Making Peace with Summer

Summer is the toughest season here, even when conditions are relatively mild as they've been thus far this year.  There are far fewer flowers but greenery, enhanced by spots of red, yellow and gray foliage, creates peaceful scenes.  I thought I'd share some of my favorite views of my summer garden with you.

This area alongside the garage may be my favorite right now, partly because it's one of the shadiest sections of the garden.  As the sweet pea bushes (Polygala fruticosa) have mostly finished flowering, floral color is limited to a few roses (not visible from this angle) and a couple of surprise lilies (Lycoris squamigera).  The Polygalas need trimming, as does the creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) but that'll wait awhile.

This area on the other side of the driveway is also dominated by trees, including Agonis flexuosa (peppermint willow), Magnolia grandiflora, and Arbutus 'Marina' (strawberry tree) 

Succulents, including Aeonium arboreum and Agave desmettiana, thrive under the tree cover along the moderate slope facing the street on the west side.  This is the dormant season for Aeoniums but they look good even in summer when they get some shade and a little water.

Along the street, two large Agave desmettiana 'Variegata' are hard at work producing bulbils.

Pennisetum 'Fireworks' along the path up to the main level of the garden are already flowering despite my tardy pruning exercise in June

Ornamental grasses and grass-like substitutes (Sesleria 'Greenlee's Hybrid', Lomandra longifolia 'Breeze', and Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt') provide a green backdrop in the front garden, punctuated by the gray tones of  Centaurea 'Silver Feather' and Cotyledon orbiculata and the chartreuse color of Duranta repens.  I was annoyed when what was sold to me as Duranta 'Gold Mound' exceeded its projected size of 3x3 feet, growing 7-8 feet tall (when pruned regularly) but I do like the statement it makes here.

This is another view of the same area, with flowers provided by the ever-blooming Grevillea 'Superb' and Cotyledon orbiculata.  Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder' provides a bit of red color.  The grimy wall of the house in the background will be taken care of during the last stages of our remodel.

I just started tidying up the beds on the south side of the house, where I'd let crabgrass gain a foothold.  This view extends to the back garden in the distance.

This is currently the best looking part of my backyard border, where Callistemon 'Cane's Hybrid' and Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset' are currently competing for attention

On the northeast side of the garden, the New Zealand tea trees (Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl') need pruning but the Leucadendrons and Grevilleas (on the far right) are holding the area together with the help of assorted succulents

Another view of the same area.  The Callistemon viridiflorus (center foreground), sent to me last year by Tamara of Chickadee Gardens, is slowly but surely getting itself established.

The cutting garden on the other side of the fence on the north side is the most colorful spot in my entire garden at the moment.  The Dahlias are leading the summer parade, with Zinnias, sowed late, following behind.  The sunflowers, started even later from seed, are just a couple feet high but I hope they'll come through for me before the summer's over.

Not the prettiest, but perhaps the most compelling wide shots from my perspective, are these:

Progress!  The new kitchen now has walls and its new windows were installed this morning.

Work is still underway on the kitchen's new roof, which will now be extended over the adjacent dining room too.  Once the interior drywall goes in, final measurements can be taken and the cabinetmaker can get started.

Enjoy your weekend!  Much as I appreciate the progress on our remodel, I'm looking forward to 2 days of peace and quiet.


All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party