Summer Blooms in the UMW

Summer is still over a week away by the calendar, but I'm going to call it officially summer as of now (even though our rather cool temperatures don't seem to agree with me). So, I give you...the summer blooms thread!

I'll kick it off with aconitum. This is the first time I've grown monkshood and I have to say I really love it. It's thriving in my garden and has put on a huge amount of growth since I got it as a tiny little plug early this spring. And the plant is covered in buds! These are just the first of many blooms.

even though our rather cool temperatures don't seem to agree with me

Yes, what is this Summer of which you speak?

My back bed is a mud hole :~(

My monkshood has never bloomed:( and its been there for almost 3 years.........where do you have yours sun/shade or in between?

Mine is in bright shade with a little dappled sun and maybe a teeny bit of direct sunlight at certain times of the day. It stands about 6 feet out from a very large maple tree, which is to the south of it, and in the shadow of my house. There's plenty of light, but none of it direct. It must really like the conditions, though, because it looks to be a blooming machine as all these buds open.

For what it's worth, my soil is a nice sandy loam and I top dressed with compost at planting time earlier this spring. This plant was about 4" tall tops when I got it, and now it's a good 3 feet tall. This soil is well-drained. I had aconitum in heavy clay at my old place. I planted it later in the year (after it would have bloomed), but I can tell you that it got about 4 hours of sun in that spot, and in the clay soil it just never seemed happy. I'm not sure if it's a sun or a soil thing...or both.

Mine gets the very early monrning shade about 8 a little sun then my 11 shade til late afternnon............The soil is well-drained and not really alot of clay. When I ordered it 3 years ago it came as a 2 inch seedling (yeah) Its grown more this year than it ever has and has never bloomed I am so envious of yours.

That's a bummer. :(

I have no clue what the problem might be. Maybe it's just beginner's luck for me?

I'm thinking about moving it over by my Polmonium D'brise(sp i think) Thats blooming nice. The plain green jacob's ladder is where the monkshood is (that bed) and its blooming for me.;
maybe someday:(

Funny...I have plain green jacob's ladder right next to my monkshood, too. Both are blooming their fool heads off.

okay. I'm probably in the wrong thread. And should have taken better note along the way. I AM SORRY!

Where is everyone meeting on Saturday? I know Olbrich, but at what time and where. I don't know if I can make it but I want to try.

Been busy lately. Harvey is here now. at 10 wks he needs lots of attention. We garden together. I weed, prune, and mulch. He chomps off the heads of flowers and then makes sneezing noises to get rid of the petals.

awwwwwwww he's so cute though.

Aw, Harvey is adorable!

The RoundUp thread is here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/865188/

I still have this blue geranium still blooming, can't really see it though. I planted it by Carl Forester from the road side to get more sun, do walk into the road to enjoy it.

My peonies are opening

first gaillardia of the season

Potentilla is blooming

Is that Johnson's Blue? I like it! The plant I had at my old place was a monster...it spread way more than I thought it would and it was bushy and beautiful. I'm going to have to get another one just as soon as I have a spot for it. :)

Kayly,
It is Johnson's Blue. I bought it because it said "blue" :) Mine is not spreading all that much, but considering where it grows I am happy. It's very dry, but sunny. I planted half of the plant I bought in half-shade and that one is barely making it :(
We are planning on thinning elms out in that area, so maybe next year it will do better.

cece,
I love peony and yours are my favorite color! I am walking to work now and stop at every house that has peonies - those are just blooming their heads off right now.

Seems very early for aconitum, but it being a new plant can explain it. I'll bet next year it will bloom later.

Cece, it's Brise d' Anjou.

It's not a very nice picture but it give you an idea of a depth of color. I waited for this iris to bloom for 2 years. It was supposed to be a black siberian. It is not black but really dark purple and it's a late bloomer for me.

The name of this siberian escapes me too but I like the ruffles :)
Again 2'd year wait and as you can see it's only one flower. I must be doing smth really wrong.

This is a no ID for me as I did not mark it when I got it from Maxine at the last year round up. I call it a peakock and love it's variation.

This one I bought from Ensata last year - one fan and it is still one fan with one flower. But I love the frills :)

Leftwood wrote:

Ok, I thought this was heliopsis 'Summer Sun' but after looking at other pics in PlantFiles I'm not so sure (I got it from FreeTreesandPlants.com last year). I like it though; it's so cheery, especially with all the clouds and rain!

And here's my penstemon.

And I have this gerbera daisy in a pot . . . this bloom came up kind of doubled!

And here's the corresponding double leaf . . . can anyone give a brief biology lesson on how this would happen?

Here's one "Lilly" that's always in bloom (unless she hasn't napped), my 3 yo DD! ;)

Aw, your bloomin' "Lily" is adorable!

The double bloom/leaf is cool. I've seen photos of stuff like that before, but I know nothing about the biology. (And to think I got A's in biology in high school!)

Lovely "water" Lily! My Huske Red penstemon had just two flowers opened this morning but three bumble bees already were there to check it out.

Here's what I found on the biology of double flowers, not quite what you have but ....

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WW3-4C5P7WN-3&_user=443835&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000020958&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=443835&md5=b5408068df667e2c5899d75f0f19d348

I hope the link works

My Huskers red has loads of buds but not opened yet. I have 6 total, 3 in one bed in the back and 3 in one of the side beds.

My poor beginning to bloom gaillardia with I think bell flowers. Don't remember and the tag is long gone. Got these at the roundup last year from Al?

forgot to post the picture. That's what happens go directly to send..............

Nice! I got one from Al last year too. I hope it blooms as pretty.

My irises are about halfway done, my artemesia is filling in, and my tiger lilies are growing tall:

My Clematis is really taking off this year!

Huskers Red pennstemon

Last of the purple iris'

the rain got my peonies all droopy

Jeannie, love your bed - there color even without irises blooming. Funny how I have most of the plants but mine are scattered all over. Did you plan the bed this way or changed it over time to get this effect?

cece, I am enojoying your peonies :) There's a house on my way to work where they planted a row of peonies all colors. When in bloom it's a show stopper. But it always rains during their flowering and the plants lay prostrate on the ground after it. It's such a bummer for me every time because I plan my walk to pass that row of flowers in the morning.