High Summer in Serendipity Gardens

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It’s been a cool summer here in Michigan, with only three days so far with temperatures above 90 degrees. But it’s mid-July now, and the weather is beginning to heat up. I have enjoyed the cool weather, but a little heat seems quite welcome, both to me and to the plants in Serendipity Gardens. Speaking of these plants, here are a few that are adding their beauty to the garden.

Clematis on porch

Dark purple clematis are the July star of the front garden

On the front porch, dark purple clematis are still blooming profusely. Every year, the plant on one side grows more robustly than the plant on the other side. I am never sure why this is the case, and I have not found a solution. Perhaps I do not need to. They look gorgeous as is. What a welcoming site they are!

We added mulch all over the garden this year, and I believe we may have smothered the sweet alyssum that was so beautiful last year. It’s come up, but not with the same vim and vigor. I miss it — and will scatter seeds this fall to coax it back. Or, perhaps I will check out what native plant might take its place, filling in gaps between plants.

Sum and Substance2Rounding the side of the house, I am delighted to see my giant Sum and Substance hosta. This plant is in a space that it just a little too small for it, but I like the way it completely fills in the spot and rubs shoulders with neighboring plants. It’s jolt of bright chartreuse is always pleasing.

Clematis Leaves2

Two similar plants — one native (notched leaves), one not (smooth-edged leaves) — appear to be thriving side by side.

I am also happy to note that native Clematis Virginiana is competing very well with Sweet Autumn Clematis. After a particularly grueling winter two years ago, I thought the Sweet Autumn had died. I seized the opportunity to “replace” it with a native plant, Clematis Virginiana. The Sweet Autumn was not dead, as it turned out. It blooms beautifully in the fall, though some would call it a thug. However, the Virginiana (notched leaves) is definitely holding its own.

This is a perfect example of native and non-native plants living side by side. I have decided not to remove most of my non-native plants, planted well before I understood the importance of using native plants. Rather, my approach is to replace non-natives when they need replacing with natives that perform a similar function and may have a similar appearance as well.

Maroon and Soft Blue-green2

Long-growing lamb’s ears (right) blend beautifully with maroon heuchera (left), planted several years later.

As I near the gate to the back garden, I see the maroon and soft blue-green color scheme that is developing alongside the path with a maroon-colored heuchera and Lamb’s ears growing together — and I like it.It provides a gardening lesson well worth learning — beautiful results like these take time. The Lamb’s ear has been growing there for years. The maroon heuchera was added three years ago, and this is the first year that the two have really begun to look great together.

I planted cream-colored hollyhocks nearby. Mother Nature had other ideas. She moved this plant a few feet and turned it pink!

I planted cream-colored hollyhocks nearby. Mother Nature had other ideas. She moved this plant a few feet and turned it pink!

I open the gate to the backyard garden and enter — and I am blown away! Hollyhocks have seeded themselves in a number of places, and they have grown to be eight feet high! As long as you don’t get too close, they look gorgeous waving in the breeze. Bee balm is blooming as well, and tall garden phlox are keeping them company. Bright orange Asiatic lilies are a little jarring, but beautiful nevertheless. Purple coneflower and Hydrangea Endless Summer are adding their bits of color, too. Ground cover planted around a swamp milkweed has really taken off, and I love the look.

Here are a few other beautiful sights in the backyard garden.

Balloon flowers and liatris2

This rather wild view consists of a self-sown dill plant, balloon flower, a lily, and in the background, liatris.

Thyme vignette2

This unassuming little group of plants consists of two kinds of thyme and coreopsis, complimented by the gracefully arching leaves of a Japanese iris.

Swamp milkweed2

Near several butterfly bushes, a swamp milkweek saw its chance and jumped in. It appears to be growing out of the surrounding ground cover. Sweet!

 

Sunflowersgalore

Who can resist the cheerfulness of bright yellow and orange sunflowers? Neither the bees … nor the people that visit Serendipity Gardens!

Serendipity Gardens in mid-July is colorful, a little messy, and certainly not weed free. It’s often more than a little overwhelming, but I love it. I find myself wishing that people everywhere could have such beauty to look at when they go into their back yards.

What do you have spicing up your backyard at this time of year?

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