I had planted a new white bed this summer.
The cleome and nicotiana are in full bloom now.
The acidanthera (peacock flower) and nicotiana have a lovely perfume in the evening.
I would say the white bed has been a success this year.
The annuals are really outgrowing the perennials, so we’ll have to see what next year brings.
I have been trying all summer to get some pictures of the hummingbirds that visit the fuchsia.
It is not easy to follow them with the telephoto lens, nor to get them in focus.
But a few turned out reasonably well, so enjoy!
My reblooming lilac is actually reblooming.
Bloomerang® Purple Reblooming Lilac Syringa
It is a more delicate and airy lilac than my regular lilacs.
I deadheaded and trimmed a bit after the first blooming.
The plant really filled out this summer, so I hope next spring there is a great show of colour.
It’s a treat to see lilacs again in August too!
I am having great success with the cleome this year.
In the white bed, they make quite a statement.
Closeup…
…really a fascinating looking plant.
I also have some pink ones, but next year I’ll be looking for the purple and darker pink ones.
Starting seeds early inside may be a little complicated – cold period, slow germination, may not transplant well.
I don’t find them easily in garden centres, so buying seeds may be my only answer.
I could plant the seeds right outside, then nature will take care of the rest.
Whatever I do, I know that cleome has become one of my new favourite annuals to grow!
I waited three years but they are actually blooming.
Five agapanthus plants made it through a very cold winter.
And then one day I saw this.
It was a bloomin’ bud!
And not only one. Three plants bloomed, with five stalks coming from the largest clump.
They slowly open up.
It is delightful to have them actually blooming, and to enjoy such a sight.
They are really pushing the zonal limit, but with lots of snow cover, it’s obviously possible.
A mystery plant showed up in the flower bed this year.
Actually two of them. Not the prettiest plant, leaves are large and not that interesting.
I thought I may have planted perennial hibiscus in that area, but that was not what this was.
They weren’t weeds I was familiar with so I let them grow to see what would appear.
This started growing out of the top.
Getting a little more interesting.
Then I remembered.
Some years ago a friend gave me seedlings of Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate or Persicaria orientalis.
I checked, and sure enough, this is one of those plants. I have no idea how it got there. I only grew those plants that one summer.
They are prolific seeders, so maybe a couple of seeds survived.
Anyway, the plant mystery is solved. I’ll see how it looks for the rest of the summer.