Mid to late August Blooms


annuals, August plants, Containers, Perennials, Places of Interest, Plant Material, Rockery plants / Tuesday, August 18th, 2015

Loving the Zinnias brightening up my large container

Group of Zinnias in container Orange Zinnia White zinnia Deep pink zinnia

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I write this post we are still experiencing a heat wave and I am now looking forward to some cooler temperatures so that I can get out and do some cleanup work in the garden.   We were planning on going on a camping trip but decided in the end to leave it until September and ended up going out on a few day trips.  We really enjoyed our drive along the back roads around Enderby and Armstrong.

Barn style home outside of Enderby
Barn style home outside of Enderby
Rudbeckia and Russian Sage
Large grouping of Rudbeckia and Russian Sage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In contrast we spent a day touring the vineyards in the Naramata area and particularly enjoyed lunch at Lake Breeze.   The containers at this winery are really impressive with effective use of foliage.  Love the contrast of the ornamental grass and coleus with a few orange zinnias intermixed.    The shaded lunch area is surrounded by a well maintained garden with groupings of roses and hydrangeas.  

Container Lake Breeze, variegated foliage Lake Breeze vineyard Container, Lake Breeze vineyardRoses Lake Breeze vineyard

The featured annual, namely zinnia, that I grew from seed back in March is really putting on a good show at the moment and has added an extra dimension to my large container which otherwise would look very depleted of colour.  These annuals having been constantly blooming since the beginning of July and I will most certainly grow them again next year.  

Each morning as I tour the garden I always discover something new and today, nestled in part of my gravel driveway was a clump of portulaca.  This sun-loving annual must have self seeded.  It loves dry conditions and would work very well in a rockery garden.  

Portulaca

 

 

Rockery plant - portulaca

 

 

 

 

 

Another plant that I grew from seed was the perennial malva and this too has been long-lasting and works well against the flowering phlox with its striking purple veins.  

Malva
Perennial Malva

As much as I hate to say it the garden is now in late summer stage, early fall.  Already the buds are forming on my sedum Autumn Joy and just the other day I picked up a small rosy pink chrysanthemum which I always connect with fall planting.  

Sedum (Autumn Joy)

 Buds on sedum, Autumn Joy Buds on sedum Autumn Joy 

Rosy pink chrysanthemum

I will talk further on plants suitable for the fall in another post.  Meanwhile I will continue to enjoy the summer days and further entertaining of family and friends.  

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