Northern Border
Temperatures reached 87 degrees and the day felt quite humid and summery. The borders appear full and lush, a tribute to the power of adequate rainfall; however, the first flowering period of many plants is past, so deadheading and trimming are on the agenda for this week.
Southern Border
There has been little work done in the garden for the last two weeks, but that must change. The garden is in transition and is very much in need of attention. Echinacea, Gladioli, Liatris and Daylily are replacing Iris, Lamb’s Ear and Tradescantia.
Liatris spicata ‘Alba’ (Gayfeather)
Shasta Daisy clumps will be covered in bloom any day. Meanwhile Meadow Sage should be cut back to encourage more blooms. Nepeta may need shearing soon as well.
Northern Border, Meditation Circle
Monarda and Lantana are teasing with a bit of color today.
Monarda didyma (scarlet beebalm)
Lantana camara (Common lantana)
This weekend in town I came upon a large and beautiful planting of Baptisia and Autumn Joy, all in full bloom. In this garden all three baptisias lost their flowers suddenly this year after a just a short bloom time, but the foliage remains healthy and green.
Baptisia australis (blue false indigo)
Hylotelephium telephium ‘Herbstfreude’ (Autumn Joy)
Paths in the meditation circle are in some disarray lately. The pine nugget mulch being used this spring is too lightweight to stay in place when rains come. Also the mexicali ‘Pike’s Peak Purple’ Penstemon has sprawled over quite a bit and requires staking again. Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ is so much better behaved and retains its upright place, (although its self-sown seedlings need to be removed soon).
Meditation Circle
Meditation Circle
The annual Angelonia ‘Blue’ in the meditation circle has begun to grow now that the weather is hotter.
Angelonia ‘Blue’
There will be plenty of tasks to keep this gardener busy this week but with an abundance of flowers blooming and the scent gardenia wafting through the air, it should be mostly delightful to spend time in the garden.
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Passionate Blush’ (Butterfly Gaura)
Tradescantia (Spiderwort)
pbmGarden 
It all looks lovely… Angelonia is a new one to me. Very pretty flowers and growth habit.
Thanks! The Angelonia is very tough as well, tolerates heat and drought well and bloomed until October last year.
It is all looking lush and full of life. I cannot believe how the Medition Circle has developed.
I appreciate your comments. I’m always second-guessing myself on how to plant within the Meditation Circle, but for now I’m happy with it. Your gardens are amazing.
I love the Lantana. Ours just came out of their winter camp in the basement. I also like the Gaura but I gave up on them since they dropped dead on me every winter. They were supposed to be able to survive winter in the garden at zone 5, but none of them did.
Oh, I must have it easy here in this 7b garden zone. The lantana has come back every year since the garden was first started 12 years ago and I’m happy for its color during the hottest part of the summer. Too bad about your Gaura. I just started growing it last year and it doesn’t do as well as it does in other gardens I’ve visited, so I keep trying it in different places. Happy gardening!
Fascinating! While we clearly have an inclination for the same flowers you are around two months ahead of me here in the hills of North Wales. I very much like your meditation circle.
Thanks for your comments Elizabeth. So happy you stopped by today as it gave me a chance to discover your interesting blog. You have beautiful vistas.