Summer, Finally

White Astilbe

 

Summer has finally arrived here in northern Virginia. We finally broke out of the low 50's at night and  above 70 during the day. The almost daily rain and clouds seem to be gone. We have had three days of sunshine in a row now.  We have had very low humidity, 30 to 40 percent which is unusual for this area. The white Astilbe has just bloomed under the trees in the side yard among the pachysandra.  The pink Astilbe in the same area bloomed three weeks ago and has just finished.


Hairy Beardtongue

The hairy beardtongue (Penstemon Blackbeard) in the far backyard area has been blooming for a few weeks. I think it is showy, pretty and delicate.


St. John's Wort

There are several St. John's Wort bushes that line the far backyard.  This is a close up of the bright yellow flowers that can be seen out my kitchen window even though they are a half an acre away.


Red Hot Poker

I have three torch-like red hot poker plants (Kniphofia uvaria). This herbaceous perennial likes well-drained soil and full sun.  They are attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, but not to deer. Almost everything in my yard has to be deer resistant, as the yard is regularly traversed by deer.


Salvia

There are salvia plants in the same garden as the red hot poker plants, and they have finally come into full bloom.

Finally June, Hopefully Summer

Spirea bushes, Catmint plants

 

Well, we had another week and a half of rain, but finally the sun came out three days ago. Now if we would just get out of the low 50's at night and break 70 during the day, that would be nice. All the spring flowers seem to like all the rain. These spirea bushes and catmint plants line the front of the house.


Brunnera Jack Frost

Although the delicate blue flowers have finished their blooming on the Jack Frost brunnera plants, the leaves have greatly increased in size and are the showy part of the plants now.


Salvia



There are a couple of salvia plants in the garden below my kitchen windows that finally bloomed.

 

Pink Astilbe


There are several pink astilbe plants that have just showed up in a shady area among the pachysandra and other plants.