I don’t think a cutting garden is really supposed to look like this. A cutting garden is supposed to give each plant room to breathe. But here are scarlet bee balm, Hot Crayon Color zinnias from Renee’s Garden, bachelor’s buttons, gomphrena, and Hot Biscuits amaranth from Seed Savers looking like they are at a crowded cocktail party. Golden rod and tansy and mint in the surrounding field – all blooming.
I thought Gomphrena would be great for bouquets so I bought two six packs from LaSalle’s Florist who has wonderful bedding plants in the summer. I did not realize this is also known as globe amaranth. I stuck a couple of the plants next to the bush beans, and put one or two in planters. They have done beautifully and I plan to grow them again.
I now have four hydrangeas. I planted ‘Mothlight’ several years ago, and with very little help from me she is thriving, as you can see. I only wish the weeping birch didn’t weep right on top of her.
‘Limelight’ joined a very small oakleaf hydrangea last summer. I’m happy to say that all three hydrangeas that will make up my erstwhile hydrangea hedge are doing very well and blooming, but Pinky Winky and the oakleaf are very small still.
In the same bed with Mothlight and the weeping birch is my new ‘blue and white section.’ I took out a rampant spirea shrub and since I had no real plan for what to do next I thought I would just make sure everything was blue or white. With maybe a touch of yellow. This is not give an excellent photo. The new ‘Blue Paradise’ phlox is going by, but I think it will be more substantial in August next year. You can also see a new sulphur yellow achillea and the Stargazers. I had forgotten about that touch of pink.
I didn’t expect the new ‘Connecticut Yankees’ to do much this year, but they are making a noble effort. I can always count on Renee’s cosmos to cover a lot of ground. This section is to the left of the previous photo and now we will go still further left.
The corner of this bed is filled with two varieties of cotoneaster. I should have had faith that one type would be more than sufficient, if only I would have patience. Now they are both totally grown together and will never be separated. There was a bare spot in the corner that I filled with this pretty annual veronica from LaSalle’s. It is very similar to the ‘Blue Eyes” veronica, an old variety, that came to me at a plant swap years ago as ‘blue eyed grass’ so I planted it in the lawn where it has spread, but rarely blooms because of the mowing. I promised myself I would dig up a little bit and put it in a more perennial spot, but I haven’t done it yet.
Achillea ‘The Pearl’ is such a depandable and useful plant, in the garden and in arrangements. You can see one little pink dianthus that I had gotten at the Bridge of Flowers plant sale. Julie said it would bloom and bloom. And it has. It is a lovely little thing. Other cheddar pinks are also still putting out a few bloom.
I don’t know what this little Champlain (Canadian Explorer) rose is doing blooming at this time of year, especially since it is about to be eaten up by the Apart rugosa that has sent new shoots out. Right here.
I was also stunned to see this one blossom of Linda Campbell, a rose in the Sunken Garden, that I thought had died years ago – along with almost everything else in the Sunken Garden. I will dig this up in the fall, and I think I will put it on the Rose Bank.
At the top edge of the Sunken Garden is a partial hedge of Rugosa alba. This plant hopped down from above,
and this one looks like it is trying to make the leap. It sure shows how tenacious rugosas and their roots are!
She doesn’t have a lot of blooms at this time of the year, but I really like Pink Grootendorst. She is on the new Rose Bank and has grown immensely since I planted her last year – just as I had hoped. Double Red Knockouts are also blooming on the Rose Bank.
Saltwater Taffy Swirl sweet peas from Renee got off to a slow start, but they are beautiful right now. Fragrant, too.
I love having morning glories right outside the window where we can see them in the morning. Going strong.
This ‘Terra Cotta’ achillea has been going strong too. I have pink achilleas in the Lawn Beds and a deep pink in the Herb Bed. Of course, there is wild white yarrow growing by the roadsides. Along with Queen Anne’s lace.
Thomas Affleck, planted at the end of the Herb Bed last spring, has settled in nicely and has been in bloom all summer. The Fairy is another rose that blooms all summer dependably. I have two, one in each Lawn Bed.
The Castor Bean was supposed to fill the whole circle in the middle of the lawn, but it has been slow going. Even though it has not reached a height of six or more feet as I had hoped, the color and size of the leaves still make a pretty dramatic impact.
I think every perennial garden should have phlox. This is a nameless pink phlox I got at the Bridge of Flowers last year and it is magnificent. This year I bought Blue Paradise at the Bridge of Flowers sale, and my own Miss Lingaard, a white phlox, which blooms in June, is still putting out some flowers. I’ve already started thinking about what phlox I can add next year – and where I will find a place to put it. This spot in the garden is very pink, which is unusual for an August garden. In addition to the pink phlox, there are two varieties of pink cosmos, pink echinacea, a few cheddar pinks, a pink achillea and the pink The Fairy rose.
Of course the daylilies are still blooming, nastursiums and Black Beauty lilies, and pots filled with petunias, Million Bells, geraniums, annual salvia, blooming mint, oregano, and circle garlic. All of a sudden I realize August is a really good month in my garden.
I thank Carol over at May Dreams Gardens for inspiring me, and so many others to keep this record for ourselves, and let us all see how seasons progress across the country.
I love your cutting garden. Looks good to me, even better that they are all cozy neighbors. The gomphrena is one I will try also after seeing it here.
It all looks so fresh compared to mine. Hard to believe you’ve had no rain lately. Happy Bloom Day. That ‘Linda Campbell’ rose is very hardy. My friend has one she’s moved three times.~~Dee
You do not seem to be suffering from the drought like we are here Pat. Your plants all look so happy and luscious. What a colorful variety of blooms. ;>)
Hi Pat, You’ve got a lot of blooms for bloom day – I love especially your joyous cutting garden – so colorful, it’s like a bouquet in the ground 🙂
Everything looks beautiful, but the Sweet Peas are my favorite, I think. I got some seeds from a friend this week and am excited to plant them next year. That pretty Grootendurst is a new discovery. Also, I’d attend a “cocktail party” in your cutting garden any time!
I kind of like everything all squished together. Sure helps with my plentiful weeds. Your gardens are lovely and those Morning Glories… well, they always put a smile on face. Happy Bloom Day!
I am so jealous of your hydrangeas. Wish they would do well in Texas. Thanks for the tour of your lovely garden.
You really can’t beat hydrangeas. I have 7 in my tiny garden and am scheming to have more!
Your Terra Cotta yarrow is beautiful. Does it seem to be as vigorous as the white kind? I planted red and white yarrow this year, but the red yarrow only produced a few flowers and then withered, while the white yarrow produced tons of flowers and is still going.
Your cutting garden looks great to me, Pat; I like to plant things close together, too. The zinnias are so colorful and make me regret that I didn’t try re-seeding mine one more time after the seeds washed away in June. I miss having them this August. Lots of lovely blooms for this Bloom Day!
Donna – the crowded cutting garden does cut down on weeds, once it got going. I love all the color. Hooray for zinnias.
Dee – Rain last night! A whole quarter inch! I have hopes for Linda Campbell.
Carol – I am so grateful for even the little bit of rain last night.
Cyndy – I was surprised to see how much is going on in August. And we haven’t even mentioned the weeds!
Jen – I am entering the sweet peas in the Heath Fair. I think they are winners. Definitely pay attention to the Grootendorst roses. The blossoms look like they were crossed with dianthus.
Kate – Morning glories make me smile too.
Tufagirl – Maybe you can’t have hydrangeas, but you do have GIANT castor beans. Wow!
Elizabeth – I love your garden which has so much more than hydrangeas – like my favorite roses and lilies. Even when the bloom periods are all screwy as they are this year.
Gayle – All my yarrows seem pretty indestructible. Pink, red, white, gold. Maybe there was something wrong with that one plant. Good luck with another try. I do love Terra Cotta and I’m searching for Paprika.
I enjoyed this sashay around your garden to see what is blooming. I especially liked the cocktail party even though it was a bit crowded. I can just imagine all the bouquets coming from there.
You have beautiful blooms. I love the next post on wildlife also. I once saw a fawn in the field and it reacted the same way. Not moving a muscle. Instinct is amazing isn’t it?
Oh, your garden is very neat, beautiful, and accessible- would you be interested in sharing your gardening wisdom at the Tuesday Gardening Party at http://www.anoregoncottage.com/2010/08/tuesday-garden-party-planting-for-fall.html? Would love to benefit from your participation!