• Windsor

    Phloxes are blooming beautifully at the moment. The Windsor (Phlox paniculata ‘Windsor’) finally started its show and is the last one of the phloxes to open the blooms.

    The summer has been a good one for the phloxes even though they have required a lot of watering.

    Planning to have more colors and varieties next year.

  • Cerise Queen

    The nights are getting longer and colder up here in the north. Days are still nice and warm but you can feel the autumn coming.

    Few years ago I had some extra yarrow seeds and just threw them around. The end result is that I now have Cerise Queens (Achillea millefolium ‘Cerise Queen’) growing here and there.

    We have the white form of yarrow as a native plant but no other colors. Cerise Queens are easy to spot since they just stand out.

  • Navona

    Navona (Lilium ‘Navona’) was a buyer gift when I made an order years ago. I was not considering white lilies to the garden at that point of time.

    But I must admit that it has been a gift that I have liked a lot.

    The Navona blooms are big and pure white. It has grown well in a challenging location where the birch trees take the nutrients and consume the water.

  • Tiny Nugget

    It has been a good summer for the lilies.

    The early ones like Tiny Nugget (Lilium ‘Tiny Nugget’) bloomed early and the late ones are blooming as we speak.

    Lilies are easy to care though have had some troubles with the red lily beetles (Lilioceris lilii) recently. Must take them seriously next spring since they are getting numerous.

  • Tiny Nugget

    It has been a good summer for the lilies.

    The early ones like Tiny Nugget (Lilium ‘Tiny Nugget’) bloomed early and the late ones are blooming as we speak.

    Lilies are easy to care though have had some troubles with the red lily beetles (Lilioceris lilii) recently. Must take them seriously next spring since they are getting numerous.

  • Origami Red and White

    I had completely forgotten that I planted Origami Red and White (Aquilegia caerulea ‘Origami Red and White’) seeds last year.

    The blooms were a nice surprise and lasted long.

    Now the flowering season for columbines is over but it is time to collect the seeds. This surely was a variety that I want to see more in my garden.

  • Baby Blue Eyes

    Love the light blue color the Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii) have.

    The summer has not been the best possible for them even though they are easy to grow. This plant grows best in loose, organically rich, well-drained acidic soil in full sun to part shade.

    The garden pollinators also love this flower

  • Sensation

    I am usually quite self sufficient when it comes to the Sensation (Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Sensation’) seeds but this spring bought some to ensure that all the color varieties are there.

    Cosmos likes the warmth and this summer has been good to them.

    Sensation grows and blooms quickly which is good for the short summers we have.

  • Covent Garden

    Covent Garden (Gypsophila elegans ‘Covent Garden’) bloomed well this year. Dry weather suits it fine and there were no rain to ruin the blooms.

    The only challenge with Covent Garden is that the blooming season is quite short.

    The flower is popular with the florists and is used in the bouquets. Gypsophila has been cultivated for hundreds of years and is a very old garden flower.

  • Velouette

    Velouette (Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Velouette’) is a very beautiful cosmos variety.

    The warm summer has suited it well and it has started to bloom earlier than usually.

    For our short summers the variety is a bit problematic. If we get a cool summer, which we many times do, it has challenges to bloom early enough.