Fast forward

While certain things about this speeded-up season have been slightly disturbing (lilies mostly over by mid-July, etc.), overall I have found it kind of fun. I have always had a mid-season-maturing garden, so with enough annuals and tropicals to back it up, I find that I’m getting more consistent fullness and color this year—earlier, and I hope just as long.


Plant of the month: rudbeckia lacianata “Golden Glow.” It’s kind of like a really tall (5’ and up) and better-looking mum. I have only seen it offered from Select Seeds, and much prefer it to the Goldsturm and the Herbstsonne, which was my previous favorite.


And these lovely herbs, a gift planter from Buffalo gardening guru Sally Cunningham. You can see borage and oregano flowers, with the fabulous houseplant plectranthus “Mona Lavender” in the background.

In front of the house (top), the fusion impatiens have achieved shrub status, while the colocasia are attempting tree height.

If I depended on perennials for my summer impact, I’d be nowhere. No matter how the season goes—speeded up or slow—if you have annuals and tropicals , you’ll always have some kind of drama. And I’m all about the drama. Especially on Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.