Garden Blogger's Bloom Day ~ July 2011

Welcome to the Mid-Summer edition of Gilmore Gardens!

After a week of rather intensive pruning and planting, the garden is ready for its start into high summer.

   The Cherry Corner garden is in its warm/hot stage, with a half-dozen different varieties of daylilies (Hemerocallis), and annual bedding filling in the front margin where the grape hyacinths began in the spring.  Heuchera 'Palace Purple' and Lysimachia punctata 'Alexander' both play the important role of grounding the daylilies, giving them a place to appear their best. Their mounded foliage also covers for the somewhat crazed fountain foliage of the Hemerocallis.

Double version of Hemerocallis fulva

Hemerocallis 'Autumn Minaret' is beautifully scented. Something like Lily of the Valley, to my nose anyway.

Unnamed red daylily

The first of the Rudebekia, Black-eyed Susans.

Close-up of Cherry Corner's annual planting.

View from Cherry Corner toward the Hill Garden

View over the Front Walk

 The Front Walk is getting its summer make-over. Red dahlias have been added already, as well as some annuals to fill in for the growing Japanese anemone plants. A few allium christophii heads still sparkle here as the nepeta is also finishing up its first bloom, awaiting a hair cut. Red-leaved cannas will soon be added. Red annuals by the front steps keep the hot colors going along the whole front of the house.

Rather a nice July 4th combination: Allium christophii, Nepeta 'Walker's Low' and red dahlias.

From the front steps to Cherry Corner.

View from Cherry Corner to the Shade Path

When transitioning from the hot summer bedding to toward the cool green backyard, the Shade Path is a good intermediary step.

The Shade Path has had its foxglove cleaning for the year, moving on to its next display.  After a few years of not being happy with the summer bedding here, I decided to try two shades of pink this year. Darked-leaved begonias with a light pink flower and magenta impatients go well with the light purple Hosta flowers. I prefer to plant my annuals in large groups or swaths, instead of in a row.

Hydrangea quercifolia blooming in front of Hostas

Close-up of Hosta, Impatients and Begonias. Japanese forest grass Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' at left.

View from the sidewalk toward the back yard. Clematis 'Lil Nell' on the gate.

Hydrangea quercifolia

White variegated Hosta and hardy ivy by the back steps.

Clematis 'Lil Nell' seed pods on the gate.

Now on to the real business of July: relaxing! What would a garden be without a green place to rest in on a hot summer's day? This is our little outdoor living room for the summer. Sometimes it has a baby pool and sprinkler, sometimes just a hammock and some library books. Having dessert by the fountain is my personal favorite. And anything is better with a few flowers!

Gerbera daisy in the pot with an asparagus fern. An overwintering success story! (Finally!!)

Thalictrum pubescens (or a meadow rue very similar) in our Back Woodland.

Geranium 'Rozanne' in the Driveway garden.

 Hope you find a cool spot to enjoy this July!

Thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting GBBD!

See more of Gilmore Gardens: 
The Hill Garden in July (Roses!)
Foliage Follow-up for July (More green spaces)