Pleasant Summertime Combinations

I won't complain about the weather. I know many folks are suffering under extreme heat and other difficult conditions. I will say, however, that we aren't having typical June weather for these parts. But no denying...it is comfortable.

Some plants are growing very slowly, while others are trotting along, happy as can be. So, for this Six on Saturday, here are six groupings faring well in the cool, comfortable, adequately moist weather. Above, the 'Lollipop' Lilies (Lilium hybrid) are lovely paired with Lacecap Hydrangea blooms (H. arborescens subsp. radiata).



My "mostly foliage" mixed pots are filling in nicely.



These two buddies have been together in a pot for a few years now: Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) and Fuchsia 'Autumnale.' They spend the winter in the sunroom, and the summer in dappled shade.



The pink Cleomes (C. hassleriana) I planted in the side garden pair well with the perennial 'May Night' Salvias (Salvia × sylvestris).



Woodland Pinkroot (Spigelia marilandica) blooms in several locations. This little grouping flowers a little later than the others, but it looks naturally happy near the rock wall, interspersed with Ostrich Ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris).

Finally, the Prairie Rose (Rosa setigera) is now blooming--better late than never! I had to be careful, zooming in from a distance, because robins are nesting in the Rose arbor.

That's my six! Thanks to Jim at Garden Ruminations for hosting "Six on Saturday"!

Floating Summer Flowers

Tying in with my post from Saturday, I moved the blooms from the delicate teacups I featured into a clear bowl. I placed them on the gravel pathway for this photo, but they've been sitting on a table on the back porch for a few days and holding their own.

There's something about floating flowers that seems enchanting, no matter the vessel.

So I'm submitting this simple follow-up post for "In a Vase on Monday," hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden. Check out her blog for more vase ideas from around the world. Thanks to Cathy for hosting!

Mostly Teacups and Roses

For this Six on Saturday, on the eve of the Summer Solstice, I plopped some flowers in teacups. I have a little collection, and they seemed appropriate vessels for the day.



While five are filled with Roses, this teacup showcases a 'Lollipop' Lily (Lilium hybrid), just starting to bloom.



Next, I included the hope of things to come, with buds from the Prairie Rose (Rosa setigera).



This unknown, bright pink Rose (it was here when we moved in and unmarked) seems to deserve a ring of gold.



The reliable 'At Last' Rose (Rosa x) is a lovely bloomer and has an amazing scent.



'Oso Easy' Double Pink (Rosa x) has a cute little garden personality.

Finally, Fred's 'Sweet Mary,' hybridized by my great-grandfather, is a fragile bloom with a very pleasant, sweet scent.

That's it for my "six" this week. Thanks to Jim at Garden Ruminations for hosting! Happy summer!

Oh, the Sunny California Poppy!

Have you ever grown Poppies?

For several years now, I've admired California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica) and Papaver Poppies. I've wanted to add them to my own garden--not on a massive scale, but as highlights of color near the house. I don't have much sun here, and I tend to grow sun-loving ornamentals and annuals in bright corners and in my small potager garden.

While I haven't tried Papavers yet (stay tuned), until recently I had no luck with California Poppies. I tried starting the seeds in pots early in the growing season, and when that didn't work I sprinkled the seeds along the edge of the potager. But a combination of known and unknown factors prevented their growth.

The potager is on the west side of the house. It gets several hours of indirect light, and then several more hours of strong, afternoon baking sun. The Zinnias and Cosmos love it. But all I got from sprinkling Poppy seeds there was a few tiny, feathery seedlings that disappeared soon after they sprouted. I'm guessing chipmunks and/or robins were responsible--digging around or eating the seeds and/or the seedlings. Or perhaps the seedlings got lost in the mulch and in competition with other plants.

Anyway...in late winter/early spring this year I tried a different technique:

I sowed the Poppy seeds directly into a rectangular planter box, and put the planter in the sunroom in March. I figured that would give them an early start, and protect them from critters.

As the weather warmed, I placed the pot in our mini cold frame to acclimate them to outdoor conditions. Then, after the last frost, I moved them to the potager.

I placed wind spinners around them to dissuade the critters from digging in the pot (so far, so good).

Because they're in a planter, I can easily move them around to try new locations. Fingers crossed they'll continue to thrive and bloom over there. If they struggle, we'll adapt.



The foliage is so lacy and fun. Depending on the light, sometimes it has a slight blue cast, and with hot weather it yellows.



The buds are fun, too!

And then the flowers!

I'm thrilled that I've finally had success with these pretty plants bearing beautiful, sunny flowers and lacy foliage! Maybe next year I'll try Papavers!

(Check out this fun, time-lapse video of California Poppies growing from planted seed to flower and back to seed.)