Garden Blogger Bloom Day: June 2013
I’m late with this post for some very legitimate reasons. It rained most of the day yesterday so photography was not an option. When it finally cleared, we were due to leave for Judy’s brother’s house for what turned out to be a wonderful dinner. Judy did take a few rushed shots but we didn’t get home until late. Plus the dog ate my homework.
The temperatures are finally getting to the point where there is a hint of summer in the air. Plants are growing lushly with all the rain, but blooms are coming late, especially compared to last year. On the other hand, they are lasting longer as well.
The roses have begun to bloom, though they are nowhere near their peak. First, my favorite, ‘Sally Holmes’.
Also, ‘Westerland’ had its first blossom, though its looking a bit sickly I think. (Not in the photograph, but some of the foliage doesn’t look right.)
A big old Deutzia is blooming. This shrub was here when we moved in, variety unknown.
There’s also a Weigela we inherited from the former owners, again variety unknown.
The Pansies and Johnny Jump Ups in containers are liking this cool spring. They are only now just barely showing signs of withering under the heat. I may replace them next weekend with summer shade annuals.
The Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) has been blooming like mad for weeks. I love this vine, not to be confused with the beautiful but evil invasive Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica). I’ve planted another Trumpet Honeysuckle on a trillis by the back porch windows, by next year it should be drawing hummingbirds for easy viewing.
I have lots of Grey Dogwood (Cornus racemosa), a shrub dogwood great for wildlife. The earlier cultivars have begun blooming.
Sweet, sweet ‘Cassie’ is blooming her heart out with those adorable little white flowers. Only thing that bothers me is: why did I plant a white rose in front of a house painted white? Too late now, though, I like ‘Cassie’ too much to risk moving her.
The Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis) is just past its prime. This is a wonderful plant, with flowers reminiscent of sweet peas, though sadly not fragrant.
Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’ still going strong.
Smooth Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis) is looking really good this year. I have the straight species and the cultivar ‘Husker’s Red’.
The Ohio Spiderwort is just starting to bloom. They’re looking very vigorous this year, not weedy at all, thank you very much. Too bad the flowers close up in the afternoon.
And the Salvia is coming into its own. Some are blooming later because I cut them back in May. I really like my new ‘Caradonna’, and it will only look better as it fills in. ‘May Night’ and ‘Blue Hill’ are just starting to show a little color.
Garden Blogger Bloom Day is sponsored by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. Pay a visit and see what’s blooming in other gardens.
gardeninacity 
More rain here today with cool temps…my poor veggies are cowering again….but your blooms are gorgeous. I love the blues and that fabulous orange rose.
Today it has finally turned truly warm at last. The orange rose, Westerland, is very nice but it blooms sparsely and I fear it is not too healthy.
These pictures are a feast for the eyes. The pansies in the wheelbarrow are very charming!
Thanks. Its slowly rusting away, but in the meantime I’m getting some good use out of it.
Your garden is absolutely delightful!!! Had Penstemon Husker’s Red in my last garden and loved it and Baptisia australis is sitting on my windowsill waiting to be planted out. Enjoy your beautiful little paradies 🙂
With Baptisia australis I find that the main things you need are sun and patience.
Luckily I have both 🙂
I’m really digging the Penstemon ‘Husker’s Red’. What a great plant.
I agree, it’s done really well. I also have the straight species but that it lacking the stem and leaf color.
Hello Jason, it’s the season for roses now and mine are coming out too and I love them! They smell so good. I really like your wheelbarrow planter, it’s a brilliant idea.
Thanks. I would never plant a non-fragrant rose, the fragrance is essential.
Love that Penstemon. 😀
It’s a pretty easy plant. It does need some staking, but it will take part shade.
Love to see the contrast between MN and Evanston – my ‘Husker’s Red’ isn’t ready to bloom yet. And, after seeing your baptisia.. I do like it better than mine! Another plant added to the “must” list! Cheers!
You must be a full zone north of me. My brother and younger son both live in the twin cities. Just find the Baptisia a sunny spot and give it time.
Cassie is just gorgeous! She is much too pretty to move. And I like your trumpet vine, too. We have the evil kind in the woods here, so I’m glad you pointed out the different types. Your geraniums are also gorgeous. I planted some one year, but I don’t know what happened to them. Died from lack of attention, I’m guessing. :O
I doubt it was lack of attention, I don’t do much for mine. Probably just not in the right spot. I think there are some varieties of Geranium that do better in the heat.
Your Husker Red penstemon looks great. I planted one sad little castoff here about 15 years ago and it has never done anything. It comes up every year, sends up a couple of flower stalks, and that’s it. The plant never spreads and never gets any bigger. It’s one of the strangest plants I’ve ever grown.
That is odd. They’re pretty adaptable, I think. But something is making it sulk.
Nice collection of blooms. I admire your Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’–it’s something I’ve tried to grow several times but it always quickly dies out.
There is probably another species/cultivar that would do well where you live.
Again we have similar bloom times and plants. The plants you are showing do double duty in your garden – bring in the wildlife and make the neighbors jealous. Time to get the camera a raincoat and get out there for the garden in the rain! We have been getting rain too lately – for the next ten days, nothing but sun.
Have you noticed that there are a lot fewer critters about? Insects, I mean, sadly not rabbits. I’ve seen very few bees, butterflies, and crawlies. I can only think it is the cold spring we had.
I have noticed it, mostly with butterflies. My post tomorrow has on the Skippers visiting, along with the native bees. But really there is less bees than usual too. Your rain probably has much to do with it too. I noticed earlier, we did not get the digger bees visiting the fruit trees and we had very warm temps during that time.
It’s interesting to compare our gardens. My blue geranium (Brookside) has just begun to bloom; Johnson’s Blue blooms even later here, and is never as lush and beautiful as yours! My false indigo has also just begun blooming, but the spiderworts (more Virginia than Ohio) have been going strong for a couple of weeks.
Recently, I’ve been dreaming about the new gardens I will create in the front of my house after my long-dreamed-of addition is built next year. I’d like to create a small patio near the front door, with a pergola. I was thinking I should grow some climbing plants on the pergola, and trumpet honeysuckle would be a great choice that I never would have thought of if I hadn’t seen it in your post. Thanks for the inspiration!
Trumpet honeysuckle is such a great vine, and very attractive to hummingbirds!
Beautiful blooms! You could a paint your house a different color so that you won’t be tempted to move sweet ‘Cassie’ Now that you’re doing your homework on the computer, the homework eating dog excuse doesn’t sound so plausible. Not that I’m doubting you or anything.
How about, the dog ate my printer? Or the cat knocked my printer to the floor and broke it?
The great thing about Bloom Day is that it doesn’t matter if you’re late–blooms are appreciated any time! Perhaps ‘Cassie’ doesn’t show up as well in front of your white house, but she certainly looks beautiful against all those purple blooms and green foliage.
I never did believe a student who told me his dog ate his homework…until I got Sophie, who does like to eat paper:)
Maybe I should put some more pots on the landing behind her with trailing sweet potato vine … thanks for the inspiration!
The dog ate my homework, too. You’re in good company. 😉 This is a primo time in your garden! That Deutzia is really healthy and full. I noticed one on someone else’s blog recently and thought, if I ever lose a shrub that might be a good replacement!
That’s Deutzia is decades old. We’ve been at the house 10 years and it was already a behemoth when we moved in. I do like it though, and the flowers are awfully nice.
It’s always so interesting to compare flower blooming times in different parts of the country. My blue Salvias are blooming like yours, but my Husker’s Red Penstemon and false indigo are nowhere near.
Huh, that’s surprising given your milder climate.
Jason..I really can’t pick a favorite they are all so beautiful! Your Geranium is so lush and full!! Is the photo of the Rosa ‘Cassie taken in your front garden?? Your beds look amazing!!!
Yup, Cassie is in the front garden. Just in front of the front door landing, in fact. The front is much sunnier than the back, though it is on the north side of the house.
Looks great Jason. I haven’t had a ‘Johnson’s Blue’ for years. I brought one here from my last garden, and the squirrels dug it up and carted it away. It was a real challenge getting the gardens going here with the critters ‘helping’ with the gardening.
Squirrels are bad, but it is the rabbits that make my blood pressure go up. And they pretend to be all sweet and cute, meanwhile they scheme to DESTROY our gardens.
Jason, you have a really blooming day! I love this
Penstemon ‘Husker’s Red’ and blue geraniums. The white rose, this small one is beautiful!
Thank you, Nadezda. I am very partial to white roses!
Lots going on in your garden. Westerland has got great color. Your garden bounced back nicely from that crazy rainstorm you had that you were so worried about. Good times.
Hi Jason, first of all let me send my compliments to your wife for the pics. Love those penstemon, I used to have it in my previous garden, I must plant some here again! Baptisia is something I’d really like but after three failed attempts of growing I quit. That white rose Cassie is wonderful, white over white could be considered a very sophisticated colour scheme, indeed. Don’t you think that Cassie looks quite similar to Darlow’s enigma?!
Oh, you’re hilarious, Alberto.
Hoi Jason, every time I read your blog I wonder about the simular plants you have in your garden and also, they bloom at the same time 🙂
Last year I bought a Blue False Indigo.I saw this plant for the first time in http://www.Appeltern.nl , in Holland. I was impressed about the flowers. The plant I bought was not in a good condition (it was the last exemplar) and I put it in the greenhouse during the winter. I am curious how the plant will developpe in my garden.
Thank you for showing me the nice pics of Blue False Indigo
Do you have a very harsh winter in Holland? I ask because Baptisia are generally pretty cold hardy. Or were you protecting the plant because you thought it was in weakened condition?
Hi Jason, since I’m the 23 rd person to comment I think that means you are excused for being 2 days late for GBBD! Lovely flowers, they must be appreciating the summer rain. I specially love the roses.
The plants definitely are appreciating the summer rain.I am gradually becoming more of a fan of roses.
Looking good! I sowed Baptisia australis, but they were all munched by slugs as soon as they germinated. Will have to try again indoors another year. The penstemons are lovely, understated but elegant.
I love the penstemon also. Baptisia may be vulnerable to slugs because there are few in its native prairie habitat.
I’m really loving your blue geraniums!
Thanks, they are a favorite of mine.
EVERYTHING looks GORGEOUS!!
Thanks so much!
The dog ate my homework too. Don’t you love Cardonna? I planted it for the first time this year. Your garden is lovely. Happy Bloom Day.~~Dee
Yes, I really like Carradonna’s upright habit, overall it is a winner.
The stems on your Husker’s Red are delicious! I love watching the bumblebees squish themselves into the penstemon blooms, it never seems like they should fit.
I’ve been reading up on all of your last posts. It was all so very interesting! Loved to stroll through Annie’s garden on the Garden blogger’s fling. Thank you for taking us with you. And especially for sharing some sun. I won’t look up from the computer now cause all there is is a grey sky and wind and cold and… not summer, that’s it, so tired of it. You also took us to New York and showed us not the usual tourist pictures I often see from New York but a garden in the sky in between all those tall skyscrapers. How very lovely! Such a great idea. If I ever visit NewYork I have this garden to add to the places to visit. Also want to visit the garden from ‘You’ve got mail’ then, if I ever get to visit NYC of course…. And then your garden in June. Beautiful! So much bloom! Love Deutzia. What a huge shrub it is in your garden. We had one in the garden but it never really took on well and eventually completely gave up. The blooms it did ever produce were so very lovely though. They were some very light pink and smelled very nice. Don’t know what the exact name of the shrub was. Love all the blues and whites you have in the garden, and the roses of course. They’re doing so poorly here now with all that rain and wind. Geranium Johnson’s Blue is one of those kinds that doesn’t want to grow well here. I tried it several times. I think it’s more of a sunlover than the other geraniums perhaps. A garden is always a question af trial and error, isn’t is? And of finding the exact plants for the place, the circumstances and the soil there is.
I want to thank you for the nice comments you always leave on my blog. Sorry I didn’t visit here for so long, it was a bit hectic around here lately but I did catch up now!
Marian