Loving the Zinnias brightening up my large container
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.