Bloom Day — August 2014

Coneflowers, sunflowers, dahlias, hydrangeas, and lilies are in full flower. What’s blooming where you are?

Regina Velazquez, Hawley, Massachusetts

We’re looking forward to the edible seeds of our Rostov sunflowers. So are the chickens.

Alee Moncy, Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Allium

Coneflower

Annabelle hydrangea

Astilbe simplicifolia

Lily

Zan Davies, North Adams, Massachusetts

Cleome

Lisa Hiley, Williamstown, Massachusetts

We built this little stone wall last fall and have been having fun filling in the beds behind it. Mostly cosmos and rudbeckia, with golden rod just about to burst in the background.

My father gave me this hibiscus as a house-warming gift. It summers on the porch, where it still blooms like crazy after nearly 20 years.

I was in despair about my Asiatic lilies last summer because of evil scarlet lily beetles, but they seem to have gone away this summer!

Ilona Sherrat, Cheshire, Massachusetts

Climbing nasturtium

Phlox

Secret garden

Volunteer sunflowers

Scarlet runner beans

Emily Spiegelman, Wendell, Massachusetts

Dahlias going strong: American Dawn, Maxime, Cornel, Ace Summer Sunset, and Blue Boy

Mary Velgos, North Adams, Massachusetts

Sunflower from Caretaker Farm

Maribeth Casey, Williamstown, Massachusetts

Coreopsis

Clematis 

Yellow cosmos

Tina Parent, Pownal, Vermont

Pink hydrangea

Coneflowers

Gwen Steege, Williamstown, Massachusetts

It’s hard to believe there will ever be as beautiful a summer as this one has been in the Berkshires, and I’m in awe of what it’s done for my garden! We live on a bright, dry, sandy hillside, so most years the garden bakes and sometimes even “fries.” But the sun and weekly rain and not-too-hot days have made a huge difference this summer. Some June plants (bleeding heart, sweet William, and peach bellflower) are still blooming. 

This is not a neat and trim garden — it’s more wabi sabi. I “edit” it just enough to keep bullies from smothering shyer plants nearby.