Summer Gardening and Flowering Plants

It is July, and though the solstice has passed, true summer is bookended by Independence Day and Labor Day, two months’ reward for seemingly six months of winter. Time is set aside for travel, vacation, summer camp, rest and relaxation. However, it is still a good time to garden, despite the old notion that it is too late in the season to plant. Indeed, this used to be true: when plants used to be field-grown for transplanting into a new garden, digging them up in the summer was risky business. Today’s plants, from trees, shrubs and vines to perennials, are grown in containers to make their transition into the ground practically stress-free. While it is true that summer additions to the garden must be watered, it’s equally true for those plants that were put in this past spring. (Please, don’t rely on lawn irrigation systems to do the job for you, unless you have a dedicated drip zone. Lawn irrigation does not water deeper-rooted plants sufficiently.)

The fireworks that light the skies on the Fourth are echoed in the flowers of summer, as July and August are the months of Coneflower (Echinacea) whose large bright daisies burst into dazzling and clean displays of traditional dusky pink (such as the standby cultivar ‘Ruby Star’,) but newer hybrids now offer shaggy mop-headed types such as the orange ‘Marmalade’ and ‘Hot Papaya’. ‘Evan Saul’ (Sundown™) evokes a desert sunset, with bright orange “petals” highlighted with rosy-purple. ‘Green Jewel’ offers cool light green “petals” – a unique color – surrounding a central green cone. Coneflowers are butterfly magnets, and their brown seed heads are prized by finches in late summer and beyond. They all do well in sun to part shade, and are drought-tolerant once established.

We are well-stocked with interesting and well-grown trees and shrubs. Our specimen Stewartia tree planted beside the barn has been flowering since June 20, and is just halfway done blooming, an inspiration for the smaller ones we have ready for planting. Summer-blooming azaleas are hardy, colorful and fragrant, and are superb for planting near a deck, patio or pool, where their sweet scent may be enjoyed in the day or evening. Several varieties are offered, and are in flower now. Buddleias (Butterfly Bushes) are budded and will be opening soon, as will the many types of Clethra (Summersweet) that we carry.

Ornamental grasses are now coming into their own, and will only continue to get bigger and better through the season. Plant them now to enjoy through the fall, as most types need the warm soils of summer to become established before winter.

Astilbe at The Mixed Border

And for the shadier gardens, our Hostas are spectacular, as always. We have on hand over a hundred varieties, from tiny-leaved miniatures such as ‘Baby Booties’ to ‘Empress Wu’, the largest Hosta to date, and with a wide choice in leaf colors and patterns of variegation. Astilbes are coming into flower, and we have a good selection of perennials, wildflowers and ferns for shade.

We welcome your visit.

Nursery Hours, July to September:

Monday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
 Thursday through Saturday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Sunday: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

We are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, except by prior arrangement.

Please note that in the event of dangerous weather (such as thunderstorms or extreme heat) we may close earlier than scheduled, for everyone’s sake. Please call ahead (603-882-5538) if bad weather is forecast on the day of your visit.