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Garden Delights For Midsummer

 

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We have once again reached the wonderful magical time of midsummer, when the garden is aglow with sensational blooms and a fantastic array of colors. Many of these wonderful blooms fill the air with their tantalising perfume.

I often pause for a while especially at twilight when the scent from the blooms are at their stongest, and feel extremely proud of the effort that I have put into my garden.

This is when I really appreciate how worthwhile it has all been.

No doubt your garden is looking really special as well, but if by any chance you feel there are any gaps, or plants that you think could be doing better, might I suggest that you take some inspiration from some of these wonderful blooms which I find truly magnificent.

In my opinion these are some of the blooms that will enhance any garden and delight the senses with their combined scents.

Rose eglanteria - This sweet briar rose is valued for the strong apple aroma which comes from the leaves, but there is also much more than a pink flower in summer, it is followed by a deep red in the autumn. I think that it is an extremely handsome bush, and it also makes an impenetrable hedge.

Agastache faoeniculum (anise hyssop) - This is a stately herbaceous perennial, whose silver green leaves release a liquorice aniseed fragrance. The rich violet blue color flowers are particularly loved by bees, butterflies and goldfinches among others. I find the rich beautiful color delightful when it bursts into my garden in the late summer, and lasts right through to autumn.

Cytisus battandeiri (Moroccan Broom) - When planted around the walls of the house or around the patio, the crushed pineapple aroma which comes from the cones of the yellow blossom will pervade the air.

It truly excites the senses on the warm still days of June and July, with its wonderful aroma wafting into the house or patio area. It should be encouraged to flower freely so that you get the most from this absolutely wonderful flower.

Magnolia grandiflora - The large chalices are a joy in late summer with a wonderful lemon zest aroma. It should be helped to bloom when young by espalier-training the shoots against a warm sunny wall. Train them horizontally, and shorten new shoots to five leaves in August.

Dianthus (Brymton Red) - These lovely old fashioned dianthus have a lingering clove fragrance and the "Brymton red" is a true peacock among them. They yield a brilliant display of single deep red flowers laced with darker markings, and are just scintillating in June. Be sure to deadhead flowers weekly to channel your plants energy into producing more shoots and blooms.

Eucryphia nymansay - This elegant evergreen is famous for its summer and autumn display of large honey scented white flowers. The flower is coveted by nectar seeking bees. It needs a warm and sunny location. I absolutely adore these.

Ferdinand Pitchard - This is an old fashioned rose with the beckoning smell of fresh picked raspberries. The globular pink blooms striped with crimson and purple will be your reward for planting this fantastic rose. It thrives on humis rich soil in full sunlight, and it will bring
color to the summer season most beautifully.

Other Flowers To Bring A Fesival Of Color And Delight.

Gladiolus communis - Until recently people looked down their noses at gladiolus but they do make really good border flowers. They are excellent at cramming the other colors, and they barely take any space at ground level.

Scabiosa "Ace of Spades" - This is one for the chocoholics, "Ace of Spades" is a mass of velvet and maroon with little white pins that have a pincushion effect. What a beautiful flower this is, nestle them amongthe green foliage of alchemilla for contemporary color scheming. Allow the last flowers to self-sow.

Delphinium Belladonna Group - If you are looking for grace and charm then Belladonna hybrids are for you. They are ideal for summoning a romantic effect, look wonderful around cottages, and bring an English type of charm to your garden.

For a full season of color grow with peonies, poppies and dahlias. Cut down the first spikes once they have flowered for a second flush of blooms.

Papaver " Lady Frederick Moore" - A charming peach poppy is much softer on the eye than the traditional pillar box red oriental, and is easier to blend with the pastels of early summer. Grow in the sun and hope for gentle weather to prolong this tissue paper like flower.

Monarda "Capricorn" - Think magenta, think hardy geranium? Why not try an unusual monarda instead, with its beautiful aromatic foliage and spidery petals, totally adored by bees. The stunning color and shapes make it a good contender with spikes of lythrum and veronica.

It is best planted in the sun where the soil does not get too dry nor the space too crowded.

LLathyrus latifolius - A delightful sweet pea that is everlasting but without the sweet scent I am afraid,,so you can never quite have it all can you.

However, with the strong aromas from the flowers above this pretty flower,I do think that it is worth having in your garden. The flowers are much bigger than the annual L.odoratus,with iridescent shells for petals, and twining tendrils that obliginly twirlup small trees or wires on sunny fences. Give them the occasional folier feed and cut down last years foliage in the winter.

Acunthus mallis - Most perennials have unremarkable leaves, but not this stunning bear's breeches. Acunthus makes a versatile backdrop for classic herbaceous borders or jungle style foliage. The dark glossy leaves and spikes of dusky hooded flowers will make a show
all summer long. Water well in dry summers.

Achillea "Walther Funcke" - If pastels are not your bag, spice things up instead with paprika shades of "Walter Funcke"! Add a scattering of yellow day lilies and mix in the wispy blonde leaves of ponytail grass, (Stipa tenuissima), for good measure. It makes a compact drought tolerant mix for a sunny border where space is tight.

Thalictrum delavayi - Verbena bonariensis is not the only see-through plant. The tall meadow rue is wonderful airy for the front of a border, with perenial ferny foliage and clouds of tiny, fluffy flowers on skinny purple stems. Grow on the cool side of the garden where the soil does not get too dry in summer.

These are just a few of my favorite wonderfully scented flowers and plants that I think will add a soft to dramatic color to your garden.

So why not let your imagination and flair for color work magic on your own garden.
I can tell you that I feel like a true artist when my garden is in full bloom.

 

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Boy/ Girl Names......?

What do you think of all these names..?

Girl First Names:
Camille
Maisie
Jessamine (Jessa-mean)

Girl Middle Names:
Rachelle (Ra-shell)
Mariee
Justine (Jus-teen)

Boy First Names:
Briar
Dainton

Boy Middle Names:
Von
Parker

Give me your opinion on all these please.

& Also, which first and middle names would you put together? Thank you.
Which on MY names would you put together, not your own. Also Mariee has two e's not one. I made no spelling errors and I am only concerned about the names above, NO NAME SUGGESTIONS PLEASE!!
FYI : I am not having another child quite yet. These names came of of a baby site that said these were the 'hot' names for 2008. So I'm just trying to see if they will be.

Girl First Names:
Camille - love it.
Maisie - adorable, though I would personally use it as a nickname (options are always nice).
Jessamine (Jessa-mean) - I believe the JES-a-min pronunciation is most common, but I like both. Classic choice.

Girl Middle Names:
Rachelle (Ra-shell) - never cared for it.
Mariee - I can't really comment, as I'm not familiar with this at all, though I know you said it isn't a typo.
Justine (Jus-teen) - very dated in my opinion. Can't say it's my style.

Boy First Names:
Briar - I quite like the name, but find it a bit feminine. Perhaps just the princess/fairy tale reference?
Dainton - I'd like Denton or simply Dane, but I'm not familiar with this and, quite frankly, it immediately brings to mind the word "dainty." Again, not so masculine.

Boy Middle Names:
Von - um, this literally means "from/of." Basically the same as making the entire middle name De. I simply don't care for that. It makes it seem the parents just thought it sounded distinguished or something and had no idea what the name actually meant in common usage.
Parker - common, expected choice, but so much better than From.

DUNHILL 1998 SHELL BRIAR PIPE PRISTINE CONDITION