Hill Garden in July

The Hill Garden

The Hill Garden is at the front of our property by the driveway. It once was home to an old stump, but now is a hill of roses.

The Hill succession planting is coming along nicely this year. It started with the daffs in April, then the purple creeping phlox and tulips in May. There were some re-tooling weeks in June while the foliage held the scene together (see GBBD June), but soon it has burst again with Rosa 'The Fairy' and Leucanthemum superbum 'Becky' (also known as shasta daisies).  The silver of lamb's ears (Stachys byzantine) adds a needed lift to the color scheme in this area.

Rosa 'The Fairy'

 This rose has performed wonderfully for us. It is a very well-drained site. They re-bloom til Thanksgiving some years (see some photos from October 2010).  And sometimes even for the first snow! See my Fairy in the Snow photo from 2009.

I am loving the red-leaved cannas at the top of this bed this year. They seems to tie it all together, the greens of the perennials and the red of the barberry bushes.

The daisies were not as long lasting this year as I remember them being last year. Perhaps it was the lack of water this month (only 0.2 inches so far instead of the average 4 inches for July). But we enjoyed them while they lasted.  I just cut the dead blooms off last night (to above the second or third set of leaves) and may get a few to rebloom this month.

I did rather miss the mallow at the top. I think that I must have "chelsea chopped" them too late this year... or else they are just failing in the heat. See the mallows added to the Hill in 2010. Just gorgeous.

View down the entire front of the house, including the Front Woodland.

Thanks for coming in the heat for a walk around the Hill Garden.