Summer Border

The mild winter, very warm spring, a few strong downpours and frequent showers have helped plants mature very quickly. Many of them are blooming earlier than their normal time, creating an explosion of color. I have planted several varieties of Monarda (bee balm) in hopes of visits from hummingbirds. This border faces south. The photo was taken facing west.

 Here, surrounding the sundial are two kinds of Monarda, 'Raspberry Wine,' and 'Pink Lace.'  yellow and red daylilies, Echinacea purpurea 'Ruby Star', 'Gaura lindheimeri', Coreopsis viticella 'Moonbeam,' and annual orange Cosmos.

Annual cornflowers Centaurea cyanus, Calendula, and orange Cosmos in front of of several varieties of daylilies, Monarda,  pink Phlox paniculata (unnamed, inherited from my grandmother), white Gaura lindheimeri - a lovely little shrubby perennial with flowers that resemble small butterflies.

More cornflowers, Cosmos and Calendula with Echinacea, Artemisia and Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Russian Sage.'

Next to the sundial are potted blue Agapanthus, pink yarrow Achillea 'Little Susie,' - far right Perovskia and Artemisia 'Silver Queen'.  

A hidden feature of the garden are the many flower supports helping to prevent the tendency for most of the medium height and tall plants to flop over in heavy rain and wind. The cornflowers and bee balm are especially floppy, but even the more stiff-stemmed Echinacea will topple if not supported. Photo at left shows a simple solution available at most garden centers.  I like this kind because they come in three different heights, are easy to push into the soil, and once in place allow the plant to retain its normal shape.