Text and photos ©Nancy J. Ondra
We’re in the midst of an extra-busy week at work, hosting a photo shoot for a food magazine today and Thursday and preparing for a busload of plant fanatics coming to see the gardens and check out our nursery on Friday. Still, I couldn’t skip Bloom Day, so below are some highlights from here at Hayefield. You’ll notice that most of the shots are closeups, because the garden as a whole is still looking pretty hairy!
Above is a bloom cluster of shredded umbrella plant (Syneilesis aconitifolia).
I know that when I think of July flowers, I think sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus). Well, no – not really; the splendid abundance is thanks to our mostly cooler-than-usual summer so far. These blues came from ‘Old Spice Mix’:
Here’s ‘America’:
And ‘Black Knight’:
This is the amazing 7-foot-tall Orienpet lily (Lilium) known as ‘Robina’:
I grow daylilies (Hemerocallis) mostly to provide summer evening snacks for my alpacas. But this ‘Nona’s Garnet’ is one favorite we all share (I like the form and color, and they seem to prefer its flavor over all others):
‘Milk Chocolate’ is also a favorite with both people and camelids:
Ooh, I love that color. There’s a paler version here too, in ‘Tinkerbell’ flowering tobacco (Nicotiana):
There are plenty of spikes for the midsummer season, including Agastache mearnsii…
Giant rusty foxglove (Digitalis ferruginea ‘Gigantea’):
Variegated pokeweed (Phytolacca americana ‘Silberstein’):
Eastern gama grass (Tripsacum dactyloides):
Pink vervain (Verbena hastata ‘Rosea’):
Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum):
And a teasel (Dipsacus), which is sort of spiky and rounded/oblong too.
Drumstick chives (Allium sphaerocephalon) is a pointy globe:
Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) is even more rounded…
And buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is a true globe:
For sheer flower power, it’s tough to beat the giant clusters of smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens):
At the other size extreme is this tiny-flowered mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum, I think). Insects love the blooms, but the powerfully scented foliage is why I like it:
Two bloomers with nice flower fragrance: swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)…
…and gold flame honeysuckle (Lonicera x heckrottii):
To finish up, a few odds and ends. This, I think, is a variant of Coreopsis tripteris:
A seedling clematis:
Snow-on-the-mountain (Euphorbia marginata):
And wispy Mexican feather grass (Stipa tenuissima):
What I’d really like to show you is some of the glorious flower action going on right now over at Linden Hill, but I probably won’t have time to take any photos there until this weekend. I’m thinking that a Bloom Day Part Two post may be in order for next week! But for now, remember to check out the many links to other Bloom Day posts from around the world at May Dreams Gardens.
Wonderful, Nan! Somehow, with all the beautiful flowers you have shown, the lowly teasel, amazing image of it, drew my eye first. It fits in well with Dave’s Weed Day too. :-)
Frances
Hooray – it looks like Dave has moved Worst Weed Wednesday to July 29th. I’m hoping to participate but knew I just wouldn’t get time to do it this week. I’m not sure I’ll pick teasel as my *worst* weed, though!
-Nan
I will be looking forward to part two. Part one is just gorgeous. I would love to get a start of button bush going. The insects love it so. I love those little globes. Teasel is so architectural.
The buttonbush seemed to take quite a few years to settle in, but it’s glorious this year, putting on loads of blooms and new growth. I hope you can find one for your own garden, Lisa.
-Nan
Hi Nan!
July looks great in your garden. I meant to add the ‘Black Knight’ sweet pea and even ordered the seed but I don’t think I ever planted them. Your hydrangeas along the fence look perfect!
I moved the weed day since Bloom Day was the same day, I figured people would want to showcase their blooms more than weeds! I’d love to see the blooms over at Linden Hill.
Well, Dave, now that you have the seeds, you have no excuse for getting an extra-early start next spring. Or hey, maybe you could even plant them in fall where you live?
I’m SO glad you moved Weed Day. I’m already thinking about my post.
-Nan
Nan,
Great plants and pictures as usual!
I love Snow-on-the-mountain. They are not quite as far along in my garden.
I hope you get a chance to post some pictures from Linden Hill. It’s a great place to shop!
Thanks, Marie. I hope to get to meet you over at Linden Hill some time!
-Nan
I love your Sweet Peas, especially the blues. Mine have been a spectacular flop, with not a single bud, much less a bloom. I’m in the market for a fragrant July-blooming Lily. ‘Robina’ looks like a good color for the spot; is it fragrant? I also grow pink Vervain – does the foliage of yours look all ratty and moth-eaten? By August, mine looks terrible. I wish my soil was moist enough for Veronicastrum instead. I love your photo of it with the bee.
Oh, yes – the ‘Robina’ is very fragrant, and a wonderful rich pink. Apparently it doesn’t always get quite so tall; I saw a lot of references to it being around 4 feet. But this sucker doesn’t just have a stem; it has a trunk! And yeah, the vervain plant as a whole isn’t nearly as pretty as the flowers. I’m trying to build up some stock to move to the meadow, where the plants can be as ugly as they want while still contributing their beautiful blooms.
-Nan
I have to laugh about your growing Hemerocallis for your alpacas! I’d say you qualify for the Providing Fancy Food for the most Unique Critter Award! ;-) Beautiful show over there, as usual! I was unable to participate in Blooom Day today. :-(
It’s a perfect setup: they get snacks every night, and all of my daylilies get deadheaded at the same time!
I’m sorry you had to miss Bloom Day yourself, Shady, but I’m glad you came to visit.
-Nan
Love those sweet peas. I have given up trying to grow them here, they seem to wither in the heat before they ever get going. So I am enjoying a vicarious thrill to see them on your post.
See, that’s what so great about blogging: when one of us has good luck with something, we have lots of like-minded folks to share with! It really has been the best year I can ever remember for the sweet peas. I think it helps that I’ve been cutting the blooms often for bouquets for friends; the flowers are *still* coming along.
-Nan
Nan,
I never tire of seeing your lovely bloom day posts.
-Heirloom Gardener
Thanks for stopping by, HG. I’m headed over to see what’s up in your garden.
-Nan
Every time I go through your bloom day posts, I find a plant or two or three that I must have. Thanks for joining in, even when busy!
Wouldn’t miss it, Carol! Thanks for being its gracious host.
-Nan
Wow you have so much in bloom and such lovely photos.
Kind of you to stop by, Rosemarie. Happy Bloom Day!
-Nan
Nan, your close-ups are lovely. It’s always interesting to see the unusual beauties you have in your garden, as well as the more common flowers. Gorgeous, all of them!
Both those daylilies are lovely, but I agree that the color of ‘Milk Chocolate’ is wonderful..and the nicotiana too.
Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to share your blooms with us.
I’m hoping for some sunshine on my shoulders today. It would be so much appreciated! :)
I hope you’re enjoying the same gorgeous day we are down here in PA, Kerri! I’m coming over for a virtual visit right now!
-Nan
I’ve never seen snow-on-the-mountain before, but I love it!
Oh, me too, Gayle! I should mention that it’s considered invasive in some areas, though. It seeds around pretty freely in the garden too, but it’s pretty easily to spot the seedlings and pull them out while they’re small.
-Nan
Hi! I ran into your wonderful blog by pure luck :) So many amazing flowers og and plants you have! Surly your climate is far better than here in Norway, but som of the spices you show are grown here as well. Looking forward to read more posts inn your blog. Hope it’s ok to add your blog on my bloglist?
How great to have you as a reader, Ninni! I’d be honored to be on your bloglist. I’ve added you to mine as well. You have lovely photos! And I greatly admire how well you can grow the green love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus ‘Viridis’) in a pot.
-Nan