What’s Blooming: Summer is Here
Summer is definitely here. In the last few weeks, its started to dry out a bit and daytime highs/nighttime lows are moving higher…high 80’s/low 90s for highs and upper 60’s/low 70’s for lows. Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) and lance leafed coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) continue to bloom away, but less vibrant than a few weeks ago. That being said, the hummingbirds have been hitting up the bee balm with a much higher frequency than when it was first blooming. I was surprised to see calla lilies coming up in between the bee balm in our front planter as I had removed it all a few years ago due to being too aggressive. I really like the contrast between the red flowers / deep dull green foliage of the bee balm and the white flowers / glossy foliage of the calla lilies. Considering bee balm’s aggressiveness, they have the potential to keep each other in check…so I think I will leave the calla lilies for now.
Cone flowers (Echinacea purpurea) and oxe-eye sunflowers (Heliopsis helianthoides) (where we didn’t give them the chelsea chop several weeks ago) are really starting to look vibrant moving from a 1-2 blooms per plant to each plant being loaded with blooms. Joining them are narrow leaf mountain mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium) and prairie coneflower (Ratibda pinnata) which are also in full bloom. Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) and showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) are just starting to bloom. A few experiments (aka new plants to me) Hoary skullcap (Skutellaria incana) and Blue Fortune Anise Hyssop are blooming and growing nicely considering they only planted 1 month ago.
