Featured Plants

***The Garden in Summer***
	After the spring flush of blossoming trees, along comes the kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) which blooms several weeks later than the more well-known flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). It is becoming more widely used in the Pacific Northwest for its resistance to an unattractive leaf blight that afflicts C. florida. Bloom colors range from creamy whites through rose pinks, and some varieties have variegated green and yellow leaves (such as C. kousa 'Gold Star'). Grows as a large multistemmed shrub or compact tree, that fits well into the smaller landscape.

This is a pretty new cultivar of agastache with a compact habit, and a beautiful apricot blossom. Agastache species and cultivars are attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies as nectar sources.

This tall deciduous shrub, Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diabolo', has a striking summer presence with its dark reddish-purple lobed leaves. It creates a stark contrast in the mixed shrub border when used behind yellow-leaved plants such as the Spiraea 'Goldflame' shown in the photo. Use it sparingly as an accent plant only though, with lots of other green-leaved shrubs to mediate its intenseness. Be sure to give it lots of room as 'Diabolo' will reach 9'-12' high and as wide. Best color in full sun, needs moderate water.

The dark purple leaves of Cotinus coggygria 'Purpurea' play off against the golds of Lonicera nitida 'Lemon Beauty' and Hosta fortunei 'Aureamarginata'.

This herbaceous perennial plant, Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam', is covered with soft, lemon-yellow daisylike flowers in summer, and then continues blooming until autumn. The feathery foliage grows about 12-18" tall, and is fairly drought tolerant. Another variety, C. verticillata 'Zagreb' has a bright golden flower. Use them as color spots in the perennial border, or for cheerful accents near patios and entryways.

These fiery red crocosmia are located in a commercial planting, where the gray boulders are a perfect accent to the hot red blooms. Crocosmia come in many shades of yellows, oranges, and reds, with 'Lucifer' being one of the best and purest of the red summer flowers. They prefer full sun and regular water, and are hardy to 10 degrees F. Divide clumps only when vigor and flower quality begin to decline. (Also known as montbretia, may naturalize into surrounding areas).

June is the month when the roses are at their peak, but many of the more popular varieties will bloom again many times during the summer if deadheaded (spent blossoms removed). While some varieties succumb to black spot and other rose diseases, it's possible to find resistant varieties that bloom well and still look good. Sunsprite is a floribunda type with glossy green, healthy foliage that produces many clusters of sunny yellow blossoms.

This clematis is one of the oldest and most beloved of all. It is easy to grow and produces profuse amounts of rich purple blooms in summer.

There are many types and colors of clematis available, from early spring bloomers to late summer bloomers. They all have common cultural requirements, and prefer "heads in the sun, toes in the shade", or a cool moist environment for their roots, and a sunny area for their vines to grow in.

Pruning needs vary among the clematis, depending on their season of bloom. C. x jackmanii blooms only on this year's wood, so should be pruned to two strong buds close to the ground each winter. Most varieties are deciduous, but there are some notable exceptions: C. armandii, the varieties 'Snowdrift' and 'Apple Blossom' being very popular, produce masses of highly-scented small white or light pink flowers respectively in early spring, on vigorous evergreen vines. Another newer evergreen clematis is Avalanche Clematis, from Monrovia nursery, with deeply-cut leathery leaves.

This unnamed variety of the daylily group, Hemerocallis, is blooming in hot orange-red clusters atop 4' tall stems. There is probably not another genus that has produced as many varietals as the plant breeders have with the daylily.

The colors of daylilies range from creamy whites through lemon yellows, bright yellows, oranges, pinks, salmons, reds, dark reds, and bicolors. You can find miniature cultivars 8-10" tall, and others up to 4-5'. Petals can be smooth or ruffled, flowers may be very fragrant or not at all fragrant.

Agastache 'Apricot Sprite'

This is a pretty new cultivar of agastache with a compact habit, and a beautiful apricot blossom. Agastache species and cultivars are attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies as nectar sources.