Garden Bloggers Bloom Day – August 2014
Here we are at the end of August and I have been lamenting the lack of colour in my garden. I have been more interested in foliage in the last year and I wondered whether this has had a negative impact on the floral display however looking at these photographs it is clear there is plenty of colour but much is in the cooler tones rather than in the rich colours that are common at this time of year. I think I need to add some brighter tones to the borders so I will be seeing what I can find at the local nurseries over the coming weeks.
I have a few Asters but I am struggling to work out which is which as the poor plants have been moved so many times over the last two years. I will have to ask my friend Helen Picton to identify them. However I do know the small-flowered white one above is Aster umbellatus – the flowers create a sort of white hazy above the rest of the planting.
Keeping the unintentional cool theme going in the Big Border, along with the Asters, is this herbaceous clematis. I bought it last year but for the life of me I cannot find the label this evening but I love the softness of the blue which reminds me of wedgewood china.
The liatris is looking wonderful at the moment in fact this is the best it has ever been and it seems to be thriving in its new location in the Big Border so much so that I think I will try to bulk it up or buy some additional plants to make more impact. There are some Rudbeckia about to open in this area which should really zing up the border.
On the patio the colours get stronger with the Dahlias really stealing the show. However, I seem to have a number of deep burgundy ones and I think I could do with some other colours to add a contrast. Below we have Con Amore, Juliet, Jowey Mirelle and Chat Noir
In the front garden is my new Crocosmia Sunglow which I hope to plant out this weekend. I do like the orangey yellow Crocosmias more so than the bright red ones.
I’m not sure which Crocosmia this is as I have had it for years. It has wonderful bronze foliage and is a mass of flowers. 
Finally I will leave you with a Japanese Anemone. I have had these plants for ever and they are currently located in the shady corner of the front garden in front of a bamboo. They seem to be doing well here and there is plenty of space for them to spread out so they may well get to stay put!
For other Garden Blogger Bloom Day posts visit Carol over at May Dreams.
Gosh you gave me a shock I thought I had missed a couple of weeks of my life until I checked the calendar
Where I live, I have to wait another month to even see lushness and colors like you already have! Always interesting to adjust a garden for one element or another.
Hi DD
I don’t think I could cope with your heat but I suppose it’s what you get used to
Could your Crocosmia with the bronze foliage be “Solfaterre”, it looks very like mine. Your little blue Clematis is si beautiful, such a lovely shade of blue.
Hi Pauline
That does ring a vague bell, I have had it for years I can’t even remember buying it! It is rather nice
I am hoping my asters flower this year….and I really like the Crocosmia Sunglow.
Hi Donna
Sun glow is one of the taller Crocosmia, I am hoping will brighten up a shady spot
Oh aren’t we all so critical of our own gardens, Helen? I know i showed a collage of blooms for mine but in the garden they are mostly in isolation and I have no really solid clumps of colour – I wonder if that’s how you feel about yours as the blooms you show are lovely. Is the clematis a C heracleifolia?
Oh some most attractive August blooms Helen. I’m on the look out for August brightness too so will be interested to see what you find. Cathy has taken the words out of my mouth re the identity of the clematis. Is it scented and a bee and butterfly magnet? If so could possibly be clematis heracleifolia ‘Cassandra’.
Hi Anna
I havent noticed a scent or bees and butterflies but I will look up the name you and Cathy suggest and see if it is indeed that Clematis