The miracle of spring never grows old or loses its wonder. Just a few short months ago, our yard was bleak and empty. By the end of June, the garden is unrecognizable as that same blank canvas.
The queen of the June garden is surely the giant fleeceflower (Persicaria polymorpha) A hardy perennial, it dies back to the ground each year, but by the end of June, its sturdy, plume-topped stalks stand over seven feet tall. What a marvel.
Another wonder of the early summer garden is the Giant Sea Kale (Crambe cordifolia), which produces huge airy sprays of dainty, sweetly scented flowers that are adored by pollinators. This plant is sometimes compared to baby’s-breath on steroids.
The development of a path through the east border has been one of this year’s projects. A spiral juniper marks the entrance to the path.
The path is lined with young perennials that will make a colourful display as they fill in. The bright red spots are the flowers of a little rose, Oso Easy Cherry Pie. I don’t have many roses as I am unprepared to fuss with temperamental plants that need special attention. The Oso Easy series are reputed to be carefree, and I have been pleased with Cherry Pie so far.
Here’s another new addition, Campanula ‘Sarastro’, a handsome hybrid bellflower.
The silvery stems and white flowers of Lychnis coronaria ‘Rose Blush’ are very graceful. Some of the flowers do have a light pink blush, as suggested by the name, but many appear pure white. Still pretty.
These little daisy-like flowers belong to feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium).
The hostas are slow to get underway in the spring but are reaching their full stature.
Another shady walk is watched over by St. Francis of the bird feeder.
Geranium ‘Karmina’ joined the garden late last summer and has performed well this spring.
Clematis ‘Piilu’ (Little Duckling) tumbles over an old stump.
This Serbian Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana ‘Blue Waterfall’) sits in a puddle of its own blue blooms that spray over the ground.
Another new project this year is this shady path through the east border. Its construction was preceded by a whole lot of weed and grass removal, admirably completed by RailGuy.
The purple flowers of the reliable catmint Nepeta x faassenii ‘Six Hills Giant’ contrast nicely with the yellow of Lysimachia punctata ‘Golden Alexander’.
The rosy blooms of Knautia macedonica are waiting for the thistle-like flowers of Echinops bannaticus ‘Star Frost’ to catch up.
That’s a little sampling of the late June garden. I leave you with this picture of Joe Crow watching over the west border.
Willow House Chronicles 
This isn’t a garden – it’s a botanical park! How gorgeous! Tell me – you must have to divide the perennials often? I am finding myself overwhelmed – all is crowded, and I hate throwing good plants out, post division (not many folks to give away to). My place is more like a jungle 🙂
Joe Crow is beautiful! We have many of the same plants but you are a bit ahead of us. The Persicaria is in full bloom here too but the Cranbe is not quite open yet.Clematis Piilu is very nice and I will get one if I see it for sale. I look forward to hearing if the Cherry Pie rose lives up to expectations. Last year I planted Ballerina which is also supposed to be trouble free. I put it in a wild area where so far it has competed with weeds. It is interesting as it is very easy to multiply from cuttings. Everyone I made grew, which is unusual.
You have a beautiful garden.
Anya, thanks! Since the garden is still growing, I have space to move plants about and divide things, plus I have daughters who carry plants home with them. A heavy mulch keeps down volunteers. I’m beginning to thing that the giant fleeceflower might take over the entire yard in a few years, though.
Alain, I’m very fond of Joe Crow. So far, I’m very pleased with Cherry Pie. It is putting out lots of very bright flowers and growing well.. However, I also got Oso Easy Paprika and Oso Easy Strawberry Crush and they have both been disappointing. They aren’t doing a lot, and the flowers they have produced are more pastel and not nearly as bright as I was expecting. Maybe they’ll be better later in the summer. I’ve had KnockOut Rainbow and it does well. Grows well, blooms well. Taller than Cherry Pie.
You have such a lovely garden!!