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Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – June 2021

The Happy Garden at Hayefield in early June [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

Though May was unusually dry here, that situation resolved toward the end of the month, and things were shaping up to be a glorious June. And then this happened….

I remember an emergence of the Brood X cicadas (Magicicada) when I was a kid (though I try avoid thinking about that trauma), and I recall the last one 17 years ago. But gosh, I really don’t think either was as bad as this one.

Magicicada [NancyJ. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

Each of the three species has its own “song,” and when countless numbers of them synchronize into a chorus, the result is waves of piercing, high-decibel shrieking. That’s bad enough that I’ve had to resort to wearing ear protection just to go outside. But the last 10 days or so have gotten even worse, as they’re not just in the trees; they’re all over the garden plants as well.

Magicicada Brood X at Hayefield [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

Plus, they’re flying around and bumbling into everything. These suckers are big, so you know when they hit you. And when they land on you, they really hang on with their prickly feet.

Magicicada [NancyJ. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

The only ones happy about all of this are the birds, who are feasting on them, leaving wings and half-eaten carcasses everywhere.

Trying to get cicada-free pictures for this Bloom Day post has become a nightmare, so I have had to resort to photos from earlier this month. Looking back about 2 weeks, then, here are some highlights from Hayefield.

Baptisia season has become one of my favorite parts of the gardening year. I’ve grown blue false indigo (Baptisia australis) for decades and enjoyed it: it’s pretty in bloom and great for filling space.

Baptisia australis against Cotinus 'Grace' [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

Eventually I added other species, including yellow false indigo (B. sphaerocarpa), white false indigo (B. alba), and selections like ‘Purple Smoke’ and ‘Carolina Moonlight’. A while back, I collected seeds from ‘Purple Smoke’ growing near several other kinds and ended up with these beauties:

Baptisia 'Hayefield Hybrids' [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

I have been collecting and growing out seeds from these and ended up with a seed strain I call ‘Hayefield Hybrids’: a beautiful range of blues, purples, and yellows, plus everything from white to cream to pinkish to peach to orange to coppery brown. The tea-with-lemon ones are my favorites…

Baptisia 'Hayefield Hybrids' [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…but each one has its own merits. And all together, they are quite a sight in full bloom:

Baptisia 'Hayefield Hybrids' [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

Early June brought other garden classics, including roses (below is ‘Belle de Crecy’):

Rosa 'Belle de Crecy' [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…columbines (Aquilegia), including ‘Nora Barlow’, below:

Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow' [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…alliums (Allium), including Sicilian honey garlic (A. siculum), below:

Allium siculum [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…various irises, including ‘Lion King’ Dutch iris, below:

Dutch iris 'Lion King' [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…’Gerald Darby’ (Iris x robusta), below:

Iris x robusta 'Gerald Darby' [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…and ‘Berlin Tiger’ (thank you so much for this beauty, Kathy!), below.

Iris pseudacorus hybrid 'Berlin Tiger' [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

It’s also clematis time. Serious Black bush clematis (Clematis recta ‘Lime Close’), below, was at peak in early June:

Clematis recta 'Lime Close' (Serious Black) [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

Others just started around then, including pale leatherflower (C. versicolor), below:

Clematis versicolor [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…and this lovely unnamed one started from seed many years ago:

Clematis NOID [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

Some other perennial favorites for this time of year include Bowman’s root (Gillenia trifoliata), below:

Gillenia trifoliata [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…giant starflower (Ornithogalum magnum), below:

Ornithogalum magnum [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…Ohio spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis), below:

Tradescantia ohiensis [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…pink burnet saxifrage (Pimpinella major ‘Rosea’), below:

Pimpinella major 'Rosea' [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…’Zauberflote’ spurge (Euphorbia palustris ‘Zauberflote’), below:

Euphorbia palustris 'Zauberflote' [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…native purple rocket (Iodanthus pinnatifidus), below:

Iodanthus pinnatifidus [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…Baltic parsley (Cenolophium denudatum), below:

Cenolophium denudatum [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…native downy wood mint (Blephilia ciliata), below:

Blephilia ciliata [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…native tall thimbleweed (Anemone virginiana), below:

Anemone virginiana [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…native two-flowered Cynthia (Krigia biflora):

Krigia biflora [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…yellow corydalis (Pseudofumaria [formerly Corydalis] lutea), below, which is thriving in a container with common sage (Salvia officinalis):

Pseudofumaria lutea [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…and one of my time-tested trailing favorites for shady containers, white-veined Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia fimbriata).

Aristolochia fimbriata [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

The annuals are starting now, including Petunia exserta, below:

Petunia exserta [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…divaricate phacelia (Phacelia divaricata), below:

Phacelia divaricata [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…white lace flower (Orlaya grandiflora), below:

Orlaya grandiflora [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…’Miss Jekyll’ love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena), below:

Nigella damascena 'Miss Jekyll' [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…native annual fleabane (Erigeron annuus), below:

Erigeron annuus [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…California native fivespot (Nemophila maculata), below (notice the one with six spots!):

Nemophila maculata [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…blue tweedia (Oxypetalum caeruleum), below:

Oxypetalum caeruleum [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…and Venus’ navelwort (Omphalodes linifolia), below.

Omphalodes linifolia [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

I have soooo many cool new things coming along for seeds, too! Some new annual additions this year include clasping Venus’ looking glass (Triodanis perfoliata), a charming little native, below:

Triodanis perfoliata [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…rock harlequin (Capnoides (formerly Corydalis) sempervirens), another native, below:

Capnoides sempervirens [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…a winner in the “neat common names” category: Jack go to bed at noon (Tragopogon crocifolius), below:

Tragopogon crocifolius [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…California native Farnsworth’s jewel flower (Streptanthus farnsworthianus), with purple bracts and dainty white blooms (two photos below):

Streptanthus farnsworthianus [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

Streptanthus farnsworthianus [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…’Takane Ruby’ buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), below:

Fagopyrum esculentum 'Takane Ruby' [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…and yellow spiderflower (Peritoma [formerly Cleome] lutea), below.

Peritoma lutea [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

A few leafy odds and ends include ‘Red Mountain’ celtuce or stem lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. asparagina), below:

Lactuca sativa var. asparagina 'Red Mountain' [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…variegated rue (Ruta graveolens ‘Variegata’), below:

Ruta graveolens 'Variegata' [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…’Sunspots’ sunflower (Helianthus annuus), below:

Helianthus annuus 'Sunspots' [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

…and ‘Dragon Tail’ radish (Raphanus sativus var. caudatus), grown for its edible purple pods, below.

Raphanus sativus var. caudatus 'Dragon Tail' [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

And to finish, a couple of garden shots and combinations. I’m happy that I had time to renovate parts of the courtyard a few months ago; it’s looking much tidier now:

Courtyard path [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

Below, a cheerful combination of golden meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria ‘Aurea’), ‘Blue Ice’ bluestar (Amsonia), and red campion (Silene dioica).

Early June combination [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

And below: the flower spikes of lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina) with white lace flower (Orlaya grandiflora), ‘Zauberflote’ spurge (Euphorbia palustris ‘Zauberflote’), ‘Miss Jekyll’ love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena), and unnamed red miniature rose, and catmint (Nepeta).

Early June combination [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

Well, thanks for taking a little trip back in time with me, and we’ll hope these things will be gone by the next Bloom Day. (Can’t promise I won’t whine about the damage they’ve left behind, though.)

Magicicada on Filipendula ulmaria [Nancy J. Ondra/Hayefield.com]

A quick reminder about seeds: The cicadas haven’t kept me from collecting seeds (even if they have made it really not fun), and I’m adding new things every week, including bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Canada wild ginger (Asarum canadense), rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides), and yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum), as well as the 2021 harvest of hybrid Lenten rose (Helleborus x hybridus) ready for sowing right now. Check out the Recently Added section to see what’s new or visit the Hayefield shop storefront for the complete listings. Thanks!

Posted on by — 13 Comments

13 thoughts on “Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – June 2021”

  1. Jean Spangenberg

    Nan, as always an enviable display of beautiful flowers! I always look forward to your post. I have just planted some blue Baptisia that i grew from seed a few years ago. I have yellow and have loved it mixed in my perennials. I had never seen the tea colored Baptisia before. All of yours are lovely.
    Glad seed production is going well.
    Have a wonderful summer.
    Jean Spangenberg

    Thank you, Jean! I appreciate you checking in today. I hope your gardening season is going well!
    -Nan

  2. bittster

    As usual, an excellent adventure in cool plants! The baptisia hybrids are awesome, I love the range of colors you can get from the seed and I really regret not taking better care of the last batch from you. I think every seed sprouted and they grew on nicely, but then were planted out too early in the wild yonder and that May dry spell may have done them in. You never know though, maybe I’ll be surprised in a few years :)
    I saw one cicada shell so far and it’s probably not even a brood X… not to rub it in… but I do like hearing about them from further south. Not having them land on my back while strolling is a definite plus.

    Hi there, Frank. Yes, those baptisia seedlings are pretty tough. I have even just tossed seeds in the meadow and had them come up, though they take an extra few years to reach flowering size. Lucky you to have missed the cicadas!
    -Nan

  3. Carol

    Your garden and your photography is always an inspiration. I am sorry that you have cicadas in your garden.
    Chipmunks have been my problem this season and then on Saturday we had a hailstorm. Every season brings new challenges but my garden is always a source of joy. Happy gardening, Nan.

    Oh my, it’s always something, huh? But you’re right: it is worth it. Have a great season, Carol!
    -Nan

  4. Mavis Woulfe

    I have the clematis that looks like a small pink tulip, I know it as Duchess of Albany

    Oh, that’s a beauty, isn’t it? I suspect this seedling has more viticella heritage than texensis, but who knows? It doesn’t set seed, which means I can’t share it, so I don’t mind not knowing what it really is.
    -Nan

  5. Rhonda

    That variegated sunflower really caught my eye! Hope the locusts are gone soon.

    ‘Sunspots’ is a real beauty at its best, but it’s challenging to grow, as it seems to come only about 20 percent true from seed. I keep planting new batches of seed and so far have two really good ones and another maybe. It’s worth it, though.
    -Nan

  6. Kris P

    Your garden looked glorious prior to the onslaught, Nan. I hope that comes to a conclusion soon and you can actually enjoy your time in the garden again (without ear protection). I love your Baptisia, some species which my Western Garden book claims I can grow in my Sunset zone 23/24, so even if my first attempt was a dismal failure, I’ll have to try that again. Surprising myself, I was also drawn to that stem lettuce.

    Hi Kris! Interesting to hear that the baptisia might do well for you. The stem lettuce isn’t even at its best yet. I have never eaten it, though: my priority is seed, of course.
    -Nan

  7. Carole Palmer

    Absolutely lovely! Too bad your winged… guests… have not been well-behaved. It has been sooooo dry, hot and windy here in the high NM desert. Scrolling through these beautiful photos has been a definite treat! I have to wonder how much alcohol inspired a name like “Jack go to bed at noon”. And darn those botanists who keep updating the scientific nomenclature… Peritoma? Cleome? Sigh. Anyway, thanks so much for sharing… :-)

    I’m so glad you came for the virtual tour, Carole. Dry, hot, and windy is an awful combination; may you get a break soon. Don’t get me started about the names. I’ve taken to checking pretty much every name before each post in an effort to keep up with the latest nomenclature. “Peritoma” was a new one to me too!
    -Nan

  8. Donna

    Not bad enough the cicadas are everywhere, they have to “sing” too! Would drive me batty! Do they eat plants/flowers, too? The baptisia are lovely, the Dutch iris caught my eye, and those annuals-each and every one a delight.
    The scourge here has been hot days, and no rain. Plants that have been here for years are suffering. Gardeners persevere! (But may it be mercifully shortened…) Thanks as always for the post!

    As horrible as all this is, I think extended dry spells are worse to live through. At least we know this will end soon and not repeat for another 17 years! Their feeding can cause some plant injury, but the main issue is the injury from egg-laying in the shoot tips, mainly of deciduous trees and shrubs. Most will survive, but young or weak ones can be so damaged that they can’t recover. I can see that my aronias, hawthorn, and sassafras already have a lot of injury, but I won’t know the full extent of the damage for a few weeks.
    -Nan

  9. tonytomeo

    There’s too much to see here; and I could have done without seeing the cicadas. They are a bit much. Wow.

    Hey there, Tony. Yes, I too could have done without seeing (and hearing) them. I’m glad you got to enjoy a cicada-free Bloom Day in your world.
    -Nan

  10. tonytomeo

    Is ‘Jack go to bed at noon’ salsify?

    Well, yes, apparently that’s another common name for Tragopogon porrifolius (salsify), and a main one for T. crocifolius. I got the seeds from a reputable source as T. crocifolius, and they’ve stuck with that ID, but the descriptions I’ve found really seem to indicate I have T. porrifolius, and I am tempted to change the ID I’m using for my plant. Calling it “salsify” is much easier than “Jack go to bed at noon.”
    -Nan

  11. Susan Gilmour

    Good morning Nan! I didn’t even know what a cicada was till a few years ago I had this weird thing on a rock it was shedding it’s skin. I put up a pic on my local gardening site and one of the members knew. They are very cool looking if you only have one but yikes you have a few too many. Where do they go for 17 years!! I have heard that weird song they sing in the fall here, it sounds like the electric wires are crossing! So I must have more but just don’t see them. Which is weird cause I love bugs and am always paying attention. I have wonderful dragon flies just now and a hummingbird moth that I grow lots of sweet rocket for! I am having a great gardening year so far. I finally got an electric fence to keep the deer out so hopefully my rhodies can recover! It’s a joy to be in the garden for sure, hope your bugs get going soon, do the babies go into the ground? So strange. Love your pics, that buckwheat is cool! And the tea baptisia! I grew the capnoides from seed last year, it bloomed but hasn’t returned, I think I read it’s a bi-ennial? no babies though, oh well, I did enjoy it! Your Dutchman’s pipe is cool, looks like a venus fly trap! I think I just discovered the name of my rose, thanks for posting “Belle do Crecy”, she was bought many years ago and moved so lost her name. Does yours send out underground shoots, it travels! Does your Ornithogalum magnum stay in the ground, I wonder how hardy it is! Hope you have a great day! TTFN…Sue

    Hi Sue! We have the annual cicadas here too, but they don’t show up until later in the summer. These lay eggs in shoot tips, then the larvae drop to the ground and burrow deep until it’s time for them to emerge. Yes, the Capnoides sempervirens can be annual or biennial but usually self-sows. Glad I could help with your rose. Mine doesn’t produce many blooms, but I treasure those that do appear. And yes, the Ornithogalum magnum is fully hardy here; it self-sows too. I’m afraid I don’t know it’s northern hardiness range, though. Thanks so much for checking in. I always enjoy seeing messages from you!
    -Nan

  12. Dee

    Those cicadas with their red eyes give me the willies, and I’m not even that stressed around most insects. I’m sorry you have them. As for your plants, they are such an inspiration to me. I’m also impressed at the seeds you collect. I hope the cicadas are gone soon, and you can truly enjoy your garden again.~~Dee

    Yeeeah, the green-eyed annuals ones are bad enough, but being observed by many thousands of pairs of red eyes is really creepy. Since I can’t work in the garden, I thought it would be a good idea to repaint the greenhouse, but now they are crawling over everything and dropping into the paint too. Sigh. I do think the decibel level has dropped a few points, though, and I hope the end of this ordeal is in sight.
    -Nan

  13. Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening

    You are very welcome for Berlin Tiger. It’s a challenge to share something with you that you don’t already have. I gave some to Frank (who commented before me) and he hunted down some other pseudata hybrids, which he has kindly shared with me. I’m so sorry you’re enduring the locust plague.

    I really do enjoy the iris (which I always want to call ‘Bengal Tiger’, so I have to look up the name every year) and it seems very happy here. Now that it’s starting to spread, I’m considering adding it to the path bordered by ‘Gerald Darby’ for extra color. And those dark veins make the flowers a great color echo for purple-leaved partners. Love it!
    -Nan

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