Scouting for Fabulous Fungi

It's that wonderful time of year when cooler air temperatures and autumn precipitation encourage the growth of fungi. Here are several examples I've noticed recently during hikes and at home. I'm including this post for "Six on Saturday," hosted by Jim at Garden Ruminations.

I'm not a mycologist or a fungi expert, so please correct me if my ID here is errant:

Giant puffball
Calvatia gigantea

Atkinson’s fungus
Cortinarius atkinsonianus

Bonnet fungus
Mycena inclinata?

Giant funnel
Aspropaxillus giganteus

Shaggy ink cap
Coprinus comatus

False turkey tail
Stereum fasciatum

Here's a great resource describing the benefits of fungi--in our gardens and beyond: Ten reasons why fungi are crucial to the planet.

For more fabulous "Six on Saturday" entries, visit Garden Ruminations.

Hummingbird Haunts

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are still hanging around these parts, but not for long. A few males still migrate through, but most visitors are now females and juveniles. A couple of days ago, I decided to take a break--to observe them and photograph them before they're gone.

I was having trouble capturing them on their favorite plants. The little guy pictured above had a favorite branch throughout the summer, but he's gone...



And, of course, they're not shy about flying down right next to me to sip from the feeders. But what about their favorite plants--places where I've seen them nectaring many times?

1. Fuchsia 'Marinka'

For example, for many years I've had Fuchsias in hanging baskets around the house. The hummers frequently flutter around them and sip from the bottoms of the flowers.

2. Hosta aequinoctiiantha

They also seem to enjoy these late-blooming Hostas, which I believe are Hosta of the Equinox (H. aequinoctiiantha)--currently at peak bloom. While I've previously seen hummers loving on them, this time when I sat down to try to capture them with the camera...no luck.

3. Lablab purpureus

Same with Hyacinth Bean Vine (Lablab purpureus). The hummers were flitting around it on the garden obelisk, but by the time I had my camera ready, they were gone.

4. Zinnia elegans

Surely during my little visit they would stop and rest while sipping nectar from this beautiful Zinnia? Not this time.

5. Salvia (unknown annual cultivar)

OK, for some reason they regularly buzz around this measly remains of an unknown, overwintered, potted Salvia. I'd even thought about pulling it until I saw the hummers on it. No luck with photographing them here either.

6. Tithonia rotundifolia 'Goldfinger'

Finally, the Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia rotundifolia) apparently were irresistible...

Aha, there you are! The garden is always a happy place when hummingbirds live here. I'm trying to savor them until we part again for many months.

It's "Six on Saturday." Check out the meme at Garden Ruminations. If you're so inclined, join in with six of your own recent garden observations!

Six Garden Samples From Europe

Bad Ems, Germany: The Fishman's grandfather grew up in this town,
so we made a special side trip to spend a day exploring.

We recently returned from an amazing trip to Europe! We visited six countries: The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Germany, and Switzerland. While the trip wasn't specifically a "garden" tour, plant people naturally notice fun garden arrangements and creative combinations, don't we?

So for this "Six on Saturday," I'm sharing six nifty little gardens I noticed along the way.



First, the simple herb garden on the top deck of our river ship. The chef regularly gathered herbs for the delicious dishes he served us.



Next, this whimsical sphere display in Brussels, Belgium, with glass balls and flowers on top, and...sunglasses? I later found out this display was created to celebrate the eclipse. (I think some of the flowers were real and some were fake, but it was cute.)



Our trip was a river cruise, so our excursions brought us to cities and towns along the Rhine River, its tributaries, and connecting rivers. This beautiful bridge display brightened the riverfront in Strasbourg, France.



And this grouping of stunning Roses greeted us in Breisach, Germany.



Also in Germany, in the Black Forest town of Furtwangen, carved rock planters created an earthy, solid mood.

Finally, in Bad Ems, Germany, colorful towers of ornamentals abounded.

What a wonderful trip! I hope to share more in the months ahead, but it's taking me some time to process what a treasure it was, for so many reasons!

For more "Six on Saturday" entries, visit Garden Ruminations. Thanks to Jim for hosting!

A Little Rain, A Few August Observations

Clockwise from left: Blue Mistflower volunteers (Conoclinium coelestinum), Beacon Impatiens 'Violet Shades' (I. walleriana), Dusty Miller (Jacobaea maritima), and Sweet Potato Vine 'Sweet Georgia Pulse Black' (Ipomoea batatas)

Happily, we had a gentle, plentiful rainfall last weekend. Plants and people are pleased. And while the drought and high heat took their toll, I'll ignore those sad stories and focus on a few pleasant garden happenings for this "Six on Saturday."

The pot in the photo above is hard to capture because it's in a corner--between some fencing, the potager, and the Lilac shrub. It seems to like its location, and the colors and shapes of its elements always capture my eye when I'm working over there.



I almost gave up on the various Hydrangeas. I told the Fishman, "Remind me: Never again plant a Hydrangea!" They are heavy water-suckers, and they're never happy with hot temperatures and no rain. They were near dead for about a month. Then I see them like this after a good soaker, and my soft spot for them returns (a little).



Three beauties are currently blooming on the trellis bordering the potager: an unknown Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) from a seed mix, Maypops (Passiflora incarnata), and Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata). The bees, butterflies, caterpilllars, and hummingbirds enjoy that part of the garden (though I neglected to capture photos of pollinators for this post). 



I've repeatedly tried to capture this duo over the seasons and the years, but photos simply don't do it justice. Threadleaf Bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) surrounded by common variegated Hostas form a break between two paths. It's not the ideal spot for sun-loving Amsonia, but it thrives as a small shrub-like clump, with beautiful blue flowers in late spring and golden foliage in the fall. At this point in the summer, I cut back the spent Hosta flowers so the plants look a little tidier.



Near the porch, False Sunflowers (Heliopsis helianthoides) bloom with Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata), another native plant that's a pollinator favorite.



Finally, American Cranberrybush Viburnum (V. opulus var. americanum) is sporting its late summer, golden-orange berries. They ripen to a beautiful bright red in autumn.

That's it for this "Six on Saturday," a wonderful meme hosted by Jim at Garden Ruminations. Here's the participant guide. Enjoy!

I'm taking a bit of a blog break for a fun event that's been planned for many months. I'll share highlights when I return. "See" you at the end of August!

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"!

Busy, Busy

I'm sneaking in under the wire for this "Six on Saturday," hosted by Jim at Garden Ruminations. We're just past our last frost of the season, and now's the rush to get everything in the garden and organized for the growing season. Hardy perennials, like the Wild Hyacinths (Camassia spp.), can take a cold night, and the blooms are lasting much longer than they have during warmer Mays in other years. 
 


Lilies of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) are sending their heavenly scent through the late spring air.



Korean Lilacs (Syringa meyeri), just beginning to break bud, are adding their own amazing aromas.



It won't be long for the Peonies (Paeonia spp.); the ants are helping to keep the pests at bay. I apologize--I forgot to make note of the cultivar shown here.



I picked up this lovely Caladium 'Berries 'N Burgundy' at the garden center. It wasn't on my list, but oh well...

Finally, the Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum) are strutting their stuff under their umbrellas. They sure are fun little buddies!

It's a special time of year for gardens around the world. Head on over to Garden Ruminations to join the May party. And Happy Mother's Day!

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I'm so pleased to share that our book, "A Journey of Seasonal Wisdom," is now available as a paperback, and it's available on Amazon and Amazon UK! It's also available in ebook format.

Fellow blogger, Donna Donabella, and I co-wrote the book, and its readers are truly part of the story. Take a journey with us through the seasons, week by week. We're both so thrilled our collaborative effort of several years is now a finished product! Visit Golden Dragonfly Press to learn more!

And Now It's 'Real' Spring

Many of us who live in climates featuring extreme seasonal swings often joke about the many "seasons" of spring--from fake spring, to "spring of deception," to real spring. I think we've made it to the last stage. We'll still be cold a few times in the next few weeks, but I'm officially packing away the parka and the snow boots.

And the garden is signaling it's time to move on and grow!



The stars of area gardens right now are the Crabapples (Malus spp.). They seem to suddenly explode with lush flowers and intoxicating scents.

A few blooms of various Hellebores still hang on--especially those in colder, shadier areas.

The Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum) in the woodland resemble a convention of umbrellas. As they flatten out in the next few days, apparently that's a sign it's time to hunt for Morel mushrooms.



Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)...sigh...I wish they could bloom all summer. Their time is too fleeting.



Same with the Bleeding Hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis). They're great companions for the Virginia Bluebells, as shown in the top photo.

Finally, for this "Six on Saturday," I'm including a nod to the Barrenworts, in this case, Epimedium x warleyense. I have several Barrenwort varieties, but this one seems particularly happy with the garden's conditions.

That's it for this week for my "Six on Saturday," a meme hosted by Jim at Garden Ruminations. Head on over to his wonderful blog to visit gardens around the world.

___________________

Our book, "A Journey of Seasonal Wisdom," is now available in ebook format, internationally, on Amazon!

Fellow blogger, Donna Donabella, and I co-wrote the book, and its readers are truly part of the story. The paperback will be out next week! We're both so thrilled: Our collaborative effort of several years is now a finished product. Visit Golden Dragonfly Press or my previous post to learn more!