What's Blooming: July 2013

It's been hot and humid for the past few weeks here on Long Island. Between the heat and the mosquitos, tending the garden has been a challenge. Thankfully there are lots of carefree heat-lovers in bloom making everything look lovely. Here's what's blooming in my garden this month:

This is such a beautifully colored daylily. I love the yellow center and it's magenta petals.

The purple coneflower (Echinachea) is a nice compliment to the yellow Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia). Behind them is the wispy, purple Russian Sage.

 I planted this Knockout Rose only two months ago. It is coming along nicely and I just love the color of the blooms.

On the left is Rudbeckia "Cherry Brandy" and on the right are more Black-eyed Susans. 

This Hosta is just coming into bloom. The stems are nice and erect with a lovely purple blossom. To the right, is Yarrow and more Rudbeckia 'Cherry Brandy'.

 The Crape Myrtle is starting to bloom!

Hot pink Hydrangea is in full bloom by the front door.

Nestled between the boulders in the backyard are various succulents (above and below)

Begonia "Dragon Wing Red" is nestled among the variegated Liriope by the back fence and flanked by Annabelle Hydrangeas. 

My vegetable garden is in full swing! Lots of green tomatoes, ripe cucumbers, carrots, beets and string beans.

So that's what's going on in my part of the world. Be sure to check out what else is growing around the country over at May Dreams Gardens "Garden Blogger Bloom Day" list.

What's Blooming This Month? August 2014

It's Garden Blogger Bloom Day! On the 15th of each month, we garden bloggers like to show off what's blooming and growing in our gardens. Here on Long Island, zone 7, things are blooming all over and I'm just letting most of the plants simply do their thing. 

Below are a few favorites from my August garden this month:

These black eyed Susans take center stage in August in my garden. They are so happy and free, I just let them bloom and fill in all over. It's like a sky full of yellow fireworks.

A new addition this year under the yellow Day Lily is Sedum 'Cherry Tart'. 

I love the purple foliage and pink blossoms.

The panicle hydrangea is in full bloom now and looking fantastic. 

Another new addition is Echinachea 'Hot Papaya'. I needed something tall in the back of the bed that would look lovely with the rudbeckias. These cone flowers have petals 

that point downward and look like little mini rockets to me. 

The Knockout Rose in in full bloom and looking so very happy these days. 

My containers in the shade are looking great now. Along the back fence, there is little soil and lots of shade. So instead of struggling to find something to grow there all season, I had my children paint a few stray branches with outdoor paint and voila!, instant garden art to brighten up a shady spot. 

My August garden is full of vibrant colors these days. What about yours? What's blooming where you are? Do you have any of the same plants? I'd love to hear from you!

Many thanks to Carol over at May Dreams Gardens for hosting this month's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day! 

Planting with a Purpose: Pharmaceutical Plants

On a recent trip to Washington D.C., I happened to walk by the American Pharmacists Association headquarters building. I was intrigued by the plants growing outside the building so I stopped to take a closer look. And then I realized it... they were planted with a purpose. All these plants have medicinal and healing properties.

From the sidewalk, I could see Yarrow (Achillea), Yucca, Coneflower (Echinacea), St. John's Wort (Hypericum), Yew (Taxus) and Monk's Pepper (Vitex).

Yarrow (Achillea) is said to be named after the Greek mythical figure Achilles, who used it to stop the bleeding wounds of his soldiers. Today, Yarrow is believed to help with digestion. The plant contains flavonoids which increase saliva and stomach acid. It's also good for treating and managing the symptoms of colds, flu and fever.

Yucca leaves and roots are used for arthritis pain relief and joint inflammation.

Coneflower (Echinachea) is probably one of the most popular herbs in America today. Echinachea comes from the Greek word "echinos" which means hedgehog, no doubt referring to the prickly seed head of the flower.  Echinachea is used to help reduce symptoms of the flu and common cold. Many herbalists recommend it to help boost the immune system and help the body fight infections.

St. John's Wort (Hypericum) is another herb that had been used by the ancient Greeks. Recent studies have shown that St. John's Wort may be effective in treating mild depression. In addition, it has also been used topically as an antiseptic, helping heal wounds and burns.

Yew (Taxus) leaves, bark and seeds are highly toxic. However, studies have shown that the bark contains the substance "taxol" which has been used to fight cancer.

Monk's Pepper or Chasteberry (Vitex) got it's name from the belief in medieval times that potions made from the berries helped monks maintain their vows of chastity by quelling their libido. Today, it is generally used to treat symptoms of PMS such as cramps, headaches, irritability, water retention, etc. and help the woman's body regain a balance of hormones.

What a great way to tie in the garden plants to the theme/purpose of the association's headquarter building. What looked like a rather ho-hum building along my route to some of the bigger known monuments in the city, became one of the coolest finds of my day.