The purple coneflowers continue to multiply year over year and filled in this spot so swimmingly. In front of them are Allium that I like to think keep the critters away with their pungency and all. I also recently added a Little Bluestem ‘Standing Ovation’ here because, why not.
This vignette personifies what’s blooming all over my garden right now. Loads of bee balm, mountain mint and ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass. All have remained full proof over the years. Well that’s a bit inaccurate. The bee balm does suffer from powdery mildew, but I just cut it down and it’s like it never happened.
More Bee Balm next to a recently reseeded Ironweed. I so love reseeding perennials that I like and hate it for those I hate. Deep stuff.
More Mountain Mint that I don’t recall planting in this location. See, gardening is easy.
And all the creatures that visit here thank me.
I share pics of the Verbena every post on this blog but I can’t get enough of them. They are the gift that keeps on giving with all of the reseeding year over year. That is cash saved and that is good.
And OMG do the butterflies, bees and moths spend a lot of time here. I couldn’t get a photo without the moths getting in the way …
… while I tried to snap this …
… and this …
… and this.
I have more Joe Pye Weed than I do any other plant in my garden. And they’re all on the precipice of blooming which transforms my garden as we head into the heart of summer.
Speaking of precipices, the Button Bush just recently displayed a host of those glorious buttons. Will be kicking ass in no time.
Triple the precipice pleasure as the Ironweed are about to bloom. I went nuts planting this after seeing it on the High Line in New York City. It’s getting out of control in an awesome way …
… where it will soon light up this section of garden.
Another little bluestem fronted by ‘Sweet Kate’ Spiderwort.
Let’s take a closer look at the beautiful color on this grass. Can’t get enough.
Just one more, sorry.
For the third year in a row now, one black-eyed Susan has bloomed within this Switch Grass. It makes me happy and I cherish the symbolism. Just not sure what that symbolism is quite yet.
Very nice. Ironweed self-sows a bit too much in my garden and it is hard to remove where it’s not wanted. I just can’t keep echinacea. Voles love to eat the roots. Ditto with Baptisia. Love all the Mt. Mints. Nothing bothers them.
Deer sometimes eat the phlox but it re-blooms. I garden in Connecticut.
I love Joe Pye but mine has gotten HUGE this year. It is really overwelming the section of garden it is in. Can it be cut back next year, like a Chelsea chop to keep it manageable?
We cut ours back to the ground this spring and it is coming back. smaller blooms. Next year it will be back to its glory, it was just getting out of hand.
Everything looks lovely as usual! Love the one Black Eyed Susan in the last pic. Do you think the Mountain Mint would grow in sunny, hot, and humid Maryland?
Thank you!
Lisa from MD.
The symbolism…
Black-eyed Susan represents Justice. In this case, the single blossom symbolizes that person who, striving alone, seeks to set the world alright. While you are pondering this noble figure, listen to “Lone Justice” by Anthrax. It is not a song about flowers but it rocks anyway.
Cool.
Thank you for your work on these posts. Looks lovely….Keep it up
Been following your posts for years, great to see mature clumps and colonies now. Have you tried Vernonia ‘Iron Butterfly’? It’s a different species (lettermanii) and looks quite a bit different…short, bushy, very fine-textured foliage, but the same purple tassel flowers in miniature. It’s also one of the best plants in my garden for fall and winter interest. Keep up the good work!
Your garden looks great, thank you for sharing.
Love all the middle of summer blooms. Your grasses are so well placed, a talent I do not seem to have.