Seasons Archives - Page 16 of 21 - Betty Hall Photography

Summer solstice flowers

As the summer solstice arrives, I’m seeing more flowers in the backyard. I’ve been unsure what would be blooming for the Wild Ones Kentucky native plant garden tour this weekend. It now appears there will be a nice variety. Here is the color in one corner of the garden.

The Pale Purple Coneflowers (Echinacea pallida) and the white Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) in the foreground have been blooming for three weeks and will not last much longer. The purplish blooms behind the Quinine are Downy Skullcap (Scutellaria incana) which add nice contrast. In the background, the red Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa) is at its peak and the Purple Coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) are beginning to bloom.

Other plants now blooming include:

1. Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata), 2. Wild Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) 3. Purple Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe involucrata), 4. Royal Catchfly (Silene regia), 5. Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens), 6. Rattlesnake Master(Erynigium yuccifolium), 7. Button Bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), 8. Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum), and 9. Ox-eye Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides).

I’m delighted to see the mid-summer blooms and the various insects they attract. And I’m looking forward to sharing the backyard as part of the garden tour. If you are in the area, I hope to see you!

Non-native Tulips

There’s a lot happening in the backyard these days. However, it’s the redbud and tulips that are attracting attention. I’m taking a fair amount of ribbing from friends about my non-native tulips. Nevertheless, I’m enjoying them immensely. They were planted, at my request, by my good friend and landscaper, Beate Popkins.

Carolyn Summers’ recent book, Designing Gardens with Flora of the American East, is an excellent resource and I heartily recommend it to anyone interested in landscaping with native plants. I like her idea that “the ultimate landscape goal is a stunningly beautiful garden with an abundance of native plants along with occasional non-natives that have sentimental or historical value to the gardener.” I focus on native plants because they are attractive, hearty, and provide important food for wildlife including birds, butterflies, and other insects. I’m also glad to include some non-natives. These tulips and native creeping phlox seem quite happy together.

Some non-natives are invasive to the point of crowding out native plants. Summers suggests a good motto for responsible gardeners is “What grows in my garden stays in my garden.” My tulips will not stray and I enjoy their bright colors and graceful form.

March happenings

I’m seeing several signs of spring in the backyard. Most of them are small with varying shapes and colors.

Here are a few of the sights I found recently.

From the top, left to right: Dogwood buds beginning to open (Cornus florida), Rue Anemone blossom (Anemonella thalictroides), buds of Redbud tree (Cercis canadensis), Hepatica blossom (Hepatica acutiloba), Ragwort buds (Senecio), tiny Gooseberry leaves (Ribes missouriense), Sessile Trillium bud (Trillium sessile), and Red Maple seeds (Acer rubrum).

I’m looking forward to seeing my first butterfly of the season, and I’ve had one report of a swallowtail in the Red River Gorge. So far, the only insects I’ve seen were small flies and honey bees.

I look forward to watching new developments, and I’d be glad to hear what signs of spring you are seeing.

Mystery Crocuses – first sign of spring

These crocuses mysteriously appeared under the red maple a few years ago. I didn’t plant them and I have no idea how they got there. However, I’m pleased to see these first blossoms of the year.

The blossoms are small – about one inch wide and two inches tall. They are not spectacular, but they’re big enough to be seen from the dining room window and they brighten my day.

It was only when I looked closely at the inside of a blossom that I noticed the richness and beauty within.

Crocuses are not native to Kentucky, but they provide an early source of nectar for insects. And I enjoy them as an early sign of spring.

Creeping Phlox

I recently took my small point-and-shoot camera to the backyard, looking for possible signs of spring. I was pleasantly surprised to see that a number of plants have remained green throughout our prolonged winter.

I was especially glad to see the Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) looking healthy through patches of snow.

The dense foliage creates a ground cover tough enough I can walk on it. It keeps weeds down and spreads slowly, but is not invasive.

There are already tiny buds and, with a little luck, by the first of April it will become a mass of color as in this image from last spring.

It grows especially well on the rocky, sunny slope that leads to our rain garden and has proven to be drought tolerant.

With its evergreen foliage, colorful spring blossoms, and ease of maintenance, Creeping Phlox is an effective ground cover and one of my favorite native backyard plants.

I was also glad to see my first backyard honey bee (Apis mellifera) on February 16. I know spring isn’t here yet, but I trust it’s on the way. I’d be glad to hear of any signs of spring you’re seeing.