July! Things are starting to bloom here in west-central New Hampshire!
Since we last talked on 15 June, temps have been all over the place, from a high of 94 to a low of 42. We covered the tomatoes for a few nights in mid-June when temps were below 50F. The high has averaged 85F in the last month, which is quite high for us, though the last couple of days have been in the low 70s. The lows have averaged 60F, which is fine sleeping weather.
The big story this season, though, is the drought. This part of the state, and most of NH, is in a moderate drought, and I have been hand-watering vegetables and new plants almost every day for a month or more, and I’ve even given established perennials, shrubs, and trees a good soaking two or three times. It’s such a relief when we get a thunderstorm or some rain and I can take a day off. Most of our storms aren’t forecast but have been popping up here and there just when we are talking about taking a walk. When rain is forecast, we often don’t get it at all.
Though the vegetable garden and fruit trees and shrubs are what I’m focused on this year, there are still plenty of perennials blooming. Here’s what I’ve got.
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Shade Garden
The Rodgersia was strong in May and June but not much now, when it’s time for astilbe, tradescantia, hosta, and early-blooming varieties of tricyrtis to shine.
“Peach Blossom’ astilbe, 3 July‘Bridal Veil’ astilbe in bud, 3 Julyhosta bud (not sure which variety)‘Francis Williams’ hosta bud and flower I think, 3 JulyHosta blooms on hosta identified when I bought it as ‘Majeste’ but that doesn’t seem to be a real hosta name. There is a pulmonaria called ‘Majeste,’ but I didn’t buy a pulmonaria. 15 July.‘Sweet Kate’ tradescantia, 10 JulyTricyrtis latifolia ‘Golden Leopard’, 8 JulyTricyrtis latifolia ‘Golden Leopard’, 8 July
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Front Yard
It was all lupine a month ago, and now it’s not.
echinaceas in bud, pink geranium, 11 Julyechinacea starting to bloom, 15 July / Some are ‘Purple Emperor’ but unsure of other varieties.pink echinacea, 15 Julyred echinacea, 10 Julymilkweed blooming, 3 Julymilkweed with honeybee, 5 Julypink balsam flower (annual), 3 Julycampanula, 10 July … a real spreader!geranium, 10 July … I thought it was ‘Mourning Widow’ but am now doubtful. ‘Johnson’s Blue’ and ‘Rozanne’ are the others I’ve planted, plus a pink unnamed variety from a plant sale.‘Rozanne’ geranium blooming, 4 July‘Rozanne’ geraniums, 2 July‘Petite Delight’ bee balm (monarda), 11 Julyred bee balm with that little purple geranium + ‘Hab Grey’ sedum in background, 15 July
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Side Yard
morning glory blooming, vegetable garden, 15 Julymorning glory opening, vegetable garden, 10 Julymorning glory, vegetable garden, 15 July‘Intensia Neon Pink’ phlox … or so it was (mis?) labelled at a plant sale in 2013 … 13 Julyechinacea bud, 10 Julyechinacea bud, 15 Julyfirst cosmos to appear from the seed mix, veg garden, 15 Julypink vervain starting to bloom, 15 July‘Lucifer’ crocosmia starting to bloom atop the vegetable garden, with feverfew beneath it and a holly and a hydrangea on either side. 15 July.female hummingbird with ‘Lucifer’ crocosmia, vegetable garden, 15 July‘Lucifer’ crocosmia stems (resting on hydrangea leaves), vegetable garden, 15 Julysummer squash flower, 13 Julyblue borage from seed, 6 Julypink borage from seed, 10 Julyborage extravaganza, side yard, 15 July
red bee balm in bud and flower, 15 Julyred bee balm, 10 Julysunflower bud — volunteer in veg garden, with crocosmia and feverfew behind, 15 Julysunflower bud — close, 15 July
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Fruit Guild
Not much blooming in the fruit guild now. The peaches are the thing, and they should be along in about a month. The swamp milkweed {Asclepias incarnata) is hosting swamp milkweed beetles but it’s not blooming yet. The Queen Anne’s Lace is starting to flower, along with the echinacea; the volunteer mullein is finished as are the sweet Williams from an old seed mix and most of the white and yellow yarrow; and the fennel just keeps waving away.
echinacea, fruit guild, 15 Julyfleabane and mullein, fruit guild, 5 Julya private moment between swamp milkweed beetles, 15 July
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Back Yard
lavender along patio … and comfrey and ‘Spirit’ sedum, 15 Julylavender stem, 8 July‘Jingle Bells’ Penstemon barbatus and ‘Spirit’ Sedum selskianum, 8 July‘Jingle Bells’ penstemon, 29 June‘Fascination’ Veronicastrum virginicum starting to bloom in the back border, 15 Julystem of ‘Fascination’ Veronicastrum virginicum, 10 JulyMasterwort (Astrantia) starting to bloom, 15 Julyfilipendula … probably bought at a plant sale in 2011 or 2012. It’s happy here! 15 July.Filipendula rubra ‘Venusta’ (aka Martha Washington’s Plume) in bud, 15 July 2020 (against ‘June Fever’ hosta)Achillea millefolium ‘Summer Pastels’ (yarrow), 9 July
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And along the driveway are the orange daylilies someone else planted, which first started blooming in late June and may take us into August.
the first two, on 28 Junea katydid on a daylily, 13 July
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Next month, there likely will be tall phlox, goldenrod, Joe Pye weed, globe thistle, horseheal, turtlehead, hydrangeas, butterfly bush, swamp milkweed, summersweet, and more, plus bee balm, echinacea, and other northeast garden stalwarts continuing to grace us.
So many wonderful flowers in your gardens! I love the close-up views of the coneflowers. I have them for the first time this year and am fascinated by how the petals come out of the spiky cone.
So many wonderful flowers in your gardens! I love the close-up views of the coneflowers. I have them for the first time this year and am fascinated by how the petals come out of the spiky cone.
So many varieties you have. But I have to say that your macro photographs are gorgeous.
Thank you! The details of plants and insects are so intriguing to me.