Blooming Garden, July-18

Summer is in full swing, night temperatures are about +15 C, summer rains are warm, days are sunny with clouds. Last month I was worrying about watering and now water barrels have long been filled, so vegetables and flowers are always watered. I love this season when one have time to relax not only to work.

 Meadow-rue

Meadow-rue (Thalictrum) is a very humble plant, its delicate leaves appear in early spring. As soon as it starts to bloom, insects constantly fly around the amazing Meadow-rue flowers. Just after the buds open, their petals fall, but numerous stamens stay that make the flowers look like fluffy balls or brushes.
Roses began to open their buds earlier than previous summer. Probably the very hot May warmed the soil and the plants began to grow faster. Climbing Flammentantz rose opened its bright red buds in mid-June and will bloom up the end of July.

Flammentantz rose climber

Floribunda 'Folklore' rose

Miniature patio rose

Floribunda 'Gertrude Jekyll' rose

  'Velvet' shrub rose

Floribunda roses are always quite problematic and capricious roses in our climate. Their wintering largely depends on winter temperatures, snow level, precipitation and ice. Due to these problems I try to plant patio, miniature, bush roses, hardy floribunda, Canadian and polyanthus roses, which grow and overwinter well here in North.

Canadian rose 'Martin Frobisher'

I'm pleased that I have grown many Pelargonium cuttings, now they bloom well in different pots all around the garden and make a bright note between conifers and perennials in the garden.

Pelargonium and Aquilegia

Pelargonium near the pond

Clematises bloom in the gazebo. This summer I have not sat there, because the gazebo is old and needs repair. But Lonicera caprifolium and clematises will have grown there until I finally decide which gazebo design will be installed in the garden. Then I will transfer them to another place.
This Philadelphus blossomed in June, last flowers faded previous week but I want to show you butterflies that love it. So do I :-)

 

And finally an unusual plant (maybe for some of you). It's Rodgersia aesculifolia, commonly called fingerleaf rodgersia, native to moist woods and stream banks in China.
It has dark green leaves with bronze tinting, it's often the main reason gardeners grow this plant. From June to August, creamy white (sometimes light pink) flowers bloom in large, astilbe-like panicles rising well above the foliage. Flowers are fragrant. Rodgersia grows well in shady gardens, bog gardens, water garden or along stream banks. 
Admiral John Rodgers (1812-1882), distinguished American naval officer has discovered this interesting plant during his Pacific expedition. (sourse)

I have been growing Rodgersia for 10 years and its amazing flowers with hard petals and the feeling that they are made of wax always astonish me.

What are your 'to do' plans in July? Do you have free time to sit and look at your garden, or at the park?