The heatwave that lasted for more than a month is finally over. Now waiting for some rain to save the garden.
The long warm period caused some plants to get confused. The White Admiral (Phlox paniculata ‘White Admiral’) decided to start blooming a month earlier than normally.
The White Admiral is the one which starts the fall phlox blooming season. It will be interesting to see if the other phloxes got confused as well.
This year I planted my Red Flaxes (Linum grandiflorum) to a too dry place and it caused the flowers to grow unevenly.
Well, I still love the color of Red Flax. The stark contrast between the red blooms and green foliage somehow lures me.
Need to try to find a better spot for them next year or make a mixed flowerbed.
May Queen (Leucanthemum vulgare ‘May Queen’) has been blooming since May.
Ox-eye daisies are native to the area and a must have in the garden.
May Queen is very attractive to bees and butterflies and unattractive to rabbits and dears.
Corn Marigold (Glepionis segetum) is strongly self seeding. I have not planted any for two years.
Still there are some blooming after all this time.
Because it is doing so well I might buy more seeds and start mixing it in the flowerbeds with other bloomers. I can always use some reliable plants in the garden.
Prunotto (Lilium ‘Prunotto’) is the most reliable lily I have. It grows better and better each year.
This year I have so many blooms that I even dared to collect some to a vase which is something I seldom do.
The red color Prunotto has is simply stunning. Such beautiful shade of red which really stands out.
Usually you have Bilberries or you don’t. This year is a third year in a row when we have good crop. Cannot remember that happening before, two good years but never three.
Bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) are also called European blueberries. Bilberry is a wild species, native to forests of Northern Europe and very hard to cultivate.
European blueberries have dark red, strongly fragrant flesh and red juice that turns blue. Compared to American blueberries that have white or translucent, mildly fragrant flesh. The taste is also different, although it has similarities.
Cannot wait to bake a blueberry pie. It is one of my favorite pies.
It has not been that good year for the Danish Flags (Papaver somniferum ‘Danish Flag’). Because of the long warm period we are having many of the plants remain small.
Last year one of the flowers had a different color scheme. The white in the flower was replaced with purple.
I liked the color combination and collected the seeds. Now half of my Danish Flag flowers are waving red purple flags.
We have been enjoying a heatwave which has now already lasted four weeks. Luckily I am having my summer vacation and spending the time in the summer cottage next to a lake.
I, for sure, have spent the time swimming and enjoying the short summer we have up here in the north.
It has been too warm and dry for Chanterelles (Cantharellus cibarius) but I know the place where they usually grow and spend some time watering the area.
Now I am getting my reward, delicious mushrooms to cook.
If you ever want a unique looking lily the Apricot Fudge (Lilium ‘Apricot Fudge’) is a safe choice.
I have had them for several years and they are doing well. Reliable bloomers and tolerate the coldness well.
The look is so unique that I am never quite sure if I like them or not. For sure they always stand out.
Erfurter Orangefarbige (Calendula officinalis ‘Erfurter Orangefarbige’) is a variety of calendula bred specifically for its medicinal virtues – astringent, vulnerary and anti-inflammatory. An ancient remedy for dermal wounds and irritation.
This variety of Pot Marigold is easy to grow and blooms early. I have other varieties planted as well but those are not even close to blooming.
My plan is to use the flower pedals for meals, just to bring some color.
