Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day—June
Autumn sage (Salvia greggii ), bat-faced cuphea (Cuphea llavea ), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea ), and ‘Carefree Beauty’ rose.
Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day snuck up on me this month. Rather than spend several hours today shooting each flower in my garden, cropping, resizing, and posting, I’m taking the lazy way out by using a few images of the sunny front garden that I took a couple of days ago. Most of my June blooms are under our blazing summer sun anyway, rather than in the shady back garden. Go on, tough guys. Thumb your noses at those 100-degree days weeks we’ve been enduring.
Plus, Kim at A Study in Contrasts gave me permission to post more photos of my favorite agave, so I hope the rest of you will forgive me for including this blue “rose” in my Bloom Day post. Pictured above are Mexican oregano (Poliomintha longiflora ), rock penstemon (P. baccharifolius ), and ‘Whale’s Tongue’ agave (A. ovatifolia ).
Oops, here it is again. There’s rock penstemon behind it, and across the path are hymenoxys (Tetraneuris scaposa ) and Agave americana ‘Variegata.’
Some cooling whites: White skullcap (Scutellaria ) and blackfoot daisy (Melampodium leucanthum ).
Bat-faced cuphea, softleaf yucca (Y. recurvifolia ), and purple coneflower
What a ham! There’s that agave again, embraced by white skullcap, blackfoot daisy, Mexican oregano, and rock penstemon.
I saw this anole lizard hunting among the agave leaves.
Happy Bloom Day, everyone. To see what’s blooming today in gardens all over the world, visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens.
All material © 2006-2008 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Pam you have a fantastic garden. A wonderful bloomday! The Agave, it is beautiful, makes a real statement in between the flowering plants. Do you know the name of this Agave.
Thanks, Trudi. That big, blue agave is called ‘Whale’s Tongue,’ Agave ovatifolia. —Pam
Beautiful garden as usually Pam. I just love your Agave, I’m glad you included it in all those pictures. I also have Echinacea purpurea in my garden, but it only started blooming now.
Isn’t Echinacea purpurea a wonderfully reliable, cheerful flower? Thanks for stopping by, Gintoino. —Pam
Hi Pam. I love the lizard. You work wonders with so little water. Opposite problem here in England. I’ve run across 2 Texans here. One, Bee Drunken in my blog roll, is from Austin too and now lives in England, growing roses.
Hi, Sarah. Thanks for stopping by. English gardening is sounding pretty good right now (OK, it always does). I’d love to have some of your rain and cooler temperatures. Bee Drunken must be enjoying it. I’ll check him/her out sometime. —Pam
I never tire of looking at those huge agaves in your garden Pam. They do remind me of roses on
steroids. You know I love that Anole. Have you ever had a spiny or horned lizard in your garden?
Not that I’ve seen, Lisa. I have anoles, geckos, skinks, and the occasional garter snake. —Pam
What a great looking garden. The agaves add such texture to the garden. I have one on the porch that is supposed to be hardy for me, but I am waiting to ensure that the drainage is good where I want to put it. The variegated agave that you have planted in what looks like a galvanized ring – is the ring a design element or a cultural need?
Hi, Les, and thanks for commenting. The galvanized ring is purely a design element. Check out my post about this sunken stock tank for more info. —Pam
Pam, where did you find the little Aztec man? Every time I see him, I smile. I just have to have one of those. BTW, you are really winning me over w/that blue agave. I swore I’d never like anything remotely “southwest” after having tumbleweeds growing up, but I’m beginning to change my mind. Hilary
Yea, I’m glad to be showing you some southwestern beauty, Hilary. There’s so much more to love than tumbleweeds, as I’m sure you’ll remember.
The blue sun person is from Barton Springs Nursery in Austin. They no longer sell them, but if you call and ask, they may remember where they purchased them. —Pam
Brown summer certainly hasn’t hit your garden! You’ve got some tough plants there. No surprise that about the only thing blooming over at my place are the purple coneflowers that YOU gave me. I’m not supposed to say “Thanks” (according to Carol @ MDG) but you know what I mean.
I think “you’re welcome” is OK to say, and so you are, MSS. I’m glad they are adding some color to your garden during this dreadful heat wave. I will admit that my garden could be browner, but I have been irrigating more than usual, though still within my city-specified dates and times. —Pam
It’s great to see those coneflowers blooming–mine have yet to bloom. I would show off that agave, too! It’s gorgeous.
Wish we could send some rain your way, although your garden seems to be thriving without it.
Hi, Rose, and thank you for visiting. I know some parts of the country are dealing with more rain than they can handle, so I hate to complain about not having any. I use tough plants that can get by on little water, even in this heat, but the garden would be browner right now without supplemental irrigation. Except the agaves, which would be just fine. —Pam
Love that agave! Post pics of it anytime. I wonder if it would grow in Maryland? I don’t really have room for it, but I think it’s very lovely. Thanks for sharing your beautiful garden.
Hello, Kim, and thanks for your comment. The ‘Whale’s Tongue’ agave is native to high elevations in northern Mexico. Maryland would probably be too cold for it, but I know there are agaves (Parry’s, I think?) that can grow in zone 5 or even 4. Good drainage is critical. —Pam
Beautiful!!! I love the little anole poking around too!!!! I bought my first agave the other day. It’s called Spot. It is a little guy but still cute. I have to take a picture of it and post it sometime today.
I know that you’re an agave lover, Cindee, if you’ve even given yours a cute, pet-like name. I hope Spot proves a wonderful addition to your garden. I’ll pop over for a look soon. —Pam
I love those cute little lizards of yours. Your front garden is really looking good. We have something blooming in common: the ‘Carefree Beauty’ Rose. That may be because I just planted mine & it was in bloom when I bought it.
Thanks, MMD. ‘Carefree Beauty’ really gets around, doesn’t she? I like these roses that can take the heat AND the cold. Tough! —Pam
It may be hot, but your garden looks cool and breezy.
If only it were. Thanks, Chuck. —Pam
Pam, so glad I visited your site. I, too, wondered what you could have that is surviving the heat. But was pleasantly surprised! Your garden is lush and gorgeous. The Mexican oregano and rock penstemon are beautiful. Also that whale tongue agave, wow! Great gardens.
Thank you, Beckie. The three you named are some of the very toughest plants in my garden. It’s a joy to me that they are also beautiful. —Pam
Pam, you’ve certainly managed to plant some tough, but pretty flowers in your front garden. Those weeks of 100 degree days don’t seem to be causing them any set back. Perhaps you have a microclimate that is cooler right there (like we have little warmer microclimates up her in the north)? I’m kidding about that, I know it is hot everywhere in Austin. Hot, hot, hot! Hang in there, your gardens look beautiful so now you can sit in the air conditioning and enjoy them from the inside.
There are places in Austin that can be 10 degrees cooler than the Camp Mabry official temperatures that I always cite. Out by the airport the elevation is a little lower, and it often gets colder especially in winter. But in summer, as you know, it’s hot everywhere in Austin, especially in my front garden, I’m afraid, which faces due west with no shade except that provided by my new baby crepe myrtle. Hot, hot, hot. Thank goodness for air conditioning. 🙂 —Pam
Your garden looks so exotic with those gorgeous agaves!
Happy Garden Bloom Day! /Katarina
Happy Bloom Day to you too, Katarina. Thanks for stopping by for a visit. —Pam
I’m with Kim – you can post pictures of your agave any time. What a beauty! I too have a blue-leaved agave, but it’s only 1 inch tall with three leaves, and it gives off unhappy vibes. I suspect it would be much more comfortable living in Austin than up here in PA. Well, at least I can admire yours. Happy Bloom Day, Pam!
Nan, I have a hard time imagining any plant not being happy in your gorgeous garden. Thanks for stopping by. —Pam
I love your coneflowers. Mine are rather small this year. Your Mexican oregano is simply gorgeous and I am adding it to my list of must haves. At this moment my thermometer is reading 102 here in fort worth. All my flowers are gasping. Thanks for sharing your beautiful gardens.
Whew, the heat is brutal this year, isn’t it, Kim? You’d love the Mexican oregano. You can trim it into a low, mounded hedge, as I’ve done with the ones pictured here, or you can let it grow tall and loose—either way it blooms beautifully and looks great. It laughs at heat waves and drought. Wish I could too. 😉 —Pam
How cool that agave is in with the flowers. I have three I need to move and it never occurred to me to mix them in with the flowers. Thanks for the cool idea.
You’re welcome, Linda. I love the way the big, sculptural agave leaves contrast with the tiny, xeric perennial leaves. Have fun with your agave redo. —Pam
I’m enjoying the photos of the agave also…is it still staying healthy?
So far, so good, Leslie. Thanks for asking! —Pam
I’ll never tire of that agave! Great garden shots and all still looking so fresh in the heat of your summer. Bravo!
Thanks, Layanee. If only I looked so fresh after a few hours outdoors—ha! —Pam
Oh, I’m envious of how good your plants look. I got busy this spring and forgot to mulch all of my borders in the back, and as a result, everything is looking pretty crispy right now despite more supplemental watering than I’m really comfortable with.
My newer plants are having a tough time too, Lori. And my daughter and I entirely gave up on her bed of seed-grown zinnias and cosmos. We just couldn’t keep them watered enough in this heat. The tough plants out front that continue to bloom anyway earn my respect. —Pam
Everything looks great. I love that Whale’s Tongue agave. It is so dramatic and looks really good next to the flowers.
Thanks, Phillip. —Pam
Love your skullcap. I couldn’t decide upon that or a ragin cajin ruellia a while back but decided on the ruellia since I had never seen it before and was afraid I might not again if I didn’t get it that day.
Sam
The skullcap is pretty common around here. If the ragin cajin ruellia is something different (I’ve never seen it either), I can see why you snapped it up. Do you have pics? —Pam
Any garden that can look so beautiful on the West side of a house deserves many compliments, Pam! Is the shady porch in back usable at this time or is even that refuge just too hot right now?
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Too hot for me, Annie, though I’m sure others wouldn’t mind it. I retreat to the A/C and enjoy the view through the windows. —Pam
Hi Pam, I love your blue rose. It looks great. You should write an article about four seasons interest in xeriscape gardening because you are an expert.
Love the full frontal photos because we can see how the plants work together.~~Dee
I’m glad you enjoyed the wide shots. I always like seeing them on other blogs too. Thanks for the story idea. I’ll think about that one. —Pam
Your garden is blooming beautifully. That agave is HUGE. I love it!
Me too, Shala. Thanks for stopping by. —Pam
Sorry for the late kudos, Pam. You really do have some kind of magic to get a xeric garden so lush right now! Really great–thanks for the continued inspiration!
Thanks, Iris. No magic required, just a nice, good-draining soil amendment, plenty of sun, a late-spring pruning, and some extra water to keep it looking good during this heat wave and dry spell we’re going through. Other than that, these plants love the sun and the heat. —Pam
Agaves seem to be all the rage, even here in the Pacific Northwest. I have been wanting one, but after seeing yours my acquisitiveness is ratcheting up to the next level. Thanks for sharing.
That’s how it happens, Ricki. Aren’t garden blogs bad for our wallets that way? 😉 I hope you find some agaves for your northwestern garden soon. —Pam
I was showing hubby (who loves agaves and architectural plants) your bloom’s day pics, and he now insists I get those wispy flowers to go with them. The look of Agave a la Pam! LOL.
I bought several new agaves in San Francisco and at the garden center here (attenuata, squid, blue glow, potatorum, cows horn etc). I got them quite small but they will grow to a a good size here in 2 years. This adds to my collection of “freebie and found” agaves, mostly americana and sisal. Since agaves seem to be the craze now soon people here will stop throwing them away, too, and I noticed the price has doubled in the nursery. I hope to find a small whale’s tongue next time I travel.
Your husband has good taste—ha! 😉 Wow, the agaves you got in San Francisco are some of my favorites, especially cow’s horn and attenuata. I hope you find a Whale’s Tongue too, Nicole. —Pam
Hi Pam, I love seeing your garden from atop a ladder? The extra water is paying off well in the looks of your garden. Is the rock penstemon the same as one called Red Rocks? I bought one in Brenham at the Rose Emporium and brought in with me to TN. It has seeded and been spread all over and does love the heat here also. We have a new rose called Carefree Sunshine, like yours only yellow. It was difficult to find but I love yellow roses and found one in Asheville. Hope it performs like Carefree Beauty at your place. Do you trim the cupheas at all, the one we have in a container looks great but is getting pretty leggy? Echinaceas and whale’s tongue agave should be in every one of your posts, yours are so well grown.
Hi, Frances. No ladder this time. I just held the camera over my head for that first shot (love those adjustable LCD screens). No, the rock penstemon is a native species, while the ‘Red Rocks’ is a hybrid from P. mexicale. I love your ‘Carefree Sunshine’ rose and must absolutely find a space for it in my garden. I do trim the cupheas ; in fact, I trimmed the bat-face cuphea a bit this morning. —Pam
Your garden seems to be thriving and looks beautiful even with the heat.
Thanks, Robin. These are tough plants, tougher than I am. 😉 —Pam
Your front garden is bearing up very well in spite of the heat, Pam. Oh yes, post pics of that gorgeous Agave any time you like. It’s fabulous Darling!! I love the color of the rock penstemon. Wonder if it would do well here. I’ll have to research that one.
I too appreciate the long shots. It’s always good to see a bigger view of the garden to see how it all works together..and where it’s situated.
Enjoy the views from your air conditioning Pam!
We have 58º (14ºC) and a cold breeze here today. Boo! Although it would probably feel good to you. 🙂
My goodness—58 degrees? That’s like our winter, Kerri. Yes, I’d love that right now, but I’m wishing you warmer temps and sunshine and soft breezes. —Pam
Hi again Pam, I love this GBBD posting showing areas of your garden
I also love to take the close-up shots like you but it is great to see the garden as a whole too. It gives everyone the feel of your garden too. I always smile when I see your garden – especially the agaves 😀
Have a great weekend 😀
Thanks, Shirl. I did a rather lazy Bloom Day post this month, but I’m glad you enjoyed the long shots. And the ubiquitous agaves. 😉 —Pam
Hi Pam! I had a question, does the lizard eat the plants or the bugs?
Thanks for the great pictures, your garden is lovely.
-mandy
Thanks, Mandy. The anole lizards are carnivores. They are adept bug hunters in the garden. —Pam