Garden Bloggers Bloom Day August 2009

– Posted in: What's up/blooming
18 comments

Here are a few highlights of my August garden.

These Oriental lilies were from an unnamed mix purchased twelve years ago.

These Oriental lilies were from an unnamed mix purchased twelve years ago.

I purchased a twenty-bulb mix of Oriental lilies twelve years ago, and only a few of them remain, but they are very vigorous. I know I got them twelve years ago, because I planted them the same spring my son was born. The same spring my gall bladder acted up. It was not a very good year for getting things done in the garden, but I’m glad I planted these lilies in between gall bladder attacks and diaper changes.
My daughter Cadie planted these Grandpa Otts morning glories.

My daughter Cadie planted these Grandpa Otts morning glories.

For at least three years, my daughter Cadie has planted several different kinds of morning glories along the chicken wire fence. So far only the Grandpa Otts is blooming. Maybe the others need more heat? If so, they’ll be getting it this week.
This is the first year I've managed to have Korean angelica blooming in my garden

This is the first year I've managed to have Korean angelica blooming in my garden

I’ve wanted Angelica gigas for years, and tried several times to grow it from seed without success. I read, more than once, that you need fresh seed to be successful. That usually means you have to know someone already growing it, who can give you seed as soon as it’s ripe. Last year I finally visited a gardener who was growing it. She did not give me seed, but seedlings, two of which wintered over in my garden, one of which has just started blooming. I’m hoping it will self sow here, and perhaps the other plant will bloom next year.

Complete List (or as complete as I can make it)

  • Pansies
  • Petunias
  • Malva sylvestris ex ‘Bibor Felho’
  • Lemon Cap daylily
  • Bright Eyes phlox
  • Cerise Queen yarrow
  • globe thistle
  • Six Hills Giant catmint
  • Tunic Flower
  • ‘Wanderin Wind’ rose
  • Cynanchum ascyrifolium
  • Dot Purple mountain bluet
  • hollyhocks
  • Starfire phlox
  • larkspur
  • Shirley poppies
  • ‘Lauren’s Grape’
  • peony poppies
  • black-eyed Susans, plain yellow & with rusty eye
  • Pardon Me daylily
  • Moonlight coreopsis (not Moonbeam)
  • other daylilies with forgotten names
  • Commotion blanket flowers
  • Endless Summer hydrangea
  • short little astilbe whose name I don’t know
  • Francee hosta
  • So Sweet hosta
  • Zahara yellow zinnia
  • Fantasia Cardinal Red geranium
  • Flirtation Orange diascia
  • Augusta Blue Skies nierembergia
  • Snow Princess alyssum
  • Superbena Pink Parfait verbena
  • Illusion Midnight Lace sweet potato vine
  • Red Shift coreopsis
  • Rekohu Sunrise carex
  • Illusion Emerald Lace sweet potato vine
  • Darla Light Pink diascia
  • red glads
  • Zebrina mallow
  • perennial flax
  • sunflowers the chipmunks planted
  • the frozen dahlia
  • golden feverfew
  • Joe Pye weed (native; growing wild)
  • goldenrod
  • white aster, maybe white wood aster
  • Geranium sanguineum var striatum
  • White Wonder feverfew seed donated by Renees Garden
  • orange and yellow jewelweed (native; growing wild)
  • ornamental peppers
  • Johnny-jump-ups
  • Grandpa Ott’s morning glories
  • Blue Stocking bee balm
  • creeping bellflower
  • Sneezeweed yarrow
  • flowering tobacco
  • Henry lily
  • Rose of Sharon shrub

Inspired by the words of Elizabeth Lawrence, “We can have flowers nearly every month of the year,” Carol of May Dreams Gardens started Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. On the 15th of every month, garden bloggers from all over the world publish what is currently blooming in their gardens, and leave a link in Mr. Linky and the comments of May Dreams Gardens.

About the Author

Kathy Purdy is a colchicum evangelist, converting unsuspecting gardeners into colchicophiles. She gardens in rural upstate NY, which used to be USDA Hardiness Zone 4 but is now Zone 5. Kathy’s been writing since 4th grade, gardening since high school, and blogging since 2002. Find her on Instagram as kopurdy.

In the end, this may be the most important thing about frost: Frost slows us down. In spring, it tempers our eagerness. In fall, it brings closure and rest. In our gotta-go world–where every nanosecond seems to count–slowness can be a great gift. So rather than see Jack Frost as an adversary, you could choose to greet him as a friend.

~Philip Harnden in A Gardener’s Guide to Frost: Outwit the Weather and Extend the Spring and Fall Seasons

Comments on this entry are closed.

Fig Tree September 15, 2009, 2:41 pm

That purple is amazing! Love love love it! – my grandfather’s name was Ott! ๐Ÿ™‚

Flowers August 27, 2009, 2:28 am

You have posted wonderful picture of flowers that is appreciated. Keep it up the good work. Cheers ๐Ÿ™‚

eliz August 26, 2009, 8:56 pm

It is interesting how some lilies are vigorous and others putz out after a couple seasons. With sun and well-draining soil, they should thrive, but few of us in WNY have that! I wonder if those are the Sorbonne.

Thedailyreviewer August 25, 2009, 11:37 pm

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Cheers!

Angelina…

greg draiss August 21, 2009, 8:16 am

Beautiful lilies by the roadside!
.-= greg draiss´s last blog ..A Pinch To Grow An Inch (Times 10) =-.

Donalyn August 20, 2009, 10:23 pm

I love plant memories like that. I have so many plants that someone gave me, or that I bought while on an expedition with a special gardening friend – fun fun fun! I am loving those lilies too – so gorgeous!
.-= Donalyn´s last blog ..Contrast =-.

Cindy, MCOK August 20, 2009, 1:00 pm

Kathy, I love the deep rich colors of Grandpa Ott’s. If I grew that one, it would literally pale in comparison. Our intense sun would see to that!
.-= Cindy, MCOK´s last blog ..On This August Occasion, Let Us Celebrate … =-.

Sylvana August 19, 2009, 11:25 pm

I really love the Grandpa Otts morning glories. I try to grow morning glories but get no where. They leaf out but no flowers.

Shady Gardener August 17, 2009, 11:23 pm

Kathy, It’s been too long since I’ve visited. Your collection of lilies is beautiful. The number of them really makes an impact! I’d never heard of Angelica. A 5-foot plant makes its own statement, doesn’t it? ๐Ÿ™‚
.-= Shady Gardener´s last blog ..Butterfly Kisses and Flutterby Good Wishes =-.

kate August 17, 2009, 10:39 pm

I love Grandpa Ott for its ability to grow in tight little spots. I never know where it’s going to show up. You’ve got lots of great plants in bloom. Love the lilies.

Les August 16, 2009, 7:24 pm

I would not expect that something named Granpa Otts would be so beautiful.
.-= Les´s last blog ..Boom Day – After The Deluge =-.

Kathy Purdy August 16, 2009, 10:12 pm

Les, some people say Grandpa Otts is invasive. Certainly it seems more vigorous than any of the other morning glories we planted this year. Kind of ironic, seeing as it was the first seed the Wheatleys saved, that inspired them to start the Seed Saver’s Exchange.

Linda Lehmusvirta August 16, 2009, 5:04 pm

I wish we could have lilies like that for 12 years. Since they’re not named, perhaps you should name them for your son! What a great gardening family you have.

I have an angelica here. It dies back at the first sign of heat but explodes in fall.
.-= Linda Lehmusvirta´s last blog ..From Linda: Bloom Day August 15, 2009 =-.

Kathy Purdy August 16, 2009, 10:13 pm

The lilies weren’t labeled, Linda, but they look like Stargazer and I suspect that’s what they are. And did you notice the larkspur blooming with them? That blooms for you in, what, early April?

Carol, May Dreams Gardens August 16, 2009, 11:29 am

I’ve heard of Angelica but never tried to grow it in my garden. It’s a fairly large plant, isn’t it?
.-= Carol, May Dreams Gardens´s last blog ..Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – August 2009 =-.

Kathy Purdy August 16, 2009, 10:14 pm

Yes, the blooming one is about five feet tall.

Mr. McGregor's Daughter August 16, 2009, 10:32 am

I love the mystery Lilies, they are so full and such a great color. The Angelica is gorgeous, I hope it becomes a permanent resident.
.-= Mr. McGregor’s Daughter´s last blog ..August Bloom Day -The 2d Blogaversary =-.

Muum August 15, 2009, 11:10 pm

I don’t think I’ve seen Angelica. I’ll keep an eye out for it, sounds interesting.
.-= Muum´s last blog ..Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day for August 2009 =-.