The tall lupin like foliage of Baptisia ‘Purple Smoke’

Tomorrow my Lewisia is being potted up

( Thank you Grace for the pep-talk!)

Amsonia ‘Blue Ice’ has become a huge seller

The rain brings out the best of Hakuro Nishiki’s

pink ribbon catkins!

I have read of Botanical gardens that highlight a specific genus!

How exciting would it be to create a Corydalis garden?
( Easy there Teza!)

I love the foliage of

Filipendula ulmaria ‘Aurea’

and cannot wait for it to

attain it’s mature height of 2.5m

This is but one of the plants that will be

divided this fall. I know that Joy will be

happy to offer one a new home!

The Thalictrum are all very happy this year!

Helleborus hybrida ‘Mrs. Betty Ranicar‘ is

my first double.

Can you spot the aphids?

Sometimes the camera has a mind of it’s own!

Campanula latifolia ‘Macrantha‘ is a tall

and statuesque plant with light mauve to pink

upward facing bell shaped flowers!

Cotinus coggygria ‘Grace’ foliage is

a wonderful treat after the rain!

Campanula ‘Sarastro‘ is a rambunctious

spreader, but I love the combination of

pleated jewels (before opening) and their

true regal glory once they have opened. This

one will bloom prolifically for the next two months,

bringing a rich icy purple to the Shaded Walk.

‘Don’t you forget about me!’

In two months time, large white mop-top flowers of

Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ will greet visitors to the gardens

The only rose in Teza’s Garden

I love the foliage of Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Woodside Gold’

and recently discovered it is a wonderful

contrast for Corydalis elata!

(but already the leaf miners are up to their dirty work!)

The latest but most prolific bloomer of the bunch -

Corydalis elata amid the foliage of

Tricyrtis ‘Tojen‘

No Grace, I’m no Salvia but I sure could pass as one! I think

you need to add me to your gardens.

(Dracocephalum ruyschianum.)

Hosta ‘Nigrescens‘ has maintained

it’s true upright

vase shape growth habit.

The whorled flowers of
Salvia viticella ‘Purple Rain’

The companion planting of Cassia marilandica

combines well with the unique whorls of the Salvia. I can
hardly wait to see how tall the Cassia will reach

this season!

I could spend hours documenting the

wonderful foliage patterns of this

plant alone!

Raindrops on Penstemon is

one of this gardener’s

Favourite Things!

( Come on, hum along!)

I’m struggling with whether to relocate

the Cornus alternifolia ‘Golden Shadows’

and replace it with it’s more regal cousin

Cornus alternifolia ‘Argentea’ which has

green and white variegated foliage with a

decidedly denser, tiered growth habit that

resembles a wedding cake at maturity!

It grows to be 3m tall and wide

Any comments or suggestions?

It has rained on and off all day, no torrential downpours, just a gentle caressing rain that leaves the garden looking cool and refreshed. I’m the odd duck in the pond in the sense that I welcome this cooler, damp weather. Of course tonight, while admiring the statuesque stems of Campanula latifolia ‘Macrantha’, I discovered the stems were almost black with aphids! This is one of the pitfalls of cool, damp weather.

They seem to come out in droves, and are entirely selective with the plants they choose to infest! I haven’t used sprays of any kind – including the home made remedies – as it’s my belief that I’ve encroached upon Mother Nature long enough, and if a few plants provide nourishment for hungry insects – a fair shake of the cards for me. I try and include a few ’sacrificial’ plants each year…… BUT, this year may see the dishsoap and water as even the leaves of my beloved Kirengeshoma seem to have fallen victim! On the other hand, I was shocked not be to inundated with slugs this year…… cool, wet, with lots of large foliage plants to hide and slither amongst….. knock on wood! I think the presence of a family of toads is assisting me with their diligence, for which I am most grateful.

It’s hard to believe that tomorrow will herald in the month of July! As Grace said in response to my last post that included a photo of a hail shower….’Where the hail has the Summer gone?’ I, over the years have discovered that while I love to witness the full-tilt summer burgeoning of the ‘children,’ I am really patiently awaiting Fall. I love the last ‘all-or-nothing’ floral or foliage display that most plants bring forth! The fiery colours on the Disanthus cercidifolius and Fothergilla gardenii ‘Blue Mist’ are enough to make my heart soar. And who can forget the gorgeous helmet shaped blue-purple flower racemes of Aconitum! Alas, I musn’t rush the season, and admit there is still a lot of interesting things happening in the gardens.

Next year…… it’s always next year…. but I seriously have to consider cleaning out the back six feet of the Shaded Walk. Right now it’s a holding spot for leaf compost, pots, a dilapitated folding table that held my perennial divisions and new purchases last year! I waited too long, as I have to be able to walk from the front of the house to be able to lug things forward, and well. once the children started their growth spurts……. it was next to impossible to traverse the narrow space without being able to see where I was going. Sound like a plausible excuse to you? Alas, thus ends my month-end musings from Teza’s Garden

4 Responses to “Dear Diary: Musings for the Last Day of June”

1. Grace Peterson on July 1st, 2009 7:10 am

   Hi Teza~~ One must never underestimate the soothing effects of green. And green with raindrops, even better. But what is the maroon foliaged plant in the fourth photo? Looks like it could be a begonia but I'm not sure you're the begonia type. Your Lewisia looks far better than mine and they're native here. How gracious of you to interpret my bossiness as pep talk. LOL I'm going to be on the lookout for Campanula latifolia. If it's as elusive as C. lactiflora, it's going to be a difficult search. Ditto for Dracocephalum. Your Cornus tree does look to be perhaps too close to the house. You could always move it to a container. This might help keep it from getting so big… I'm finding aphids on everything this year. Even sedums!

2. Sylvia (England) on July 1st, 2009 11:53 am

   In the UK we have the NCCPG (National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens) which have a National Plant Collection scheme with collection holders all over the country. Looking at their web site there are two holders of Corydalis collection but they are both private gardens and there isn't very much information, but you can email them. The web site is http://www.nccpg.com.

   Best wishes Sylvia

3. Anonymous on July 3rd, 2009 1:20 am

   Teze where would you purchase your new Cornus? I live in Peterborough and they are not easy to locate. Willing to travel to get one. Love your pictures!

   Dale

4. Teza on July 3rd, 2009 11:48 am

   Dale:
   That's the problem.Falling in love with something but not being able to find it! I know of one specialty nursery near Acton, Ontario that usually carries them. Otherwise, I know of a mail order nursery in BC that lists them. Thanks for visiting and the compliment!

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