Actinidia kolomikta (common name Variegated Kiwi Vine) is recommended for zone 4 to 8. My Aktinidia usually blooms in May but this year due to the cold spring the blooming time changed to July :-).
Kiwi vine can grow in full sun to part shade. In my garden it grows near the cottage wall that protects it from cold North wind.
I love its foliage color that changes to partly white/pink when the abundant slightly fragrant flowers appear on Kiwi vine branches. The flowers are often hidden by the foliage. As this species is dioecious it is said: 'If growing for fruit production, plant one male plant for every three to four females. If growing only for ornamental foliage and flowers, consider planting any plants'.
I'm not sure what kind my Actinidia is, but it's pollinated every May-June and at the end of August I have a good harvest of small Kiwi. The greenish-yellow edible berries are sweet-sour, very soft. Therefore it's better to collect them in mid-mature stage to not to сrumple the juicy berries.
Did you know about this plant before? Perhaps you have Variegated Kiwi vine (Actinidia kolomikta) in your garden, what is your experience in growth and in use?
July arrived hopefully the summer finally started. The deciduous azaleas are in bloom while the evergreen rhododendrons mostly faded. I have two bushes of very hardy azaleas: the North American breeds 'Northern Light' and 'Mandarin Light'. The 'Northern Light' flowers are abundant, bright white-lemon color and seen from my cottage window. What a pleasure!
The flowers of 'Mandarin Light' variety are red-orange and aren't many, I think this azalea buds were damaged by ice in winter time. Last year this bush was covered with many oranges flowers.
The perennials are in hurry to grow, to bloom and have seeds. So Marguerite popped in free spots of my garden, even near the patio. Poor little rose that I've grown up from the cutting, it has sunk in Marguerite, oh!
Red Geum coccineum grows and flowers like mad, invading the 'Gold globe' spirea. When I planted it last autumn I couldn't suppose that geum will place so wide. Most over I have a lot of simple and modest perennials as сornflower, violas, geranium, daylily, lily-of-the-valley, marguerite, geum.
I love their simpleness and always take pictures.
Fuchsia was moved to the garden in May, placed in greenhouse till June. Now it grows in the garden and is enough healthy.
At the end I show you the rhododendron 'Pekka' that is still in bloom. This is its third season, I haven't been sure it will flower at once. Lovely light-pink inflorescence cover this bush.
As summer is here, I enjoy it, love sitting on the terrace, having sunbath with a cup of tea or a glass of wine, with clean fingers, set the garden tools aside.
