Allium

Once upon a time, many moons ago, I wrote a monthly garden column for a local Berkshire magazine. Now that we’re officially into summer, it’s time to revisit this. While during the winter season I’m drawn to more “exotic” themes, now, with life bursting all around, the garden also takes on an exotic, almost tropical feel. For just a moment, I remind myself to forget about weeding, watering and pruning. Just pause and, in perfect cliché words, smell the roses. (Fumbling for my iPhone while shaking off the dirt from my fingers makes for a satisfying pause as well. Sadly with the smoky air laden with tiny, unhealthy particles, I’d rather share some ideas and images.

In June, while the alliums were making their bold display, came the more delicate white Oriental poppies. While these paper thin ones are my favorite, I also look forward to seeing the next batch. Anticipation is de rigeur in gardening. Letting go is another. Each day makes for a reminder of the ephemeral.

 
 
 

It can be overwhelming at times to witness so much blooming as well as fading. While my white irises have come and gone — some aptly called ‘Infinity’ since they continue to produce offspring and re-bloom come fall, below is a glimpse of other snow white flowers: hostas, clematis, and Sambucus or baneberry now gracing the garden.

 
 

Lending a garden a semblance of permanency amidst all that keeps passing on, are rocks, birdbaths, sculptures or a fountain like the one below. Water, lends the environment another, welcome dimension.

blossoming Sambucus or Mulberry shrub aka “poor man’s Japanese maple”

In mid-summer we can also enjoy gold moss stonecrop, a type of sedum which like a good ground-cover spreads, keeps out weeds, and makes for a soft, yellow carpet. Here. it’s in the herb garden rubbing shoulders with chives, thyme, tarragon and mauve colored Nepeta or catmint. To mirror the mauve below, is a climbing Italian clematis. Finally, another contrasting favorite is the the dark purple Veronica or speedwell popping up along a path.

As perennial flowers fade, woody plants, grasses and agaves (even in New England!) are welcome. My agaves are now offering ever so tall flowering stems. As they continue to stretch towards the sky their cream colored flowers become the topping on the cake.

Japanese maple, blue spruce and irises

 

Agave florets with a spriea ‘Mellow Yellow’

 

My grandson and garden sous-chef, Sydney Prince, exploring one of the fallen alliums that had previously acted like sentries by a gate at our terrace entrance:

 

PS While Baudelaire may not have been as enthralled by gardens (something I don’t pretend to know) calling his book of poems “Les Fleurs du Mal”, we can turn to Monet for celebrating gardens. This is a tribute in deference to him.