Everlasting Purple

I planted clematis 'Roguchi' a couple years ago at the foot of a Koreanspice viburnum.  It's been a 'subtle' pleasure, one that you had to look for, until this year, when it shot to about 8' feet and covered itself with purple, frilly bells.

OK, so it's still kind of subtle, but it's gorgeous...and at eye level finally.  It goes on for most of the summer.

Above is campanula lasiocarpa, grown from seed by a member of my rock garden club (thanks Susan!).  It's the Energizer Bunny of plants.  It's got a cloud of purple bellflowers dangling in the breeze.  It always reminds me of a swarm of purple bees.

This shot from above shows the extent of the purple haze.  The plant grows out of the lower left corner of the trough.  

In other random news, I unwrapped these two troughs this morning.  It's always rewarding to see them again after a month of being wrapped up for curing.

Finally, my 8-year old son gave me this beautiful monster with a bloodshot eye for Father's Day.  He definitely takes after me.

Random Early Summer Moments

It's officially summer, even though the calendar doesn't agree, as the Asian tiger mosquitos are out in the garden.  They're a real drag from now until first frost.  The garden is looking great though, with tons of roses and peonies blooming through the rainstorms.  My friend used to call this period 'the second spring' in the garden. 

Above is dracocephalum argunense Fuji 'Blue'.  

This sedum cauticola has self-seeded into the texture of the hypertufa trough; there's no hole for those little guys low down on the wall.

dianthus pontederae 'Rachel'

This variegated yucca is imitating a goose prior to blooming.

The trough-bound dwarf golden threadbranch cypress is making cones.  How cute!