The garden should be into its gentle summer decline, but recent rainfall has revived plants parched after a dry late spring. A stroll through the garden reveals one gem after the other.
While flowers of hostas (above and below) are underappreciated, many are glorious and favorites of bumblebees. Early summer is the peak peak period of bloom for hostas, but several flower into August.
Low branches of a variegated Illicium poke through this large leafed seedling that is probably Hosta elegans.Sun King aralia towers over this splendid hosta.
Plants with large leaves do not require remarkable flowers to earn a place in this garden. The tropical appearance increases textural contrasts in shaded areas where there are fewer flowers. There’s lots of shade in the garden, and ever increasing numbers of large leafed plants.
Two Wax bells species (Kirengeshoma palmata and K. koreana) are spotted through the shaded garden. A void where a severely leaning redbud was removed has been planted with a Japanese Rice Paper plant (Tetrapanax papyrifer ‘Steroidal Giant’ that should soon fill the space. It grew slowly in our cool, dry spring, but growth has picked up with recent rain and heat.Several Peltoboykinia (Peltoboykinia watanabei) with deeply incised leaves are planted along a stone path, with a seedling now appearing in a mossy gap in the stones.A year ago, a seedling of Castor Bean barely reached knee high in damp ground. In dry soil beside the greenhouse it is far taller with most of its growth still to come.Blackberry lilies (Iris domestica, once Belamcanda chinensis) are flowering. From a few plants, seeds have been harvested, and seedlings grown for two years. These flower in their second year. More are ready to plant, with a few set for giveaways. Two Japanese beetles are the few found in the garden. Birds must keep the numbers under control.
Ramblin' through Dave's Garden 