African Foxglove

Easy to grow but hard to find Ceratotheca triloba or African Foxglove is worth searching for. This annual preforms best in full sun where it can grow up to six feet. Blooming from mid-summer till fall African Foxglove is deer resistant and also attracts hummingbirds. Since it is hard to find at most garden centers(at least in my area) I grow African Foxglove from seed started inside in mid March.

The 'Tropical' Garden

A number of years ago I became a volunteer at a local public garden . Along with the perennial gardens was the "Triangle Bed" which sat in the middle of the paths. Before I came along this garden consisted of cannas surrounded by rows of the most basic of annuals- geraniums, petunias , marigolds, dusty miller and red salvia . The garden needed to be bolder since it was a focal point in the park. I decided to go with the exotic look and totally changed the way the garden had been planted for many years. The cannas were kept in the middle to form a backdrop for the other plants. A mix of annuals, tender perennials and tropicals gave the garden a whole new look. Some plants self sow such as the verbena bonariensis and I have added shrubs including Cotinus 'Golden Spirit and Sumac 'Tiger Eyes' for their foliage. The garden peaks in August and September before frost cuts it down in October.

One of the benifits of my garden is the birds that nest and feed in it. My favorite is the Ruby-Throated hummingbird. This is the only species found in Upstate New York and is here only from late Spring to late Summer. They are a bundle of energy flying from one flower to the next. I managed to get a few pictures ( flowers are much easier) this evening of a female. These little jewels will be leaving soon for their winter home in a warmer climate.

Late Summer Blues

As the summer wanes and the garden starts its journey into Fall closed or bottle gentian(Gentiana andrewsii) begins to bloom in my shade garden. Bloom probably isn't the right word since the flowers on this late flowering perennial never open. Bumblebees have no trouble getting into the flowers to pollinate them and from my one original plant I now have many scattered throughout the garden. Closed gentian is hardy to zone 3 and easy to grow.

More August Ramblings

It is dusk in my garden as I write this entry, The air is full of the sound of the buzzing and chirping
of insects. This orchestra of late summer consists mostly of crickets. It is one of my favorite times to just sit and listen. The garden is past peak, overflowing and the weeds are safer now from the compost pile. Notes will be made and pictures taken so that plans can be made for next year. As the weather cools some annuals will try to perk up, but as the days shorten the garden goes slowly downhill. Now is the time to step back and enjoy.

Clearwing Moths

One of the things I enjoy most about my garden are the birds and insects that use and live in it. The bumblebees are active all day long going from flower to flower gathering pollen. Over the last few years I haven't had as many honeybees so the bumblebees have been the primary pollinator in the garden. My favorite insect this time of year is the clearwing moth. This group of moths are diurnal which makes for easy watching.
Their fast beating clear wings remind one of a tiny hummingbird. This particular moth(Snowberry Clearwing) seem to spend most of its time on my only butterfly bush.

August Ramblings

We are finally getting summer weather here in Upstate New York. The self-sown nicotianas are running rampant through parts of the garden. I used to grow different varieties from seed but now I let nature take its course and have ended up with a nice mix of colors. Green is the predominate color but there is also white,pinks, and few chocolates. There isn't a bad one in the whole lot. Nicotiana sylvestris also self sows usually between the stones in my terrace. Since it is so tall I usually leave just one to make a statement.