Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island, Washington state.
Designer -Fujitaro Kubota
Dry Garden designed by Koichi Kawana
I link this post to Wordless Wednesday
U.S.A., Washington State. USDA zone 8b. Sunset climate zone 5
Life Without Foxgloves
Foxgloves rule in my garden in June and July. You can see what I mean:
I published a lot of pictures showing foxgloves in their glory. But, those times are gone. The August garden has new stars - Joe Pye weed, perennial phlox, Russian sage, etc. The following pictures show foxgloves at the end of July when they passed their peak, had seeded and were pulled out.
Foxgloves are very important plants in my garden. I love them not only for their look, bold and beautiful, but also for the easiness of growing them. Honestly saying, I actually don't grow them. They grow on their own. I just pluck the plants that pop up in wrong locations. They are disease- and pest-free, drought- and deer-resistent.
They grow in all my gardens - terrace garden of perennials and vegetables, kitchen garden, front garden, etc.
They thrive in soil which was enriched with compost and in poor sandy soil which has never been improved. They grow in full or part sun. I don't see any difference in the plants' height, vigor and appearance.
By the beginning of August, many foxgloves bend and fall.
Since they have shallow roots, they might fall on their own, especially after rains and strong winds.
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These flower stalks could stay longer, but were knocked down by heavy rain.
I used them for my last foxglove bouquets:
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Foxgloves in my garden are always tall, but this year they were taller than ever: 8 feet (240 cm) and higher.
I usually start removing the foxgloves from the garden when the only flowers left are those on the very top:
I felt almost sad pulling them when some of them still had blooms.
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I take out some plants and leave some others which still have side stalks with flowers, like the one in the picture below:
New plants are already growing. Since foxgloves are biannual, these new plants will bloom next year. Actually, I am pulling a lot of foxglove seedlings now, especially those which grow on the garden paths.
Some of you wrote in your comments how difficult it is to grow foxgloves in your area. Would you hate me if I showed this? The new plants:
Guess who was saddened the most by the foxgloves disappearing? The bees and bumblebees! They were checking the flowers even on the plants in the blue waste can:
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The last to go were the white plants.
I would like to have more white foxgloves. So far, the pink and purple colors are prevailing.
White foxgloves look good together with white verbascum, daisies and dahlias.
I didn't collect any foxglove seeds this year. I am sure they'll come back next year. They always do.
Bye-bye Foxglove!
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Previous posts about foxgloves can be found usind a label Foxgloves on the bottom of the page.
This foxglove picture from 2009 is one of my favorites.
***Copyright 2011 TatyanaS
Front Flowerbed. View From Above
Pictures were taken on the 19th of August 2011.
***Copyright 2011 TatyanaS
The Most Northwest Point in the U.S.
Four corners of the continental U.S. This August, I visited my final corner - the northwesternmost: Cape Flattery in the state of Washington. It just takes several hours to drive to that point from where we live. Wonders next door - how often we miss them!
By the way, Seattle Garden Flingers-2011, you were just about three hours away from this place when you visited Dragonfly Farms!
By the way, Seattle Garden Flingers-2011, you were just about three hours away from this place when you visited Dragonfly Farms!
That is the Makah Nation territory on the Olympic Peninsula. The Strait of Juan De Fuca joins Pacific Ocean here.
This is the forest you need to go through to reach the Cape.
Enchanted woods...
We saw a sign warning about a cougar, and a bear had been seen here recently. Grr!!!
The trail is well equipped with boardwalks, stairs and viewing platforms. Before they were built by the Makah people, travelers needed to walk 3/4 of a mile through mud, debris and huge protruding tree roots.
This is my first look at the water:
It took my breath away:
I love the wilderness. I love all types of it. I admire warm sea, exotics, palm trees and orchids. I love Florida, Hawaii and other gorgeous places. Their beauty is relaxing, gentle and comforting. The beauty of Cape Flattery is calmless, dramatic, striking, poignant. It awakes all senses and emotions in me. It's close to my heart. It's more resonant with my life.
What will we see from this point?
Huge seastacks remind me of giant feet. Deep caves make me think about the power of nature.
Strong currents, winds and frequent storms erode the stone. They say that some cliffs where we stood might disappear in several hundred years.
Again, don't you think it looks like giant feet?
In the next picture is Tatoosh Island with its lighthouse. It's named after one of the chiefs. It used to be a base for Indian fishermen and hunters, then for the coastguard. Now, it's inhibited by sea lions, birds and seals.
The Makah Indians were known as great fishermen and whale- and seal hunters. From the Cape, their ancestors witnessed the arrival of the first European expeditions.
Captain James Cook, the British explorer, gave the Cape its name in 1778.
The color of the water hypnotises me.
Look at these branches: they have hundreds of cones:
Spruce, firs, ciders are amazing here. The area gets more than a hundred of inches of rain annually (250 cm)!
I love these trunks with a turquoise hue:
What does the tree with a girl in front of it remind you of? Interesting shape, isn't it?
Little things are as interesting as big ones:
A new life on the ruins of an old one:
Cape Flattery on the map. Vancouver Island of Canada is seen over the Strait of Juan De Fuca:
The Washington state coast is not as developed as, let's say, the Oregon coast. There are not many places for travelers to eat and sleep. Maybe, that is why it's not crowdy here. The traffic was very light. Often, we found ourselves alone on spectacular beaches and trails. We loved it.
There are yet wilderness oasises where you can bond one on one with ancient trees, empty shores and breathtaking beauty.
Photographs are a pitiful replica of the true reality. But, anyway, thanks to them for the wonderful memories.
Visit the Makah's people website.
I participate in Scenic Sunday.
***Copyright 2011 TatyanaS
