Cosmea

I love Cosmea  and would like to tell you about it in my garden. Cosmea or Сosmos bipinnatus is herbaceous annual plant, 80-150 cm tall. The leaves give the whole plant an openwork appearance. It blooms profusely from mid-June to September.
 

 

Seeds ripen well, remain viable for 3-5 years. Gives abundant self-seeding. In culture since 1799. 

Some gardeners believe that cosmea does not look refined enough - it has too large inflorescences that are too bright, flashy in color. Now varieties with small inflorescences and more modest colors have appeared, so the plant can be selected for every taste. 

Those who like lush, intense flowering have appreciated cosmea for a very long time. Cosmea is good to plant in the background of the border. 

 

The background formed by its finely dissected feathery leaves and numerous inflorescences looks very informal.

 I took these photos at the end of August, and the cosmos is still blooming, decorating flower beds where other flowers have faded. Do you grow cosmea in your garden?

Here are birds that live near my garden, I painted watercolors:

My watercolors:

My Garden In August

 

A few years ago there was a very popular song where they sang: 

"Summer, oh summer, hot summer, be with me ...

 I so want summer not to end, to be with me, to give light ..." 

Now, many of you may say that the summer was so hot that we don't need such a summer anymore. 

Here in the north of Europe the summer was cool and some days in June July and August were really very hot. Moreover, there was no problem with watering, since the rains had time to fill the barrels with water.

The garden grew and blossomed in such a way that one could only wonder how quickly some plants faded and others bloomed. 

Lilacs, rhododendrons, roses, hydrangeas, phlox, calendula, chamomile, sedum. 

Hosta, potentilla, raspberries, plums, apples, currants, gooseberries.....

We, people, are surprised at how quickly our lives go by, how quickly events fly by. In nature, everything happens even faster - in a few warm months, the life cycle of plants passes.

I show photos of my garden in August. I shot them in mornings and evenings, because plants and flowers are always beautiful. 

All the best to you, my friends.

Astilbe

I like Astilbe, it seems to me such an unobtrusive, even shy plant growing in the shade, which seems to be hiding there, giving way to more popular, well-known flowers. And yet it is so humble - does not require special care.

 

The name Astilbe comes from the Greek words 'a' - very, 'stilbe' - shine. It is given to the plant, probably for its shiny leaves. These are perennial rhizomatous herbaceous plants. Small flowers, white, pink, lilac, red or purple, are collected in apical inflorescence - panicles of various lengths.

 

It blooms in June - August. The most spectacular Astilbe is during flowering. Their delicate inflorescence appear in July and do not lose their attractiveness for 25-35 days.

 

 

The beauty of the inflorescence depends on their density. Small flowers are collected in elongated panicles. The flower petals of some varieties are short, and the inflorescence are airy and openwork, as if covered with small buds.

In other varieties, the petals are elongated, and these inflorescence look soft, fluffy.

Astilbe can be used not only to decorate the garden. Inflorescence in full bloom are suitable for cutting, and dried flowers look great in winter bouquets.

Do you like Astilbe? Do you grow it in your garden?