Drought survivors

It's been a hot, dry summer. In accordance with our water restrictions, I run around every couple of days hand-watering with a spring-loaded nozzle on the hose. We've also been saving the water that runs while we wait for hot water to kick in, as well as the not-too-dirty grey water, and carrying all of it out to slosh over the more needy plants. In spite of these efforts, quite a few plants are showing signs of stress. Some have flowered fast and gone early to seed; hydrangeas keep wilting, and other shrubs are showing singed brown edges on the leaves, like Rosa 'Ghislaine de Féligonde', which is in a particularly dry and sunny spot.

In spite of being in full shade, Rhododendron schlippenbachii is looking much the same.

However, most other roses are coping surprisingly well. 'Rosa Mundi's coarse leaves show little damage,

... and 'Lykkefund', which is on the west fence and sheltered from the worst of the afternoon sun, looks as fresh as always.

Of course, these three have already turned to producing hips whereas 'Ghislaine' is drawing on its resources for another bout of bloom. It will be interesting to see whether that happens.

Hydrangea sargentiana has some singed leaves too, although the flowers don't seem to be affected.

 It's a good time to take note of plants that seem to be not only surviving but thriving. Echinacea 'Green Jewel'  in a hot, dry bed continues to look fresh and cool. So many Echinacea turn out to be annuals here that I'm sceptical of its staying power over the coming winter but for now, it's doing just fine. The little red flecks on its petals are falling from the flowers of Persicaria 'Firedance' behind it.

Sanguisorba tenuifolia 'Finale' is another stalwart. It may be that having its roots in shade is helping it do so well.

The dark red thimbles atop this tall wispy perennial are attracting swarms of bees.

 Scutellaria incana is just finishing its bloom, but has held up well. This Missouri wildflower's native habitat is on dry, sandy soils.

In the photo above you can just see the first of its equally attractive seedheads forming. Here's a closer view of them. I think they are going to be a worthwhile addition to my fall garden.

Anemone 'White Swan' is proving its worth in partial shade, endlessly producing crisp white flowers

...with their lovely lilac-flushed reverses.

Most of the plants in dappled shade are surviving well.

Front to back: Hydrangea nigra, Hosta 'Krossa Regal, Actaea 'Hillside Black Beauty', Hydrangea 'Kiyosumi', Anemone 'Honorine Jobert' 

A few Astrantia, like 'Ruby Wedding' are reblooming. Behind it, Hosta 'American Halo' is also unaffected by the drought.

Tricyrtis (toad lily) is proving to be another reliable perennial. My specimen is a tall but sturdy cultivar called 'Blue Wonder'.

The flowers are quite small but intriguing when seen close up.

Plants in more exposed beds are having a harder time, but not Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, which seems imprevious to hot sun and dry soil. In fact, it's expanding rather too vigorously and will need some control by next summer, I suspect.

Those intense blue flowers will look even better when cooler weather paints the foliage with burgundy highlights.

Another sun-lover, Angelica 'Vicar's Mead' is attracting lots of bees,

... although some of its normally dark foliage is getting bleached to rose-pink, pale green and mustard yellow. The combination is actually quite pretty.

Meanwhile, my favourite parsley, a curly variety called 'Darki', has continued to line a path near the kitchen door with fresh green foliage, only just now beginning to flop a little from its usual upright stance. I've mentioned before how free it is from the rust that seems to plague the flat-leaf types of parsley. The latter may be the choice of chefs, but it doesn't have nearly the same ornamental value as 'Darki'

Ornamental Seedheads - Clematis

Clematis are a staple in my garden. Most are species or Clematis viticella cultivars for several good reasons: they follow the late spring/early summer flowers, bringing a new and different look to the garden; they have smaller flowers, but many more of them than the dinner-plate types; they don't suffer from the dreaded clematis wilt which can destroy a seemingly healthy plant in less than 24 hours; when they die back in late fall, you cut them down to knee-height and they remain tidy through to the following spring; quite a number of them are scented.



This year, a long and unusual hot spell has driven all but one into shedding their petals early. However, their seedheads add subtle interest to much of the garden.



'Willy', a spring bloomer starts off with tufts of fluff that slowly turn to silver spirals.

'Miss Bateman' prefers the look of brass.

'Nelly Moser', a volunteer that I may not keep because I don't care for its candy cane flowers, presents blond fright wigs.

Little Clematis ochroleuca has a cluster of pea-green seeds with curling shreds of palest yellow.

Clematis  integrifolia is still producing a few cobalt-blue flowers alongside its spidery white seedheads

And Clematis recta is a mass of green fireworks.

Eventually, those green stars will turn to iridescent blue and the wispy tails will turn white and feathery, as they are in last year's post "November Colours"

Ornamental Seedheads - Clematis

Clematis are a staple in my garden. Most are species or Clematis viticella cultivars for several good reasons: they follow the late spring/early summer flowers, bringing a new and different look to the garden; they have smaller flowers, but many more of them than the dinner-plate types; they don't suffer from the dreaded clematis wilt which can destroy a seemingly healthy plant in less than 24 hours; when they die back in late fall, you cut them down to knee-height and they remain tidy through to the following spring; quite a number of them are scented.

This year, a long and unusual hot spell has driven all but one into shedding their petals early. However, their seedheads add subtle interest to much of the garden.

'Willy', a spring bloomer starts off with tufts of fluff that slowly turn to silver spirals.

'Miss Bateman' prefers the look of brass.

'Nelly Moser', a volunteer that I may not keep because I don't care for its candy cane flowers, presents blond fright wigs.

Little Clematis ochroleuca has a cluster of pea-green seeds with curling shreds of palest yellow.

Clematis  integrifolia is still producing a few cobalt-blue flowers alongside its spidery white seedheads

And Clematis recta is a mass of green fireworks.

Eventually, those green stars will turn to iridescent blue and the wispy tails will turn white and feathery, as they are in last year's post "November Colours"

The Brave Survivors of a Hot July

Why leave Vancouver in summer to go to Sydney, Australia in winter? A new grandson, that's why.

 We came back to a Vancouver that was suffering from unusually hot weather. In fact, little or no rain had fallen during our absence. Wildfires were close enough to the city that the cabin staff on our plane had to reassure passengers that the burning smell as we descended to the airport was not coming from the plane.

Thanks to kind neighbours, the garden was surviving fairly well, although many summer blooms seemed to have wrapped up their flowers already and were going dormant.



Echinops ritro, being in the thistle family, was feeling no pain and making a definitive statement to that effect.

Growing beside it and jostling for space was a single plant of lovage (Levisticum officinale.) At more than 8 feet high it was taller than I've ever seen it. I grow this herb both for its statuesque green presence as well as its usefulness a a celery substitute in home-made soups and stocks.

In front of these two, Rosa gallica 'Versicolor' was shedding crispy brown petals. It looks messy while it is doing this, but its round red hips will brighten fall and winter if I leave it alone right now.



Most plants in the shade of the old pear tree were doing well. While hydrangeas in less protected beds were wilting, leggy-but-lovely Hydrangea 'Kiyosumi' was thriving, even if its colour was paler than usual. A single spire of Actaea ' Hillside Black Beauty' was unfurling in front of it, making a pretty contrast.

Other bright spots were the last flowers on daylily 'Wild Wine' ...

a double pink poppy...

and Salvia viridis, one of my favourite annuals for filling the blank space left by spring bulbs.

Two plants new to me this year were also doing well. The grey foliage of Scutellaria incana was topped with trusses of soft blue flowers. So far it only has a couple of stems, but I think it will make quite a show in future years when it has bulked up a bit more.

And Echinacea 'Green Jewel' was just beginning to open. I rather wish the petals stayed that very Irish green, but the white is attractive and fresh-looking nevertheless.

The Brave Survivors of a Hot July

Why leave Vancouver in summer to go to Sydney, Australia in winter? A new grandson, that's why.

 We came back to a Vancouver that was suffering from unusually hot weather. In fact, little or no rain had fallen during our absence. Wildfires were close enough to the city that the cabin staff on our plane had to reassure passengers that the burning smell as we descended to the airport was not coming from the plane.
Thanks to kind neighbours, the garden was surviving fairly well, although many summer blooms seemed to have wrapped up their flowers already and were going dormant.

Echinops ritro, being in the thistle family, was feeling no pain and making a definitive statement to that effect.

Growing beside it and jostling for space was a single plant of lovage (Levisticum officinale.) At more than 8 feet high it was taller than I've ever seen it. I grow this herb both for its statuesque green presence as well as its usefulness a a celery substitute in home-made soups and stocks.

In front of these two, Rosa gallica 'Versicolor' was shedding crispy brown petals. It looks messy while it is doing this, but its round red hips will brighten fall and winter if I leave it alone right now.

Most plants in the shade of the old pear tree were doing well. While hydrangeas in less protected beds were wilting, leggy-but-lovely Hydrangea 'Kiyosumi' was thriving, even if its colour was paler than usual. A single spire of Actaea ' Hillside Black Beauty' was unfurling in front of it, making a pretty contrast.

Other bright spots were the last flowers on daylily 'Wild Wine' ...

a double pink poppy...

and Salvia viridis, one of my favourite annuals for filling the blank space left by spring bulbs.

Two plants new to me this year were also doing well. The grey foliage of Scutellaria incana was topped with trusses of soft blue flowers. So far it only has a couple of stems, but I think it will make quite a show in future years when it has bulked up a bit more.

And Echinacea 'Green Jewel' was just beginning to open. I rather wish the petals stayed that very Irish green, but the white is attractive and fresh-looking nevertheless.

Lovely Leaves

Although it's now June and the garden is full of flowers, often it's the foliage on certain plants, both alone and in combination that is drawing my eye. For instance, the young leaves on Hydrangea serrata,

... or the bronze-tipped ones of Rhododendron schlippenbachii.

 I find myself admiring the purple veins of Heuchera 'Green Spice'...

 ...and the lacy layers of Cornus alternifolia 'Argentea'...

 ... or the grey foliage of Rosa glauca overlaid on another Hydrangea serrata.

 Sometimes it's a combination of two different leaf forms or colours, like the emerging pale-grey leaves of a small willow, Salix helvetica, against a backdrop of Joe-Pye weed, Eupatorium 'Chocolate'.

 Sometimes it's a flower and leaf combination, such as a crimson peony leaning over Ligularia dentata 'Othello'.

 Or little Clematis ochroleuca, sprawling over the leaves of Brunnera 'Looking Glass'

Or icy blue Hosta 'Halcyon' under the feathery foliage of Nandina 'Plum Passion' with a dark-leafed heuchera behind, all punctuated by the red-stemmed white flowers of a saxifrage.