I walked around the garden last night and snapped a few particularly pleasing scenes I felt you'd enjoy seeing as much as I did. Allium 'christophii' was the first I came upon ~ sandwiched between a bevy of blue & white columbine & a lone Rodgersia 'aesculifolia' bud ~ sparkling from a spritz of water:
I am really digging the tranquil colors of this combination, so serene and peaceful... and very unlike the rest of my garden!
Phlomis tuberosa, blooming around the old iron gate, is also very fetching in an entirely different manner:
I started this perennial from seed about eight years ago, only one seedling survived, but every year since that seedling-turned-plant increases by just a smidge. I'm imagining the day when there is an enormous girth of it across the front garden! The bumblebees would really delight in that too.
There are quite a few clematis blooming right now but the photo I liked the most was taken of 'Hagley hybrid' climbing the antique birdfeeder:
This area of the garden is a "sea of pink" since the (unknown) pink roses are blooming now too. You know that's okay with me!
Even tho the iris are almost finished, one of the few left is this pink with orange combo ~ look how nicely it complements the tangerine Emerurus 'Cleopatra' bud in the background:
I'd love to claim I planned that happy coincidence! Well, why not? Let's just say I did! :-)
In the front corner, Echium 'amoenum' has finally increased to a more showy size. It's taken three or four years to form a good clump. I'm trying to decide if the backdrop of variegated foliage (from Sunflower Heliopsis 'Loraine Sunshine') distracts or accentuates??
It's the only Echium (I know of) that can survive our brutal winters and it certainly does that with flying colors.
A little side note: Everywhere I turn in the garden, there are baby birds. I'm having to keep my dog on a leash when I take him out in the back yard just so the mortality rate doesn't skyrocket. He's already gotten one of the baby Blue Jays that fell out of the nest too early. One week later, the remaining two fledged:
These three babies were sitting so quietly in the Mugo Pine, I'm not sure how I even noticed them:
I'm envisioning their Mother telling them to stay put and keep quiet, which is exactly what they were doing. A feat I could never accomplish!!
I too have baby jays in my yard, but now they are as big as the parents. Also, my allium is past its prime. Your garden is making a nice GBBD showing. That is a pretty iris.
Posted by: Donna | June 14, 2011 at 07:30 PM
Love that pink/lavender Phlomis!! I only heard of the yellow one until a little earlier this year. What a beauty.
I think the variegated foliage is a nice backdrop.
Posted by: Janet, The Queen of Seaford | June 14, 2011 at 07:36 PM
Total eye candy! I love the Clemmy with the rose and you're so right about the iris and the eremurus.
Posted by: Grace | June 14, 2011 at 07:39 PM
Lorraine definitely accentuates. Wow on all the baby birds. They were most well behaved.
Posted by: tina | June 15, 2011 at 06:09 AM
Wow that Eremurus & Iris are wonderful together. By the way my Eremurus still haven't bloomed. :(
Posted by: Racquel | June 15, 2011 at 02:45 PM
Kathleen, I always enjoy walking through your garden (virtually speaking). I especially love your sea-of-pink area on your antique bird feeder because I'm a sucker for pink. What a wonderful surprise when two plants compliment each other like your tangerine Cleopatra and iris and you hadn't planned it. Are you enjoying great weather like we are on your side of the mountain range? Ours has been SPECTACULAR!
Posted by: Ramona/The Garden Explorer | June 15, 2011 at 05:02 PM
That clematis pic is so pretty! Nice job.
Cutest baby birds ever!
Posted by: Victoria | June 15, 2011 at 08:20 PM
Baby birds are so vulnerable... :( Our baby Mockingbirds are about a week old now I think, and I noticed that Dad has gotten a lot more vigilant.
Your June favorites would be my favorites too! The combination of the allium with the columbine is stellar. I haven't seen an Echium with those colors before. What a beauty.
You've convinced me that I really need to add a pink Phlomis. I didn't even realize it was hardy in NC, but less Colorado. I love the color.
Posted by: sweetbay | June 16, 2011 at 08:33 AM
Kathleen, truly you are enjoying ALL the pleasures of Nature... and it still seems like Spring to me!! :-)
How's the weather YOUR way?? Dry? or are you getting enough rain?
Posted by: Shady Gardener | June 16, 2011 at 09:36 PM
I love your irises, and clematis, and tuberosa blooming against the gate. And the baby birds! What a garden you have.
Posted by: Kala | June 16, 2011 at 10:21 PM