Alphabetical August stroll through my garden, and why not?

Abronia fragrans

One of the unintended consequences of working at a Library in college is that you learn how to alphabetize easily. My buddy Bill Adams (a banker, for God's sake!) is horrified that I planted my Arilbed irises on East Ridge IN ALPHABETICAL order: should I have done it phylogenetically, Bill? At any rate--I  already labeled these pix from the last week--and they're in alphabetical order-- Starting with the universal sand verbena of the West. It grows natively in little prairie remnants near my house: I can't remember where or how I got these, but they have enlivened West Ridge for over a decade, popping up here and there. With the monsoons this year this display has been heavy and protracted. For an hour or two in the evening the smell is powerful and sweet (and strangely acrid too close)...nevertheless, a plant I love and wish were more widely grown.



Abronia fragrans



Alcea rugosa

I struggled for years to establish this in one of the drier corners of the garden, but Jan plunked it in her border and it's going gangbusters. Life isn't fair! And it must like a little extra moisture...



Allium prostratum

First of all, it's not prostrate. It's cuter in real life than in the picture. Waiting for a comment from Mark...


Amorphophallus konjac

Over a meter across--I can't say how proud and pleased I am that this classic came through last winter. A gift of J.C. Raulston arboretum--one of my all time favorite spots...



Beesia deltoidea

This was purchased at a local garden center, thanks to Monrovia. Now if it will only settle into the garden...



Campanula coriacea

One of dozens of incredible campanulas from the Caucasus and Turkey that are little known. It picks a good time to bloom...

Campanula fragilis var. cavalinii

Queen of midsummer campanulas, this is the much hardier subspecies introduced by Votech Holubec--one of the most traveled and accomplished gardeners in the world.

Clematis integrifolia ex Lake Baikal reblooming

A random seedling of this dwarfer form of integrifolia--and it's a good rebloomer.

Escobaria vivipara

This picture is almost life sized (assuming you're looking at it on a laptop and not a phone)--I lost track of which subspecies. But the enormous flowers and late bloom rate highly in my book...



Gladiolus 'Atom'

This was hardy several years at DBG--this is my first summer with this, but it's already become my favorite Glad...unless flanaganii decides to overwinter.


Incarvillea sinensis

I'm not sure what to make of this lacy thing---it's decided to grow with various tiny morsels in my rock garden--but it's not really in scale..but the fine tracery of the foliage and the outrageous flowers argue for leaving it...

Incarvillea sinensis closeup

The flowers are really delightful close up...

Inula verbascifolia

From Mt. Olympus--reason enough to grow this Inula. The foliage does look ridiculously like a verbascum...it loves my garden and seeds just enough to perpetuate itself and share a few...


Inula verbascifolia

From further back so you can enjoy its contrast to Erodium--rapidly becoming one of my favorite genera...erodiums never quit blooming,and their foliage is gorgeous and evergreen. What's not to love?

Leontopodium alpinum

Good ol' Edelweiss...now to get all those Himalayan forms again I've grown over the years...



Lilium concolor

The flowers are awfully small for a lily--but with that color, who cares?



Lilium concolor

Pictures taken at two times of the day show the way the flower color morphs in the light from orange to crimson. I would like to grow every species of lily one day...


Mentha longifolia

One mint I would never want to be without. Not just because it ranges from Africa to the Himalaya--but the silvery leaves make a wonderful contrast to the pinky-lavender flowers, and the smell! Not as impossible to control as most mints.


Monarda 'Lambada'

Looks as though it's finally settled in--this Western annual pops up here and there, much more compactly in the dry garden. I love it...and its smell.



Opuntia sp.

Possibly a form of O. cycloides from Big Bend, this is currently my biggest Opuntia. Bigger ones on the way!



Penstemon barbatus (flesh colored)

I don't know if I love or hate this color.



Platycodon grandiflorus (dwf. pink)

I was a bit disappointed the pink was so pale--but the plants love the spot I put them in--so it will probably stay put...



The Pond

Views around the garden this summer...lush with all the rain.



The scree bank in my rock garden

Another view of the scree bank 

The big screes are looking more and more like meadows. Oh well..

Closeup of the waterfall wall garden

I love the way the wall is filling in.



Pot ghetto by waterfall

One of many clusters of pots. I've overdone it as usual. I should count them up. I know they are in the multi hundreds...


Edge of veggie garden

Neglected veggie garden overgrown with Amaranth and Red Orach

We didn't plant the vegetable garden properly, but lots of goodies have naturalized, including some edible ones. I love the maroon of Red Orach and amaranth.

Path to back gate



House glimpsed through veggie madness...



West Ridge: that's 'Snow Leopard' on the right



Path along West Ridge



West Ridge in Sunflower time...that's Salvia 'Raspberry Delight'--the toughest greggii type

Just views around the garden--subtle, but easy to live with!



Salvia 'Raspberry Delight' (S. greggii x microphylla v. wislezinii)

By far the toughest of the greggii-type, 'Raspberry Delight' blooms heavtily for a week or two after every heavy rain--which means all the time this year!



Closer view



Closer yet!



Saponaria x lempergii 'Max Frei'

Another stellar performer--albeit the spot it's growing in is a tad dryish for it....the rains compensated this year and it's doin' its thang...

Trough with Talinum rugospermum

This little known succulent from the Midwest is a wonderful addition to troughs for summer interest. Seedlings are many, but easily pulled (and transplanted)...



Closeup of same



Uvularia grandiflora in seed

This Uvularia is so gorgeous in bloom--but even the seedpods are cool. Seed sheds while moist--not one for the exchanges I fear...

No pix of zauschneria or zinnia--sorry! That's it! Gotta go garden--see ya later...