Ligularia dentata

Ligularia dentata or more recently Farfugium japonicum

I will have to move it if it doesn’t do better in its third year. A handsome shade plant with huge leaves and colorful daisy-like flowers makes a bold statement in the shade garden. One common name is leopard plant because one variety has random yellow spots.  This plant has also been through a name change confusing info further with many synonyms.  Although it is getting lots of rain this year, it is planted in a rather dry location. Time will tell.

Amazingly, I did not lose my cake photos after all.

With some of this single chocolate layer cake topped with carmalized pecan halves, all I need is a glass of milk or maybe just a scoop of vanilla

and serve it with a cherry on top.

Lamb’s Ears

Stachys byzantina ‘Helen Von Stein’ is a good variety with large, gray, furry ears and few, if any, blooms. It’s the fuzzy foliage that is desirable. Although large, it stays neat and compact.

Gardeners can not live on bread alone, they must have cupcakes.  Buttery cupcakes

with dark chocolate taste a lot better than they look. Wanna bite?

Crinum lilies continue to open.

I Love the Woods

Rudbeckias surround the pool and the goldfinches have discovered that some of the seeds are ripe and ready for feasting. The goldfinches almost disappear in the golden yellow rudbeckias.

When it rains it is easy to move this huge Nephrolepsis obliterata ‘Kimberly Queen’  out for a refreshing shower. I have one flanking each side of the back entrance. I replace them each year but you can hold them through winter by cutting them back, put the rootball in a frost free area, and replant the next growing season. In warmer climates, they can be mulched during winter and they return in the spring. Another option is to use them or a portion of them as a potted plant during winter. If grown in more sunlight, they have a more upright habit.

Almost anywhere you look from my house there is a cool wall of green creating a peaceful ambiance. Shade renders temperatures about ten degrees cooler than sunny spaces making a garden stroll an option most of the time. There are woodland creatures and this seems to be the year of the rabbit. You must read  The Orchestra on Pamela’s blog, From the House of Edward about nature’s music.

by EnglishHeroes

Crinum x ‘Ellen Bosanquet’

Surprise

After a soaking summer rain, if bloom succession has been considered and enough  planted, we can

expect something new. In my garden although other things are blooming, the basic summer succession  is

daylily, Oriental lily, naked ladies/Lycoris squamigera. Naked ladies are so called for the scapes shoot

up without leaves or sometimes surprise or magic lily because one day there is nothing and seemingly the

next a flower. The color is unusual due to a blue cast overlay. I like them and have quite a display which

will be evident in the next few days. Stay tuned.

Only a few daylilies now, but Best Kept Secret is nice. I’m eager to see if the well timed rain will generate an

abundant re-bloom. I have been busily removing all old scapes and seed pods, except for a few selected, to

induce re-bloom of those genetically inclined. We’ll see.

There are several large clumps of phlox I can count on at this time of year. They are tall and right at eye level

when you walk by giving a feeling of being immersed in flowers. Although they are tall, they are strong and

can weather storms without damage.

Desert rose continues to unfurl its eye-popping color with several more buds remaining. I should probably

shelter it from getting too much rain now since it is a succulent.

My beautiful white hibiscus continues to bloom. I think the rain helps it combat its assailants. Many plants

can combat insects better if they are not suffering from drought.

I like to see spangles of cleome around the garden. It seems they bloomed earlier last year.

There are many sprouts about so there will be more until fall frosts.

Remember to visit May Dreams Gardens for GBBD to see what is blooming around the world.

Hibiscus

It must be tasty. Everything wants a bite of Hibiscus ‘Blue River II’. Where is a praying mantis when you need one?

This late blooming Hemerocallis is an unusual coral color.

Succulents are great because they can survive outside in summer far from a water source seldom needing more than rainwater.

There is always a bit of honeysuckle to perfume the air and keep the hummingbirds happy.

Oh, no! My beautiful blue hosta turned as green as can be.