Tuesday, July 20, 2010

July 29- August 5

In the Entry Garden you will find:
Vitex agnus-castus (Chaste Tree); this deciduous shrub has violet blue blooms from July to August; in zones 5-6, it has winter die back - often to the ground, but recovers well with up to five feet of new growth the following season




In the Show Garden:
Hydrangea paniculata Grandiflora (Panicle Hydrangea); this popular woody shrub can reach up to 25 feet, with white blooms aging to pink, prefers organically rich soil; one of the most cold- hardy hydrangeas




In the Perennial Border West;
Phlox paniculata 'Robert Poore' (Garden Phlox); a tall variety reaching two to four feet with bright deep pink flowers; known for its mildew resistance.




In the Perennial Border North:
Hibiscus 'Blue River II' (perennial hibiscus); the hardy form of hibiscus is well-known for its enormous dinner-plate size blooms for late summer displays - except for this year when it is already flowering in late July!





In the Knot Garden:
Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan' (White Coneflower); a white-flowered form of the purple coneflower, with drooping white petals surrounding a greenish-brown central cone, shown here with the native Purple Coneflower






In the Entry Garden Meadow:
Many beautiful herbaceous perennials are now at their peak in the Entry Meadow, including Liatris spicata, commonly known as Blazing Star, with spikes of magenta-purple flowers which are especially attractive to butterflies




Monday, July 12, 2010

July 12-19

In the Garden Hall Courtyard- Bank you will find:
Gentiana makinoi (Royal Blue Gentian); a summer-flowering perennial native to Japan with long-lasting blooms of royal blue which also make lovely cut flowers



In the Garden Hall Courtyard:
Platycodon grandiflorus (Balloon Flower); a long-lived perennial well known for its beautiful bell-shaped purple-blue flowers




In the Water Garden - West:
Allium sphaerocephalon (Round-headed Garlic); this drumstick allium has egg-shaped flowers in summer which start off greenn and deepen to rose, then purple




In the Water Garden - East:
Echinacea purpurea 'Green Envy' (Green Coneflower); a very distinctive selection of the purple coneflower, exhibiting an inky green central cone with petal tips of green, deepening to rose toward the centre




In the Water Garden - West:
Ligularia stenocephala 'The Rocket' (sometimes called Elephant Ears); reaching up to five feet, this perennial pond-lover prefers having its feet wet at all times, producing yellow-spiked flowers over huge leathery leaves



In the Entry Garden"
Hemerocallis 'Gentle Shepherd' (Daylily); this diploid cultivar is known for being of the best white-flowering daylilies