First up is a cultivar of milkweed native to eastern North America, beloved of butterflies. It's commonly known as butterfly weed.
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| Asclepias tuberosa 'Hello Yellow' |
I am amazed at the number of blooms there have been on my hydrangeas. Planted 15 years ago, they are now shadowed by two Cryptomeria japonica that have grown out of bounds.
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| Hydrangea macrophylla 'Endless Summer' |
I really should move these!
Blooming their heads off are two varieties of calla lilies. I don't remember which cultivars these are, but I have pink and deep purple, almost black, ones as well as white ones.
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| Zantedeschia aethiopica |
They're commonly seen in floral arrangements or as houseplants, but these have been in the ground for at least 10 years in my North Georgia garden. They spread with abandon, and I regularly discard some each year.
Another proven butterfly magnet are the deciduous spirea shrubs in the front island. They're especially happy since we removed a dying cherry tree two years ago.
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| Spiraea japonica |
The spirea are backed by lime green Nandina domestica. While lovely, Nandinas are considered invasive plants that may displace native species. See their current distribution by state at The University of Georgia - Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
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Since the deer find my daylilies particularly tasty, I may never see another!
Thanks for visiting my early summer garden!
Your summer blooms are lovely! Those peace lilies are gorgeous! I didn’t know you could grow them outside, I may give it a try the next time I get one. Have a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I tried planting them and was pleasantly surprised. They've returned every year.
DeleteSandra, what beautiful summer blooms! Hydrangeas are such a favorite of mine, I enjoy seeing them in gardens! Thanks for sharing at Gardens Galore!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pam. Regular rainfall has certainly benefited my garden this year. Even the poor hydrangeas hiding in shade most of the day bloomed nicely.
DeleteSandra, your garden is lovely. Hydrangeas are so pretty. I love lilies.
ReplyDeleteWe have had a "normal" amount of rain this year and the garden is just reveling in it. So much better than the last few years of drought. Thanks for visiting!
DeleteSandra, everything looks so pretty! Your hydrangeas are such a pretty blue color. They are pinkish here but I love them just the same. Love your spirea too. That's a favorite of ours and we have two or three varieties planted.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you joined the garden party. ;)
Thanks, Stacey! Funny thing about hydrangeas -- you can often change their color because flower color is based on the pH level of the soil. The more alkaline the soil, the pinker the flowers. To make pink hydrangeas turn blue (or to keep blue ones from turning pink), increase the acidity of your soil.
DeleteSandra, what a lovely garden! Love the pretty yellow Butterfly weed. I had it in orange one year, but it didn't come back. Oh how I wish we could grow those gorgeous blue/pink hydrangeas! Not happening. :) We do have the pretty Limelights and a few other varieties that I enjoy. Thanks for sharing with the Garden Party.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
Thanks, Jann! I'm so pleased with the way it's turning out this year. Nothing like getting enough rain, right? I love to watch the butterflies (and bees) that visit the butterfly weed.
DeleteYour garden is so pretty and colorful!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carol! I tend to buy colors that go well with each other - if they bloom at nearly the same time.
DeleteWow I’m in love with the Peace Lilies! I saw them for sale at a garden center but assumed they would not come back in our area. I’ll have to check into that. The nandina flower looks much like the ones on my spirea shrubs. Love the pretty blue hydrangea flowers. My soil is so alkaline that I usually ended up with lots of pink/purple but never a great blue. So glad you joined the Garden Party!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liz! I was surprised how much the peace lilies like the garden. The dark purple almost black one is a bit finicky and hasn't spread. One of my challenges in gardening is dealing with our acidic, heavy clay soil, that stains everything red.
DeleteWonderful garden!Thanks for sharing,hugs!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Always like to share beautiful flowers.
DeleteYour milkweed is much different than that I see in my own yard. It's wild and has very pale blossoms. I like yours better. I never see monarchs visiting mine, but occasionally I see a monarch caterpillar, so I know the butterflies must be around, too.
ReplyDelete'Hello Yellow' is a cultivar I found on one of my online sources for perennials. I loved it because of the color. Here in Georgia I usually see the vivid orange varieties in gardens. We don't get many monarchs here unfortunately, but several other types of butterflies visit it.
DeleteBeautiful. I love summer.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Katie! Summer has been awfully hot here -- I wouldn't have minded spring lasting a bit longer.
DeleteHow beautiful your garden is!Hugs!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm glad you could visit today.
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