Perhaps it was the hot, dry spell we had, but there didn’t seem to be too much blooming the past month. Much of what is blooming is woody. Once again, identification help is welcome, as most of these were already here when I moved in. This shrub is in the bed that borders the parking pad.
Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) I am guessing this is ‘Ruby Spice’. It does smell wonderful, but I wouldn’t call it a spicy smell.
My sister bought this as ‘Reine des Violettes’, obviously not violet. She knew my daughter loves yellow roses, so gave it to her. Any guesses as to its true identity?
I am guessing ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangea, alkaline color. That in itself is interesting to me, because elsewhere on our property it is acidic enough for wild blueberries, but here, not so much.
Did you know there are now own-root David Austin roses? That means no need to
bury the graft union four inches deep. It means if your rose dies all the way back to the ground, it will come back true from the roots.
‘Strawberry Hill’, a David Austin rose
was sent to me as a trial plant last year. I potted it up, knowing I was going to move. It survived the admittedly mild winter in that pot, buried under leaves. Imagine what it will do once it gets its roots into some nice, rich soil! And it is
wonderfully fragrant.
For the past two weeks, I have seen Rose of Sharon shrubs blooming wherever I have gone, and yet this one just opened its first bud today. If I had posted for GBBD on time it wouldn’t have been in the lineup.
Which Rose of Sharon do you think this is?
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.
Tagged as:
clethra,
David Austin,
endless_summer,
hibiscus,
hydrangea,
rose of Sharon,
roses,
Strawberry Hill,
summersweet
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.
Now, the digging and dividing of perennials, the general autumn cleanup and the planting of spring bulbs are all an act of faith. One carries on before the altar of delayed gratification, until the ground freezes and you can’t do any more other than refill the bird feeder and gaze through the window, waiting for the snow. . . . Meanwhile, it helps to think of yourself as a pear tree or a tulip. You will blossom spectacularly in the spring, but only after the required period of chilling.
~Adrian Higgins
in
The Washington Post, November 6, 2013
Perhaps your Rose of Sharon is ‘Helene’, if it is not ‘Lil’ Kim’.
Oh, I think it is ‘Helene.’ It is too tall to be ‘Lil’ Kim.’ Thank you for stopping by, Les.
Lovely blooms Kathy. Simply lovely. I also grow the David Austins on their own roots. They seem to weather better.~~Dee
Your Rose of Sharon looks like it is Lil’ Kim, a newer variety that is supposed to be smaller than most. Haven’t grown it, but have been tempted. Ruby Spice clethra is great although I agree that the scent isn’t particularly spicy.
Exciting to uncover these potential treasures – I had two rose of sharon shrubs that both died during a particularly horrid winter – maybe I need to give them a try again. My under-achieving Endless Summer is just now putting out a couple buds. It stays because I like the leaves.
All lovely, Kathy. Like your daughter, I adore yellow roses, but find they are nearly impossible to identify without some very unusual characteristic. Lucky Titi! Your trial rose is sumptious! It will indeed look fabulous in the ground if it looks that good in a container.
Kathy that is Ruby Spice and I would say Endless Summer…nice shrubs to inherit.
Gee, wish I knew! Can’t wait to see what others say! In any case, you’ve got some beautiful plants at your new home. And I’m envious about the blueberries!