While much of what was blooming last month is still blooming this month, the garden has firmly shifted into its summer mode. We were lucky to enjoy the effects of a generous marine layer through most of May and on into June but that seems to be over. Temperatures have risen this week but I took advantage of the cloudy skies beforehand to take loads of photos before the heat arrived. By way of both an apology and an explanation for yet another photo-heavy Bloom Day post, I also used this event as an opportunity to test out the capabilities of the new camera I received as a recent birthday present from my husband.
This month
Agapanthus and Shasta daisies are taking command of the garden.
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| I inherited dozens of clumps of no-name Agapanthus with the garden. This dark blue variety sits below the mimosa tree. |
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| These clumps of a lighter blue variety sit in the same border. There are also white Agapanthus here and there, as well as dwarf varieties. |
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| Shasta daisies, Leucanthemum x superbum, add sparkle throughout the garden. This noID ruffled variety is my favorite but I have some shorter varieties with single petals too. |
In sheer numbers,
Agapanthus and
Leucanthemum flowers dominate in both the back and front gardens but the yellow yarrow is still an attention-grabber in the back garden.
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| Achillea 'Moonshine', shown here with a couple of spikes for Salvia 'Mystic Spires' among the blooms |
Leonotis leonurus (aka lion's tail) is also demanding attention.
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| The plant in the background came with the garden and struggled throughout our drought. I cut it back hard during the winter and it roared back to life following our heavier-than-usual winter rain. The plant in the foreground was added in the fall. |
The strong yellow and orange hues of the
Achillea and
Leonotis are echoed in other plants.
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| Anigozanthos 'Yellow Gem' |
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| Crassula pubescens subsp. radicans with yellow flowers on foliage developing its red summer color |
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| Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun', shown with Euphorbia 'Ascot Rainbow' (left) and Gaillardia aristata 'Gallo Peach' (right) |
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| Santolina virens |
The white color of the Shasta daisies is picked up by the smaller daisy flowers of
Tanacetum niveum scattered about.
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| Tanacetum niveum surrounded by thyme, a golden ornamental oregano, Gazanias, and Eustoma grandiflorum, which seem stubbornly reluctant to bloom |
With a few exceptions, flower color is generally softer in the front garden, which is also peppered with
Agapanthus,
Leucanthemum and
Tanacetum.
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| Oscularia deltoides |
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| Abelia x grandiflora 'Edward Goucher' |
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| Centaurea 'Silver Feathers' |
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| Rosa 'Pink Meidiland', shown here with Cuphea ignea 'Starfire Pink' |
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| Magnolia grandiflora |
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| Gaura lindheimeri |
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| Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', producing a larger number of dime-sized flowers than it's ever had before |
The strongest color in the front garden has been provided by
Hemerocallis 'Spanish Harlem', which began blooming just a day or two after May's Bloom Day post. The flush is nearly over.
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| None of the 5 clumps of 'Spanish Harlem' produced more than 2 flowers in any one day |
The back slope is almost devoid of any color other than green right now. The Matilija poppies are the most notable exception.
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| These poppies, Romneya coulteri, move on their tall stems with the slightest breeze, making them very difficult to photograph |
Scattered about, the floral workhorses of my garden,
Gazanias, Grevilleas and
Osteospermums, continue to produce a nearly endless supply of flowers.
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| These are just a few examples of the range of Gazania hybrids currently in bloom. The beautiful pink and white flower on the left and the near-white one to its right are both volunteers. |
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| Clockwise from the left are Grevillea 'Ned Kelly', G. 'Superb', G. alpina x rosmarinifolia, and G. 'Peaches & Cream' |
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| Clockwise from the left are Osteospermum '4D Silver', O. '4D Purple', O. 'Berry White' (or its progeny), and O. 'Sweet Summertime Kardinal' |
Am I done? Well, no. There are also blooms of many varieties present in smaller quantities as shown in these collages:
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Top row: Aquilegia 'Spring Magic', Catananche caerulea, and Erigeron glaucus 'Wayne Roderick'
Middle row: Globularia x indubia, Nierembergia linarifolia, and Plectranthus neochilus
Bottom row: Polygala myrtifolia 'Mariposa', Symphyotrichum chilensis, and Wahlenbergia 'Blue Cloud' |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Arthropodium cirratum, Alstroemeria 'Claire', Digitalis purpurea 'Alba', Lagurus ovatus, Pandorea jasminoides, and Pennisetum orientale |
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| Clockwise from the left: Tagetes lemmonii, Cotula 'Tiffendell Gold', Hemerocallis 'Double Impact', Jacobaea maritima, and Lonicera japonica |
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Top row: Bignonia capreolata, Bulbine 'Hallmark', and Cotyledon orbiculata
Middle row: Cuphea 'Vermillionaire', Lantana camara 'Irene', and Lobelia laxiflora
Bottom row: Pelargonium 'Tweedle Dee', Russelia 'Flamingo Park', and Rosa 'Joseph's Coat' |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Lotus berthelotii 'Amazon Sunset', Arctotis 'Pink Sugar', Gomphrena 'Itsy Bitsy', Pelargonium peltatum, Rosa 'Ebb Tide', Rudbeckia 'Cherry Brandy', Salvia lanceolata, and Viola 'Pandora's Box' |
Finally, barring another horrific heatwave of the type that struck on the first official day of summer last year, here's a peek at what's coming up in July:
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| Clockwise from the left: Albizia julibrissin, Alstroemeria 'Indian Summer', Hemerocallis 'Sammy Russell', Thymus serphyllum, and Zinnia 'Whirligig' |
That's my round-up for the month of June. Thank you for hanging on through the end. For more June Bloom Day posts,
visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens.
All material © 2012-2017 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
