It’s almost the 15th of the month, and time once again to celebrate Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day, thanks to Carol of May Dreams Gardens! I’m a little early for this month, but well, at least I’m in. To start, I should apologize for jolting your retinas with the above image of Knock Out rose (Rosa ‘Radrazz’) in front of giant fleeceflower (Persicaria polymorpha). But I can go even more shocking than that…
Ow, I know. It’s good old Knock Out again, this time behind ‘Golden Queen’ globeflower (Trollius). Let’s move on to something a little more harmonious.
Now, that’s cheery, I think, without being overwhelming: ‘Susanna Mitchell’ marguerite daisy (Anthemis) with ‘Screaming Yellow’ baptisia (Baptisia sphaerocarpa).
Most of the bloom color right now is in the side garden, which means that the palette is primarily blues and white. Above is a drift of self-seeded larkspur (Consolida ajacis) with a bit of baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata).
Below is more of the larkspur, this time with clary sage (Salvia sclarea), in front of the delicate white flowers of Bowman’s root (Gillena stipulata or Porteranthus stipulatus). At the lower right is ‘Cramer’s Plum’ love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena).
Why is it called ‘Cramer’s Plum’ when it’s white? Because the seedpods really are a terrific plummy purple color. You can see a few of them near the middle right above, jusa starting to color up. There are also a few below, mingling with the spiky blooms of ‘Caradonna’ sage (Salvia), the variegated foliage of ‘Silver and Gold’ yellow-twig dogwood (Cornus sericea), and wispy pony tail grass (Stipa tenuissima).
While we’re on the subject, here’s some more variegated foliage paired with mid-June blooms. Below is a self-sown seedling of variegated kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate (Persicaria orientalis ‘Shiro-gane Nishiki’ or Polygonum orientale ‘Variegata’) with beach wormwood (Artemisia stelleriana) and English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia).
The KMOTGG isn’t long for this world, because it’ll get much too big for that spot, but it’s quite nice there for now. Below is variegated pokeweed (Phytolacca americana ‘Silberstein’), just coming into flower.
And below is ‘Harlequin’ firethorn (Pyracantha) with crosswort (Phuopsis stylosa).
I have no idea how the crosswort got here, and I’m a little nervous about the way it seems to be spreading. But for now, I think it’s cute.
Pony tail grass (Stipa tenuissima), also known as Mexican feather grass, is coming into bloom now, but the flowers are so tiny that they’re hardly noticeable. They give the whole plant a silvery blond cast, though, which pairs prettily with the blue-purple of ‘Brookside’ geranium above. Below, taken from a different angle, the pony tail grass is in front of more giant fleeceflower, which is itself in front of silver willow (Salix alba var. sericea).
To finish, a few clematis…below is leather-flower (Clematis viorna).
While leather-flower is typically purplish on the outside, the one below, from another batch of seeds grown out many years ago, is distinctly pink. I think it is C. glaucophylla.
And one more from the same group: Addison’s leather-flower (C. addisonii), below. All three of these clematis are deciduous, dying back to the ground each year and flowering on new growth. Unlike the other two, which are getting to be quite tall vines, this one reaches only about 3 feet.
That’s it for the highlights here at Hayefield. I look forward to visiting the rest of you through your links at the main GBBD post at May Dreams Gardens.
So many beauties! I really like your Caradonna sage and the Harlequin pyracantha. Also your clematis and the feathergrass with the silvers and whites. Beautiful combos, Nancy. And don’t worry—I absolutely love ‘Radrazz.’ It’s never too bright for me. I only wish mine looked so good. Our stretch of rainless, 100-degree days is taking its toll on my newer plants.
Oh, poor Pam – I hope you get some rain and cooler temperatures soon! Now I’m not *quite* so envious of your more southerly location. I’m guessing that you still have lots of lovely things to share this month, though.
-Nan
WOW you talk about knock out…that first and second photo is tremendous. I love the vibrant colors. I have found that I must work on my colors for this time of year. I don’t have anything as vibrant as this and I love it. Must haves. I must do more gardening out in front of my house which as more sun. Dream dream…
I too really enjoy the bright colors, Lisa. At the moment, the Knock Outs are pretty much carrying the show out front. But now that I finally have the rest of that area planted out with annuals and tender perennials, I have a very bright summer to look forward to. Don’t I remember you having some bright colors in at least part of your front beds? So maybe you just need a little tweaking to get some more of the shocking colors a little earlier.
-Nan
Thank you for this inspirational and informative post! Great combinations.
I have learned a lot in the past 2 decades of gardening but I always learn more with each season and from posts such as this.
Remember a few months ago when I asked for advice on a fence? Well we have been building a custom fence for our front garden, Stop by and see. It should all come together in the next 2 weeks as the local Garden Tour is coming through then!
Carol
terranovadesign.blogspot.com
Hey, thanks for checking in, Carol. I sure do remember your fence dilemma, and I look forward to seeing what you’ve chosen. I’ll be over soon for a visit. Good luck with your tour!
-Nan
I love those bright colors!They were an eye-opener for sure. I really like the Clematis blooms. I usually take pictures of them in full flower, but love the pictures you took before they opened.
With my son’s 16th birthday, father’s day and company here for a few days, I’ll be late with my GBBD post again this month. There is so much blooming in June!
Hi Robin! Actually, these clematis are pretty much fully opened, except for the pink one; only their tips curl back. Enjoy your family visit. I look forward to seeing your post whenever you have time for it.
-Nan
I’m with the others! I love that pink and yellow together…
Thanks for visiting and commenting, Emma. Happy Bloom Day!
-Nan
Such interesting blooms and so many shapes. I loved the photo of the bottle in your opening photo from May bloom day too. A covered porch is such a nice way to admire a garden. You must enjoy your time out there.
Hi Sarah! Oh yes, I do love the porch. Besides making a great vantage point for enjoying the garden and providing some much-needed shade, it’s a super place for hardening off seedlings.
-Nan
Nan, I love the marguerite and baptisia! What a great combination! And you’re right, ‘Cramer’s Plum’ has the most marvelous pods; definitely a keeper. I’m of course wildly jealous of the self-sown larkspur, and I think the pony tail grass is adorable. And I’m delighted to see the variegated pokeweed in bloom. I decided to be bad and plant mine with the large stem intact, figuring I could rush out and cut it off if it looked like it was dying and taking the rest of the plant with it, but guess what? It’s thriving! Thanks again!!!
Now, see, if I hadn’t told you to cut back the pokeweed, it probably would have wilted. But I’m glad you took a chance and planted it as it was. I’ll bet you’ll have blooms on it in a few weeks.
-Nan
I like the Salvia + Cornus. People say you can grow dogwood in full sun, but I don’t think that works in California without a lot of supplemental water during the summer. At any rate, I don’t see them very often. My favorite here is the Stipa + Geranium. I like delicate flowers in the tall grasses.
Hi Chuck. Yep, here in PA, even the variegated shrubby dogwoods thrive in full sun, but I doubt you could get away with that in most of California. Still, you folks have lots of other cool variegates that we could only dream of growing outdoors!
-Nan
Even more shocking than your first 2 photos–we woke up to sunshine here in Seattle. I love the vibrant colors. But that yellow twig dogwood is a cutie.
You know, the more I hear about Seattle, the more I think I ought to live there. Cloudy and cool sound really good right now! But I’m glad you got some sunshine to brighten your Bloom Day. I promise I’ll be over soon for a visit. I want to comment on your Cuban oregano post too!
-Nan
I bought a yellow Baptisia this spring, and now you’ve shown me a great flower to go with it. All your flowers and combinations make me want to rip out and replant for better combos in my own garden.
And I love all the variegated foliage.
Thanks for joining in for bloom day again!
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
My pleasure, Carol. I’ve had the anthemis for several years now, but this is the first time it really looked glorious, and in perfect time to complement the baptisia. I honestly hadn’t planned the combination, but I am very pleased with how it turned out, and I’m glad you like it too.
-Nan
So many unusual plants in addition to the tried and true and your combos are stunning! Great ideas for future spaces!
Thanks, Layanee. Now, if I could show you all the combinations that didn’t quite work, I’d have a month’s worth of blog posts….
-Nan
Nan your bloom colors are great. I really like the variegated combination with the caradonna salvia. The Salvia sclarea has a nice cool color to it’s blooms. I need to add some of that as well as the larkspur. Everything looks great!
I like the clary sage too, Dave, though I’m a little disappointed in it as well, because it was supposed to be ‘Vatican White’ (pure white). Still, it’s so sturdy-looking that I don’t mind letting it see around a bit.
-Nan
I bought a Double Knock-out this spring and it is blooming fabulously. Most of my rose collection is of the pastel variety and this Double Knock-out is a stand out! I am looking forward to having at least one everbloomer. All the other roses, rugosas, albas, gallica, will only produce sporadic blooms after early July. Your photos are fabulous.
I hope it performs well for you, Pat. I had one and lost it. But the original, and the pink, and the blushing pink have all performed fabulously here, and they flower from late May into November. And so far, no signs of rose rosette disease on any of them, even those growing right next to affected roses.
-Nan
I don’t know where to start, it’s all so wonderful! Those species Clematis are so cute. We’re all so used to seeing the large-flowered hybrids, but those little ones have a charm of their own. Your plant combinations are so inspired, especially the Anthemis/Baptisia combo & the ponytail/Persicaria combo.
I’m glad they appeal to you, MMD. The ponytail grass is actually growing in a separate bed, but it looks like it’s with the persicaria because of the angle I was shooting from. I’m tempted to move it over there permanently because it looks so good. But then, I haven’t yet seen anything that grass *doesn’t* look good with!
-Nan
Hi Nan, your combos are great inspiration for me too. I agree that the stipa looks good with everything, and grows in all conditions here as well, sun, shade, wet or dry. Well we don’t have very much wet right now;-< I tried nigella ‘Chocolate Sundae’ this year and was surprised that it is white also, but the center seed pod is dark, very similar to your plum beauty. I don’t know if I like it much, the blue is so much prettier. We use Knockouts here for punches of color between other bloom sessions, it goes well with gaillardias, believe it or not, same reddish shade. Your yellow dogwood is stunning.
Ooh, I love the sound of ‘Chocolate Sundae’ nigella; I’ll definitely have to try that one! Even if it’s the same thing, I really like the name. I agree that the blue is prettier, though.
-Nan
Wow… I really like that plum-seeded nigella. If I had room in my little yard for just one more self-seeder (I don’t, not really) I would be searching for those seeds online right now.
I’m still giggling at your comment that the baptisia and anthemis combination are a little more soothing. But only because the baptisia’s name is “Screaming Yellow!” :)
Er, yeah, I did think of that unfortunate contradiction when I wrote the sentence, but I was hoping no one would notice. Trust you to call me on it! But really, I don’t think yellow *can* scream. Magenta can. Red can. Orange can. But yellow…it’s just bright. Usually.
-Nan
Most of us seem to like the hot color of the knockout roses :) They certainly are a show-stopper. The background fleece flowers show them up beautifully.
I love that blue and white shot of the side garden. Larkspur is such a gorgeous color. Mine isn’t blooming yet.
The leather-flower clematis is adorable :) What a great shape! That pony tail grass looks so soft and fluffy..makes me want to run my hands through it!
Your gardens are looking wonderful, with so many interesting blooms and combinations. All your hard work is evident, and obviously a labor of love.
Thanks, Kerri! You’re so right about the pony tail grass: it’s very much a “touch me” kind of plant. I often stop to comb through it with my fingers, and I’ve even played around with braiding it, on occasion. Feels kind of like braiding a horse’s tail, only upward instead of downward.
-Nan
It always tickles me to see your garden, because there are just so many plants that I’ve never seen grown (or in some cases, even heard of. I’m amazed by the nigella–it won’t be blooming here for at least a month, maybe longer especially if I neglect to sow some more of it in case the self-seeds aren’t enough.
Hi Jodi! Yep, the self-sown nigella tends to bloom in late May to early June for me, but the spring-sown batch won’t start for a few weeks yet.
-Nan
Nan, I love the way you give us plant combinations, not just the individual plants. Combinations are not my strong suite. The blue side garden is a joy. Thanks for the inspirations!
Thanks, Pat. I really appreciate knowing that you find the combinations useful!
-Nan
I have to get out and plant more grasses and you’ve inspired me. Your garden is beyond words. It is a real treat to come here and relax a bit and find some ideas. I just love it.
You’re so kind, Anna. I’m definitely a big fan of grasses, and if I’ve inspired you to include more of them in your garden, I’m delighted!
-Nan
You have C.addisonii, very beautiful light purplish. The shot is fantastic, together with a bud and seed head. I’m one of clematis lover, living in Hiroshima, Japan. and have been drafting the project, “The Distribution of Native Clematis in the World” for my personal and non-commercial website “Clematis”, since this November. So I should like to have your permission on using your photographs of addisonii and viorna, if you OK. Please email original files, If you can. Of course, I will put your credit to an appropriate place. closer to your images.
Thank you for your interest. You have a beautiful site. I’ll be in touch through e-mail.
-Nan