August Color

Just a few quick photos of the garden in late August:

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Lamp post flower bed

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Dahlias

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Creek and patio bed

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Look at these gorgeous black Elephant Ears. Love these!

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The Long Border

This flower bed runs on both sides of a small creek for about forty-five feet, with a huge poplar tree and the round marble patio with a seating area and some containers at one end. It’s cottage garden style, which means I plant whatever I want in there. :) Right now, it’s a rainbow of color. There are two small bridges within this border, and an arch with hyacinth bean vine. I have planted the bed with a mix of annuals, coneflowers, heucheras, hydrangeas, a ‘Josee’ Lilac, black and green elephant ears, lots of spring bulbs, caladiums, alternanthera, bee balm, agastache, two red bud trees on one side… and much more. The area gets mostly full sun with evening shade. These photos show one side of this long border, click any to enlarge.

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Mix of plants at one end of border

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One side of border with patio

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One end of border in background, looking from edge of front bed

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Mixed annuals near one of the bridges

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Arch with hyacinth bean vine

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Details, patio, closer view

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Fountain and supertunias, Dragon Wing Begonias, Mixed Caladiums

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Sunpatiens

Sunpatiens were new to me last year, and are now one of my favorite annuals. I’m growing many of these in my garden this year. They are very easy to grow and do well in areas with four to five hours of direct sun, any more than that and the flowers bleach out. Keep these plants well watered and they will get huge. Click photos to enlarge.

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Variegated Sunpatiens

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Patio Bed, With Caladiums and Wandering Jew, White Sunpatiens

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Red and White Sunpatiens in Front Border

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Front Border, With White Begonias, Mixed Colors

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Dahlias

I started my dahlia tubers outside earlier this year than I ever have (in March!), and they’re all blooming and look so pretty right now in a small bed right off the concrete patio. These are mostly mixed-color Unwin Dwarf Dahlias, along with a photo of the Collarettes. Which one is your favorite? I think I like the red ones the best, and the Collarettes are always favorites.

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A nice yellow near the fountain

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Pretty red semi-double

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Collarettes at the end of the bed

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Pink double

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Nice single white

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Peachy-pink colored

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Yellow and orange dahlia

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Purple double

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Semi-double peach dahlia

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