The Last Roses Of Summer?

Each year for the past several years I get one beautiful flush of bloom and then the attack begins.  They are my foe the Japanese Beetles scheduled to show themselves about the fourth of July.

Pink Meidiland is a graceful shrub rose that looks like it is dancing all summer.  If you want a nice rounded bush this is not the rose for you, but it works wonderful in a full border.

Carefree Beauty is another free form shrub rose, grows tall and arching and excels in the middle part of the border with other plantings to keep it tamed.

Carefree Delight shrub rose graces the back of the border blooming in clusters.  I think the border is my favorite place to grow roses, looking very natural with a variety of shapes and colors around them.

All The Rage is a front of the border rose with glossy green leaves and blooms the entire summer, more resistant to those beetles.

Cinco de Mayo is an award winner, smokey in color and peeks out from many other plantings.

Mary Rose is a very fragrant David Austin Shrub rose, middle of the border and reblooms throughout the summer.  The beetles do like this one, maybe the fragrance!

The Knockouts never disappoint this one being Rainbow, my favorite.

 

The original Knockout combination of single and doubles

 

Knockout Blush

 

 

Knockout Pink

 

 

Home Run Red is part of the new generation beyond Knockouts, also more resistant to beetle damage.

 

Home Run Pink

 

 

Around The Garden

I should have a sign "Under Construction" on my blog like they do on websites in progress.  My kitchen has been torn apart for the past few weeks and has a few more to go before completed.  The only place that looks decent right now is the garden.

Henryi and Miss Bateman blooming together both Type II's

 

Geranium Magnificum

 

Krinkled White Peony

 

Iris Caesar's Brother

 

Clematis Fireworks on the pergola, Type II

I will cut this down to about six inches when done blooming, new growth will get some rebloom and will not get cut down again until next summer.  I treat all of my Type II's to a haircut and some food when they are done blooming.  This makes for a much fuller plant and less woodiness.

Rouge Cardinal Clematis

My first Type III to bloom

 

 

Geranium Karmina

 

The geraniums blooming now do not rebloom but they are worth having in the spring garden.

 

Ninebark Summer Wine

 

Tor Spirea

This one is a keeper, unlike any other spirea, low maintenance and beautiful three season interest.

 

Heuchera Pinot Gris

Strong growing variety, keeps it's color all four seasons, first to bloom

 

Heuchera Villosa Purpurea

This is the daddy of all of the new Villosas in the foreground, beautiful flowers, Southern Comfort in the back

 

Allium Schubertii

Unique, twelve inch globes

I grow this with new bulbs each year, don't always come back the same size.

 

Allium Star Of Persia

This is a fall planted bulb that is not that easy to find but certainly worth the effort, first saw this at Northwind Perennial Farm in Wisconsin.  It blooms late spring and early summer, a great layering plant as it dies down to let others put on a show.

 

Rainbow Knockout

 

This is the earliest of all my roses, hope to get back with a rose show next week!

 

 

 

Early Bird Bloomers

We all expect our spring bloomers to be considered early bloomers but it is an added bonus to plan for unexpected perennials that bloom when the bulbs have barely finished.

Bourbon Clematis (Type II)

This is a shorter clematis (about six feet), perfect for an obelisk or tuteur in the garden bed.

 

Clematis Multi-Blue (Type II)

This is another shorter one that will grow in part shade and has a wonderful lighter green leaf.

 

Clematis Bee's Jubilee (Type II)

 

Looks great growing up the pergola with Fireworks!

 

Clematis Fireworks (Type II)

 

Clematis Miss Bateman (Type II)

 

Clematis Dr. Rupple (Type II)

 

 

I love the Type II clematis for their large flowers and early blooms, but you are taking a chance when you grow them.  I have several others that the rabbits got to during the winter and cut to the ground.  When this happens they still will regrow but will bloom later and with a much smaller bloom.

 

My method with Type II's is to cut them down after the first flush of blooms, they regrow during the summer months and stand during the winter.  I then trim them lightly in the spring only cutting off any dead wood.  I will remember to spread my granular critter repellent this fall.

 



 Geranium Max Frei

The is an early blooming mounding geranium that looks great along pathways but does not bloom all summer!  I was almost ready to do away with it when someone suggested that I do some interplanting of summer annuals .  I have chosen to do some New Guinea Impatiens since part of the border is in part shade.  We will see how this works out.  It is such a great looking geranium I would hate to take it out.

 

Geranium Lancastriense Striatum

I almost gave us on this one that I brought from my last home almost ten years ago.  This is the best it has every looked!  Also, this is not a geranium that blooms all summer so it does require some interplanting.

 

Brunnera Angel Wings

This is not a Brunnera I would have chosen but it has grown into a beautiful specimen with a multitude of light blue flower sprays.

 

Brunnera Jack Frost

This one is a favorite because of its leaf variegation which lasts all summer.

 

Heucherella Stoplight

 

Heucherella Sweet Tea

 

Heucherellas blooms much earlier than Heucheras and are more tolerant of the heat.

 

Heucherella Stoplight on the north side growing in much more shade

 

Weigela Wine and Roses

Surprising to see it blooming so early!

 

Zinnia Magellan Coral

I grew these from seed indoors and they are already very large and blooming!

 

 

 

 



Assessment

This is the time of year that I begin to decide what has been worth growing for the following year and the plants that I will give another year to prove themselves!

Pagoda Dogwood

Definitely a winner of a small tree, I keep it pruned up so that I can grow plants under it.  It likes an acid fertilizer and tolerates moisture.

 

Azalea Karen

This is a wonderful addition to a garden, evergreen, tolerates the cold more than most azaleas

 

Amsonia Northwind Select

The jury is still out on this one as it is not on the market and grown by Northwind Perennial Farm in Wisconsin.  It is larger this year than ever and I will cut it to about six inches when done flowering.  We will see how it fills out and turns that wonderful yellow color in the fall.

 

 Hycinthnoides Hispanica Excelsior

 

Brunnera Angel Wings

I didn't like this one at first but have come to appreciate its very large size and multitude of flowers.

 

Brunnera Jack Frost

This is one that lasts the whole summer with large leaves and color, blue flowers in the spring.

 

Variegated Solomon's Seal

This is a real winner, lasts all season into the fall with yellow color at the end of the season.

 

Hosta Patriot

A wonderful medium sized hosta with thicker leaves that repel the slugs and will grow in part sun and add a vibrancy to a shady area.

 

Hosta Paul's Glory

I love the way this hosta changes colors as it goes through the seasons.

 

Heucherella Stoplight

Heat tolerant, striking in the garden and will take quite a bit of sun

 

Dicentra Spectablis with Jack Frost Brunnera

 

Heuchera Southern Comfort

One of my favorite Heucheras, a multitude of colors throughout the season