August Gardening ~ Garden Blogger's Bloom Day August 2016

The Hot Border in August

    Hello all! August this year has brought some much needed rain, which has largely improved the garden.  Yes, there is more blight on the tomatoes. But everything else is really greened up and looking less tired than it did in July. The big pruning/dead leafing in July has done its job to create a nicer garden picture that will carry us through the autumn.

Gardening in Pennsylvania ~ GBBD August 2013

Pink Anemone japonica, Spirea 'Goldflame', red Canna 'King Humbert' and white Cosmos fill the Front Walk garden this week.

Welcome to August in Pennsylvania! We have quite a few flowers this month since the Japanese anemones and meadow rues have started their long season of bloom and the black-eyed Susans are prettying the curb. Come take a walk around!

Late-Summer Improvements for the Driveway Garden

The Driveway Garden works hard through spring and early summer. (See March, April, May, June 2011.) But by July it starts to look weedy and uninspired.

I had been thinking that a "big statement" would be satisfying at this time of year. After one trip to the local nursery, I had found my statement.

In the center section of the Driveway Garden, I placed a plant I have long admired but never dared to bring home: a large-flowered hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos 'Pink Elephant'). Its pop pink blooms are 10-12 inches across. Rather like something Alice might have found in Wonderland. 

Flower buds.

A. 'Golden Jubilee' attracting a Red-Spotted Purple butterfly.

I gave this hyssop, Agastache foeniculum 'Golden Jubilee', a second look because I remembered how beautifully it performs at Rhone Street Gardens for Scott.  I have admired its brilliant blue spikes and shining chartreuse foliage. Nice balance to all the pink.

Tying this area together has been one of my challenges for the last couple of years. I like to have an almost formal sense of rhythm running through my plantings, with the odd focal point thrown in to keep things a little off kilter. I have struggled with how to have something blooming in every part of the growing season in this small area (only 2 1/2 feet deep in some spots).

Some white foliage to brighten the combo.

I first chose this dwarf miscanthus grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Dixieland') to add some white to lighten the foliage combinations. After bringing it home, I started wondering if it was the answer, at least partly, to my need for some continuity. A clump at the far left, one beside the walkway... still formulating that answer. But I am liking what I am seeing so far.

First hibiscus blooms in front of the purple butterfly bush (Buddleia hyb). 

I would still love to add some more electric colors here - red or even orange. I am liking more color punch these days.  I have already made a note on my bulb order to include some orange Lily tigrinum splendens which I hope to plant with the purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) already planted here, ala Great Dixter (Thanks for the current photos Bertie!).

We shall see how it turns out!

Hummingbird Moth

This Hemaris moth is known as a Hummingbird moth or Clearwing moth in the US (or a Bee Hawk-Moth in Britian).  There are four varieties that fly in North and South America and three in Europe.

They are so amusing to watch as they dive about because they move just like a hummingbird, hence their common name.

I first remember seeing them when I worked at the local nursery (at which I now just spend money instead of earning it).  They would hover all around the butterfly bushes (Buddleia hyb.).  I am pleased that they have visited us in our Driveway Garden the last couple of years to drink from our butterfly bush. They like to be out in the heat of the day with the butterflies.

If you have never seen one of these moths fly and are curious about it, here is a short video clip I found.

Perhaps now you will see one this summer too!