The Final Frontier + What's Blooming this Week

It all started with the tomato seedlings I bought back in May. The tomatoes had grown so well that they were on the verge of being potbound. Either they needed bigger pots or they had to be planted out in the garden. We're travelling in the early part of July, so I figured they'd have a better chance of survival if they were planted in the ground.

But where to plant them?

In a flash of inspiration, I convinced my husband to dismantle an old workbench he no longer used and make me a raised garden bed for the tomatoes. The workbench was rough pine, which isn't the best choice for a raised bed (rot-resistant hardwoods like cedar and redwood are generally recommended), but hey, it meant a second life for the unused workbench.

The need to clear an area for the raised bed became the next big project. There is one corner of the garden that has been a thorn in my side for years. It's a mix of goutweed, ditch daylilies, self-seeded geraniums and Double Soapwort, Saponaria officinalis (all very invasive). I have come to think of this area as the final frontier– one of the last big areas of the garden I have to tackle.

Last week I cut all the invasive plants right to the ground and then my husband rototilled the area. This week I have been raking the ground level and covering it with a layer of cardboard and mulch. It will have to rest for the remainder of the season to make sure all the invasive plants under the cardboard don't come back next spring.

The markings on the workbench are still visible. I told my husband I thought the measurements and illustrations were a nice bit of industrial chic.

What are my plans for the final frontier? 

It will be a spot to grow tomatoes or other veggies, a permanent home for my two cold frames and we hope to build a DIY greenhouse. There will also be a little courtyard with a small metal table and chairs. So stay tuned for pictures of these new projects.

Another project I completed last week was my thyme lawn. 

Most of the hard work had been done last fall. Our soil is heavy clay, so the first thing I had to do was improve the drainage. Thyme is a Mediterranean herb that loves free draining, nutrient-poor soil. 

So I dug out most of the clay and mixed in fine gravel and sand to what remained.

Thyme plugs that I got on sale at a grocery store garden centre.

The package of bulk thyme seeds from McKenzie Seeds.

I planted plugs of thyme last September and again this spring. They're filling in slowly, but in the meantime, the weeds have discovered the open ground. When I spotted a bulk package of thyme seeds at Walmart, I thought I would give growing plants from seed a try. 

The package instructions for sowing a thyme lawn are fairly simple. The ground needs to be raked to loosen the soil and then the seeds scattered over the prepared area (organic vermiculite is mixed with the fine seeds to aid even distribution). Finally, the seeds need to be raked in and the area watered with a gentle spray.

The package of bulk seeds gives me enough for a second application if need be. Hopefully, it will fill in to make a dense carpet like this!

Across from the bench and the sundial is a mature lilac. It's an odd spot that gets a full range of light conditions; sun on the outer rim, part-sun and full shade. Hostas would have worked well, but I wanted to do something a little different, so a created a flowerbed devoted largely to hardy geraniums.

 Geranium 'Aunty Marge' is one of my favourites. Too bad it is not sold commercially anymore.

The area near the lilac as it looks now.

I want to show you some of the other things that are blooming right now. In the front garden, the white Gas Plant is finishing while the peonies and roses are in full flower.

The view out the front door.

One of my birdbath container plantings.

 Penstemon 'Husker Red'

The Euonymus arch just inside the back gate has grown so heavy it has snapped the wooden support. We have yet to figure out what to do about it. Right now, it's being held together with two metal poles and some rough pieces of lumber.

I moved these Lupins in the early spring and wasn't sure they'd still flower.  As you can see, they look lovely with the Catmint 'Walker's Low' and the Penstemon 'Husker Red'.

'Cherokee' Clematis which is part of the Boulevard series of patio clematis. It only grows 4-5 ft.

My favourite Amsonia

Amsonia 'Blue Ice' has dark blue buds that open into soft lavender-blue flowers. This is a nice compact plant that looks great at the front of a flowerbed. It is slow to establish but long-lived. Full sun. Height: 35-40 cm (14-16 inches) Spread: 45-60 (14-18 inches). USDA zones:4-9.

 Astrantia likes moist soil, so I have struggled to get it established. 

It's liking all the rain we had this spring!

Astrantia major rubra has lovely starry flowers that are rosy-red. Average to moist soil. Full sun to partial shade. Height: 75-90 cm (29-35 inches) Spread: 45-60 (18-23 inches). USDA zones:3-9.

Phlomis tuberosa 'Amazone' When not in flower, this plant makes a large mound of coarse green leaves. Flowers shoot skyward on these incredible reddish colored stems. Once finished flowering, spent flowers continue to add architectural interest well into winter. Normal or sandy soil that is on the dry side is best for this plant. Full sun. Height: 90-120 cm (35-47 inches), Spread: 45-60 cm (18-23 inches). USDA Zones: 2-9.

I am showing you this picture so you can place the next image in the context of the whole garden. The Beauty Bush is just stunning at this time of year!

Beauty Bush, Kolkwitzia has pale pink flowers and a fountain shape with branches that hang in long, sweeping arcs. Full sun. Height: 8-10', Spread: 8-10' USDA Zones: 5-9.

 I am trying to include a little more peach in the garden.

Rose, Rosa 'At Last' from Proven Winners® has popsicle-peach flowers that are nicely fragrant. The foliage is glossy and disease-resistant. Repeat flowering without the need to deadhead. Full sun. Height: 76-91 cm (30-36 inches) Spread: 76-91 (30-36 inches). USDA zones:5-9.

A few plants that might inspire shade gardeners. These foxgloves are self-sown and very willful. They like to pop up on the perimeter but never inside my raised beds.

Lady Fern, Athyrium filix-femina' Lady-in-Red'

Lady Fern, Athyrium filix-femina' Lady-in-Red' has light green foliage with reddish stems. Rich, evenly moist, well-drained soil is key to growing this fern successfully. Part-shade to full shade. Height: 45-60 cm (18-24 inches) Spread: 45-60 (18-24 inches). USDA zones:4-8.

Love this hosta!

Hosta 'Snake Eyes' has medium green leaves with a light green centre framed with a creamy-white edge. The flowers are lavender. Part-shade to full shade. Height: 55-60 cm (21-23 inches), Spread: 110-120 cm (43-47 inches). USDA zones: 2-9.

Aruncus 'Misty Lace' has feathery-white flowers and fern-like foliage. It is a more compact form of Goat's Beard that would work well in a small to medium-sized garden. Height: 60-75 cm (23-29 inches), Spread: 45-60 cm (18-23 inches). USDA zones: 3-9.

We've been super busy (hence the lack of blog posts!). The pond is all dug out, but the stream and waterfall still need to be addressed. The days never seem to be long enough to get everything done.

How was your June Garden?

Salvia

How was your June garden? Mine at it's moments, but there is still lots of room for improvement. I'd like to see less of a lull after the tulips are finished and better companion plantings for the peonies and roses that come later in the month.

Whenever I'm stumped as to what to change or add, I turn to other gardens for inspiration. The gardens at the Toronto Botanical Gardens always inspire me. Let's take a look at what was blooming there in mid-June. 

Let's start off with a look at the alliums. I have lots of Allium 'Purple Sensation' dotted throughout my garden. It looks nice to have them interspersed among the other perennials, but it hadn't occurred to me to group alliums together until I saw this mass planting at the TBG. Gathered together like this, they make a billowy clouds of purple.

Alliums are odd flowers, if you ask me. They look soft and razor sharp all at the same time. I believe these particular alliums are Allium ' Christophii'.

Star of Persia, Allium 'Christophii' is a perennial bulb with umbels that are 10-12 inches in diameter. The star-shaped mauve flowers have a bit of a metallic sheen. Full sun and average, well-drained soil are perfect for these alliums. 'Christophii' may be left for years until fewer blooms indicate the bulbs have become crowded. Separate crowded bulbs after the foliage dies down. The flower dries also well. Note: handling or cutting the plant may cause some skin irritation. Wear garden gloves if you have sensitive skin. Height: 45-60 cm (18-24 inches), Spread: 15-22 cm (6-9 inches). USDA zones: 5-9.

Gillenia

As well as these closeups, I wish I had stepped back to take a picture of this great native plant. 

Gillenia a little larger than a Spirea and a bit more upright in its growth habit. The leaves are bright green and the stems are red, but the real reason to add this perennial to your June garden is the profusion of white flowers it produces.

Gillenia trifoliata: A tough, long-lived native plant with reddish stems, narrow leaves and white star-shaped flowers. Height: 60-120 cm, Spread: 60-75 cm. Full sun or light shade. Prefers rich, moist, well-drained soil. Good fall color. Zones: USDA 4-9

There are so many new and exciting cultivars of Baptisia to choose from these days! A June garden ought to have a least one Baptisia, don't you think?

Astrantia major 'Roma'. Read more about Astrantia in this blog post.

Peonies at the Toronto Botanical Garden

Looking at these single white peonies with their frilly petticoats, it is easy to see why all white gardens have become so popular. Sunlight plays off white petals so beautifully.

The peonies I have in my own garden have little in the way of companion plantings. I'd like to remedy that. Here are a few combinations I noted.

Peonies look great with a backdrop of deep blue Salvia.

Paeonia lactiflora 'Crinkled White'

Planted in front of any peony, Amsonia 'Blue Ice' looks terrific. This is a combination I've already experimented with in my own garden, but it seems to be taking a couple years for my Amsonia to really get established and flower.

Amsonia 'Blue Ice' has starry blue flower and leathery green foliage that becomes golden in the fall. Average moisture conditions and garden soil are fine. Height: 35-40 cm ( 14-16 inches), Spread: 45-60 cm (18-23 inches). USDA zones: 4-9.

Peonies and Catmint at the Toronto Botanical Garden.

Peonies and Catmint are another great June combination. 

I have say that I have become a big fan of Catmint. It blooms for an extended time, has great grey-green foliage, and if you cut it back hard, it can go on to have a great second act in late to mid-summer.

Last year I added quite a couple of the newer, more compact cultivars to my garden and I am really pleased with them. Catmint, Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low' is still an excellent choice, but I find that these newer varieties work really well at the front of a border. Here are a two:

Catmint 'Junior Walker' is a sterile dwarf form of 'Walker's Low'. The periwinkle blue flowers appear in June and last for weeks. Full sun and average garden soil. Cut back hard to encourage new flowers. Height: 35-40 cm (14-16 inches), Spread: 80-90 cm (31-35 inches). USDA zones: 5-9. 

Catmint 'Prussian Blue' has the same blue flowers on a plant that has a tidy habit. Again, cut back hard to encourage new flowers. Height: 35-45 cm (14-18 inches), Spread: 45-75 cm (18-29 inches). USDA zones: 5-9. 

Penstemon at the Toronto Botanical Gardens.

The delicate trumpet-shaped flowers of Penstemon start blooming toward the end of the month. They bloom for a number of weeks and look great with Veronica or Salvias.

 Penstemon 'Husker Red' has foliage that is beet-red in spring and fall and somewhat greener in the summer. Butterflies love the flowers, which are such a pale pink they are almost white. Full sun. Normal, sandy or clay soils are all suitable. Average to moist growing conditions. Height 75-90 cm, Spread: 30-45 cm. USDA Zones: 3-9.

Phlomis tuberosa 'Amazone' at the Toronto Botanical Gardens.

Super tall, this perennial always stands out in any June garden.

Phlomis tuberosa 'Amazone' is a recent introduction to North America, so the bad news is that this particular cultivar may be a little hard to track down and find. When not in flower this plant makes a large mound of coarse green leaves. Flower shoot skyward on these incredible reddish colored stems. Once finished flowering the spent flowers continue to add architectural interest well into winter. Normal or sandy soil that is on the dry side is best for this plant. Full sun. Height: 90-120 cm (35-47 inches), Spread: 45-60 cm (18-23 inches). USDA Zones: 2-9.

June seems to have passed in the blink of on eye! 

Already a new month has begun with a fresh set of challenges. Yesterday afternoon I startled baby bunny who ducked back back into the undergrowth. Then I noticed one of the first of the Japanese Beetles on a newly opened white rose. 

Monarda 'Purple Rooster' in my herb garden.

Thank goodness there is usually a balance of forces at work in the garden! As I walked to the back of the yard, I noticed that the Monarda in my herb garden has the prettiest grape colored flowers. I think I may just have a new favourite!