Wednesday 15 August 2012

Bloom Day! Already?

It's bloom day again!? I feel like bloom days come oh so very fast. But alas we are in the high summer and bloom days around this time of year are the happiest of all (sorry springtime lovers).  Well I think high summer bloom day is exciting because tomorrow will be high summer foliage follow-up.  And while I could get on a rant about how I'm getting anxious about the half way point of August, I have decided to reclaim September!  THAT IS RIGHT! SEPTEMBER IS STILL SUMMER!!! Sorry I just had to get that off my chest.  I'm on somewhat of a campaign I guess you could say.  Reclaiming September as summer is near and dear to my heart. With that, here are some high summer August bloom day updates....


This is my shadiest hosta and still blooming!! notice the scorched ferns behind? Well, it has actually been quite the chore to keep even native plants alive right now with all this heat.  Temperatures are supposed to be near 100F for the next three days here in my neck of the woods.


Hydrangea 'Limelight.' I actually had no idea what this was until a few days ago at Maple Leaf Garden Centre in North Vancouver when I saw one for sale.  It's always nice to solve those mystery plant questions.

It has an incredible chartreuse and white coloration...

These blue hydrangeas are turning hard and crispy right now.... This only strengthens my cause that we ought to stick with a more mediterranean feel in the garden.  The yucca nearby doesn't mind at all.

One of my aloes sent out another bloom! This is the year that aloes just keep on giving.  Now I just have to keep the darn squirrels away.

Echeveria blooms...

Apparently the scheffster doesn't like all this heat either. Its blooms have been all flopsy.  This, however is an improvement to last week.  They seemed to have perked up ever so slightly.




ALOHA!!!!! Aloha lily that is, or Eucomis 'Leia.'  I'm so happy that this little thing is doing so well. I was given it as a gift on my birthday last summer and absolutely love it! Thanks Jen and Elijah!

It's not in full bloom yet, but right now they look like baby pineapples!

Crocosmia are doing well here in this super shady spot.  The musa basjoo doesn't seem to mind much either.  It is much smaller than it would otherwise be if it got some sunshine, but I think it has a lush tropical feel.

Hydrangeas in the front garden are doing much better. This spot gets only morning and early afternoon sun so it misses that intense mid afternoon summer heat. Yes, I love that I am talking about intense heat in the PNW.



I love this one! I have no idea which hydrangea it is, but its beautiful.



And the hanging baskets are in their full summer glory. I think this is where the most investment to flowers goes. Each year, selecting the perfect hanging basket has become somewhat of a tradition.

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11 comments:

  1. Heather/xericstyle15 August 2012 at 18:00

    HANGING BASKET IS GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!! and everything else too Louis. That aloha lily is so coooool!

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    1. Louis15 August 2012 at 20:46

      thanks. we have quite a few like that and they just add so much happiness and colour. As for the aloha lily, I KNOW :) ... its my fav!!!

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  2. Chaparral Earth16 August 2012 at 06:34

    We have quite a few succulants here in Sweden which grow perfectly well all year round even in winter where the climate and darkness really suck. The Ökenliv (Desert Life) 2012 theme this year has highlighted many plants that make it through the climate here.

    Is that Crocosmia under the Banana tree ? We have the deep red *Lucifer' here everywhere in and among flower plantings. Wish they'd change the name to Scarlet sword or something else. Very nice tropical feel in those pics.


    --

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    1. Louis16 August 2012 at 09:59

      I was reading your desert life posts and that is really amazing stuff you have going on there!

      That is crocosmia under my banana tree. It is such a beautiful plant and a few years ago was the "it" plant so to speak. Because of that, you see it in almost every garden. I agree the name is a bit ominous.

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    2. Chaparral Earth16 August 2012 at 11:16

      When I was researching it some time ago, I read where a certain variety has gotten loose and become invasive up there in the Pacific Northwest. It is such a tropical looking plant.

      Yes I had done some plant theme substition searching to mimic desert landscape without really having desert plants. The Magnolia and Paperbark Acer (Maple) look promising and I'm going looking for them this week. I'm tired of lawns and other weedy looks here.

      -

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  3. outlawgardener16 August 2012 at 08:26

    Beautiful blooms as always, Louis!

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    1. Louis16 August 2012 at 10:01

      Thanks! there are not too many blooms in my garden as compared to others. But I do what I can.

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  4. Landbohaven16 August 2012 at 10:27

    Jeg kom tilfældigt forbi din blog.
    Tak for de gode billeder af dine mange smukke blomster.
    Ha´ en dejlig aften.

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    1. Louis16 August 2012 at 12:44

      Thank you or 'mange tak' (isn't that Danish for thank you?)

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  5. danger garden16 August 2012 at 10:50

    I had no idea you were such a Hydrangea lover! That blue one that you've got no clue about looks just like mine...did you inherit yours too?

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    1. Louis16 August 2012 at 12:42

      I waffle on my feelings about hydrangea. I do absolutely love their flowers... Especially cutting them off and bringing them indoors for some colour. They make for beautiful arrangements. That blue one is inherited.

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