white ones back then.
The white ones – variety ‘Candidum’ – are my favorite.
Had a woodland garden for 40 + years and now have a sunny one. Both my Amsonia & Alliums just love the extra sunshine. Take advantage of your moist shade with Trollius, Phlox divaricata, Primulas, Camassia, Paeonia japonica or P. obovata.
All good suggestions. I tried Camassia in pots but no go. Phlox divaritica is a favorite of the rabbits, unfortunately. Have never grown Primulas, but very tempted.
Your mass of purple alliums is so striking! Those Allium karataviense are really cool looking though. I have a zone that’s been flooding lately, too, and need to dig up and move some plants around. Always something! Love those white caladiums!
We had so much rain this spring, and an unusual amount of flooding. I hope the A. karataviense come back ok for next spring.
There’s some sort of native here that has a flower head as white and dense as that allium –I just can’t remember what it is. I really like it. We do have several Packera species, but not this pretty one. I enjoyed seeing the Amsonia. We have two native species: one in the hill country and one down here on the coast. The flowers look essentially the same, but the leaves are noticeably different, which is handy for identification.
Yes, they have both kinds at Lurie Garden. The Ozark Bluestar, with very narrow leaves, has amazing fall color.
Jason .. I can’t leave my blog site or name from Blogger for some reason.
In any case .. I am such a fan of allium , especially Purple Sensation .. I plant more every year to line the very long fence line that I have and it seems to be working.
I always mean t o plant amsonia but never quite get there .. what a treat it would be to see those red berries but I totally understand why you prefer the foliage first .. I do little missions like that too.
Your back garden looks VERY inviting and those calladium must shine near dusk and early evening !
I hope this comment comes through ,,, strange things are happening on the net ! LOL
Hey Joy. I’ve been having the exact same problem with WP! Not consistently, but still very frustrating. They say some Amsonia is shade tolerant but I’ve found it really likes sun.
Your garden is lovely, it’s apparent how much work you put into it. I like reading your comments about the plants, especially if they’re aggressive or not. Good to know!
I’m very opinionated when it comes to plants.