Tag Archives: White Dome Hydrangea

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day: July 15, 2014

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Cool temps and plenty of rain.  That’s the kind of summer we have been having so far as we enter the middle of July.   That means the gardens are green and full of blooms.  Here is what is blooming today on Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day: July, 2014.

Day lilies, white clematis, Jean Davis lavender greeting everyone at the entrance to the Secret Garden.

Day lilies, white clematis, Jean Davis lavender greeting everyone at the entrance to the Secret Garden.

Looking east in the Secret Garden. Great Expectations is blooming.

Looking east in the Secret Garden. Great Expectations is blooming.

White Dome hydrangea, Rosie Returns day lily, Cool Cat catmint, various cone flowers.

White Dome hydrangea, Rosie Returns day lily, Cool Cat catmint, various cone flowers.

Rosie Returns day lily on the left, First Knight is the yellow lily across the path, crocosmia near the garden lady.

Rosie Returns day lily on the left, First Knight is the yellow lily across the path, crocosmia near the garden lady.

A visitor in the Secret Garden. She is welcome anytime.

A visitor in the Secret Garden. She is welcome anytime.

First Knight

First Knight

The hosta bed in the front garden under the magnolia tree.

The hosta bed in the front garden under the magnolia tree.

My favorite un-named day lily.

My favorite un-named day lily.

Plum Pudding catching an extra petal (and a katydid nymph)

Plum Pudding catching an extra petal (and a katydid nymph)

Rosie Returns also wants to go the extra mile and add an extra petal and sepal.

Rosie Returns also wants to go the extra mile and add an extra petal and sepal.

The hydrangeas are doing far better than I expected since the park removed a maple tree that gave them so much shade.

The hydrangeas are doing far better than I expected since the park removed a maple tree that gave them so much shade.

In the Lower Garden, the Zagreb Coreopsis is blooming. I cut back the geranium but it still has some lovely blue flowers on it. That's Strawberry Candy under the Rose of Sharon.

In the Lower Garden, the Zagreb Coreopsis is blooming. I cut back the geranium but it still has some lovely blue flowers on it. That’s Strawberry Candy under the Rose of Sharon.

Prince of Midnight day lily.

Prince of Midnight day lily.

Crocosmia in the Secret Garden

Crocosmia in the Secret Garden

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day, July 15, 2013

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Crocosmia adds such a wonderful pizazz to the day lily bed. I love the way it drapes over the Garden Lady.

Crocosmia adds such a wonderful pizazz to the day lily bed. I love the way it drapes over the Garden Lady.

The temps rose yesterday to 90 degrees, but the heat isn’t unexpected.  And, we are not experiencing a drought like last year.  July blooms are on schedule and it seems like the whole garden is making up for last year.  The cherry tree is still full of gorgeous red tart cherries.  In fact, I picked 4 cups last night and made a cherry crisp.  Last year I didn’t even bother with picking.  The early warmth and subsequent freeze killed last years crop.

Blooming in the garden right now:

First Knight day lily, one of my favorites.

First Knight day lily, one of my favorites.

Zagreb Coreopsis and rose campion that a neighbor gave me years ago.

Zagreb Coreopsis and rose campion that a neighbor gave me years ago.

A few white clematis keep blooming. I didn't get much of a show this year, but will take whatever I can get from this lovely vine.

A few white clematis keep blooming. I didn’t get much of a show this year, but will take whatever I can get from this lovely vine.

The Garden Lady is framed in day lilies and crocosmia. The is the view from the entrance of the Secret Garden.

The Garden Lady is framed in day lilies and crocosmia. The is the view from the entrance of the Secret Garden.

Annabelle Hydrangea putting on a great show. Last year Annabelle did not do much because of the heat.

Annabelle Hydrangea putting on a great show. Last year Annabelle did not do much because of the heat.

White Dome hydrangeas and Zagreb coreopsis in the lower garden.

White Dome hydrangeas and Zagreb coreopsis in the lower garden.

This is about as blue as this variegated lace cape hydrangea gets. Each year I ammend the soil with acid and it never seems to be enough.

This is about as blue as this variegated lace cape hydrangea gets. Each year I ammend the soil with acid and it never seems to be enough.

The Francis Williams hostas in the front garden are starting to bud. Behind them are the White Dome hydrangeas that are in full lacy bloom.

The Francis Williams hostas in the front garden are starting to bud. Behind them are the White Dome hydrangeas that are in full lacy bloom.

I removed a lot of the Strawberry Candy day lilies in the front when I took out the Pana Rhododendrons. This is one of the only clumps left.

I removed a lot of the Strawberry Candy day lilies in the front when I took out the Pana Rhododendrons. This is one of the only clumps left.

Newly planted just a month ago, the Walker's Low catmint is doing very well in the entrance garden.

Newly planted just a month ago, the Walker’s Low catmint is doing very well in the entrance garden.

Red Knockout rose in the rose medallion seems to not only avoid disease, but Japanese beetles. Yes, they've arrived for their yearly feast.

Red Knockout rose in the rose medallion seems to not only avoid disease, but Japanese beetles. Yes, they’ve arrived for their yearly feast.

Limelight Hydrangea is just starting to bloom.

Limelight Hydrangea is just starting to bloom.

Nameless dark lily doesn't seem to be quite so dark this year.

Nameless dark lily doesn’t seem to be quite so dark this year.

Looking west from the eastern part of the Secret Garden. The Japanese Maple and various hostas seem happy.

Looking west from the eastern part of the Secret Garden. The Japanese Maple and various hostas seem happy.

Stitch in Time Hosta is starting to bloom.

Stitch in Time Hosta is starting to bloom.

Francee, Stained Glass, June, Great Expectations, and various heuchera.

Francee, Stained Glass, June, Great Expectations, and various heuchera.

Barbara Mitchell day lily in the Secret Garden.

Barbara Mitchell day lily in the Secret Garden.

Day lilies and crocosmia in a riot of bloom.

Day lilies and crocosmia in a riot of bloom.

My Sweet Rose day lily.

My Sweet Rose day lily.

Lavender Doll day lily, Cool Cat Nepetha, Jean Davis Lavender, purple cone flower from a friend, White Dome hydrangea.

Lavender Doll day lily, Cool Cat Nepetha, Jean Davis Lavender, purple cone flower from a friend, White Dome hydrangea.

Purple cone flower just starting to bloom.

Purple cone flower just starting to bloom.

Fragrant Angel echanacea with a friendly bumblebee.

Fragrant Angel echanacea with a friendly bumblebee.

Zagreb coreopsis and a purple coneflower that isn't sure what she is supposed to look like. But she's blooming in her own unique way.

Zagreb coreopsis and a purple coneflower that isn’t sure what she is supposed to look like. But she’s blooming in her own unique way.

Purple coneflower from a friend and Fragrant Angel echinacea.

Purple coneflower from a friend and Fragrant Angel echinacea.

Marigolds and purple petunias great me at the back door.

Marigolds and purple petunias greet me at the back door.

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day

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Mid-June is such a wonderful garden moment, and this year it is particularly so.  We’ve had a slower spring than last year and the garden seems to be grateful for this leisurely pace. 

White Dawn rose climbing up the chimney in the entrance garden.

White Dawn rose climbing up the chimney in the entrance garden.

Walker's Low Catmint newly planted in the entrance garden. Those are yellow cannas behind it.

Walker’s Low Catmint newly planted in the entrance garden. Those are yellow cannas behind it.

Perennial geranium that, even when propped up by a frame, gets leggy and flops.

Perennial geranium that, even when propped up by a frame, gets leggy and flops.

White Carpet Rose in the lower garden

White Carpet Rose in the lower garden

Red Knock Out Rose in the rose medallion in the lower garden

Red Knock Out Rose in the rose medallion in the lower garden

White Dome Hydrangeas just beginning to bloom, with a red canna

White Dome Hydrangeas just beginning to bloom, with a red canna

Annabelle Hydrangea full of buds with marigolds and a new purchase from the Reed's Lake Art Fair

Annabelle Hydrangea full of buds with marigolds and a new purchase from the Reed’s Lake Art Fair

Hansa Rose in the Secret Garden with Crazy Daisy Shastas just starting to open.

Hansa Rose in the Secret Garden with Crazy Daisy Shastas just starting to open.

The last of the white poppies in the Secret Garden with Jean Davis Lavender beginning to open

The last of the white poppies in the Secret Garden with Jean Davis Lavender beginning to open

East Friesland Salvia, Cool Cat Catmint, and Jean Davis Lavender

East Friesland Salvia and Jean Davis Lavender

East Friesland Slavia and Rose Campion given to me by a neighbor several years ago.

East Friesland Slavia and Rose Campion given to me by a neighbor several years ago.

Kousa Dogwood in full bloom, with Caramel Coral Bells

Kousa Dogwood in full bloom, with Caramel Coral Bells

A double flowering mock orange that is pretty but has very little scent, with the last of the very fragrant James McFarlane lilacs

A double flowering mock orange that is pretty but has very little scent, with the last of the very fragrant James McFarlane lilacs and Blue Ice Amsonia

Chocolate Ruffles Heuchera in the Secret Garden under the Kousa

Various Heucheras in the Secret Garden under the Kousa

Peaking out behind the Francee Hostas are a few late Bleeding Hearts in the Secret Garden

Peaking out behind the Francee Hostas are a few late Bleeding Hearts in the Secret Garden

New Dawn Rose climbing along a fence and into the old dogwood in the Secret Garden

New Dawn Rose climbing along a fence and into the old dogwood in the Secret Garden

A single white clematis flowering on the arbor.

A single white clematis flowering on the arbor.

The little bed near the back door. The nameless white rambling rose came from a neighbor a number of years ago.

The little bed near the back door. The nameless white rambling rose came from a neighbor a number of years ago.

Feeling the Blues

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I know that on my Blotanical profile I say that red is my favorite color in the garden.  But I also love those blues.  And the gardens are singing the sweet blues today.  The Hidcote Lavender (lavendula angustifolia hidcote) is in full bloom and so is the Jean Davis Lavender (lavendual angustifolia cv. Jean Davis), which is pink.  But never mind.  The Endless Summer (hydrangea macrophylla endless summer) hydrangeas are sorta kinda blue.

Endless Summer Hydrangea

I still haven’t gotten the right amount of acid applied to the soil around several of them.  The Nikko Blue (hydrangea macrophylla nikko blue) is anything but blue.

But the perennial geranium is bravely battling its way through the White Dome (arborescens ‘dardom’) hydrangeas and showing off its bright blue blooms.  These are especially pretty against the white lace caps.

But I’ve noticed something.  Or, more accurately, I have NOT noticed something.  There seem to be fewer bees humming around the hydrangeas.  It may be the weather has been too wet or too cool.   I’ve seen honey bees, but very few carpenter or bumble bees.  Bumble bees are social, but carpenter bees are solitary so  don’t think there was a hive collapse, primarily because carpenter bees don’t live in a hive.  I wonder if they were victims of our hard winter.

Perennial Geranium Amongst the White Dome Hydrangeas

Royal Candles Veronica With Lady's Mantle

The Royal Candles Veronica (Veronica spicata royal candles) is a pretty backdrop for the Lady’s Mantle.

But perhaps the big news of the day is that the first of the day lilies bloomed today.  Hemerocallis ‘Crystal Pinot’ wins the race.  I suspect others will pop open within the next few days.

The red carpet rose is also blooming.  And, it’s looking splendid against two perennial geraniums in the Secret Garden. I wish I had recorded this variety of perennial geranium. It blooms a little later, but is so nicely behaved.  Unlike the unnamed geranium in the lower garden, this variety doesn’t get leggy and flop.

I am totally in love with the rose campion (lychnis coronaria).  It doesn’t live very long, at least in my garden, but I’m willing to replant it every few years just for the lovely velvety grey foliage and the vibrant pink blooms.  It sits in my lower garden where I can see it from my kitchen widow.  I have a little desk in front of that window and often pop open my laptop and work there.  Since there are bird feeders outside the window, the cat usually joins me.

Rose Campion With Pigmy Barberry

Perennial Geranium With Red Carpet Roseflop.

Crystal Pinot Day Lily

A Rain Blessed June

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Tuesday evening we got more than four inches of rain within about 30 minutes.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen that much rain fall so fast.  But it’s been a rainy June and the garden is almost too lush.  I’ve thinned some of the hostas already and no one would know.  The New Dawn climber is threatening to take over the fence.  And, actually, I don’t care.  I pruned the lilacs in hopes of getting more blooms next year and to give the climber some breathing room.

Lilies in the Center Island (and one calico cat)

New Dawn Climbing Rose

The Japanese Maple really filled out!

Friesland Salvia, Cool Cat Catmint, Liatris

The Lady waits for the daylilies

White Dome Hydrangea

The cherries are almost ready to pick!

Tribumphant Hostas: Stained Glass, Dream Weaver, Great Expectations, June, and Regal Splendor