Summer has arrived! Another Saturday means another Six from here in the Pacific Northwest. Two 80 degree days early in the week caused much in the garden to pop open, but we’ve been pretty cloudy and cool since.
ONE – At least this odd weather is extending peony season here, which can be so brief in most climates. That’s good news, since I adore peonies.
TWO – Sweet peas are perfuming the deck and other garden areas. I’m loving this combo, ‘Oxford and Cambridge’ with ‘White Supreme’ and one I’ve forgotten. They’ve reached five feet tall already.
THREE – When I head into the greenhouse to water my tomatoes and peppers, I’m greeted by volunteer poppies started many moons ago. In fact I didn’t plant the peony poppies, but the previous owners must have! If you’re easily offended by less-than-stellar greenhouse upkeep, look away. Soon the pale pink, frilly poppies will reach from the gravel to fill this space (I don’t have the heart to yank them), but the first is always this vibrant red.
FOUR – Campanula are just starting to bloom with their sweetly ringing, summery bells opening here at Coppertop. The Campanula sarastro is a favorite. These make me appreciate such faithful perennials that return yearly without effort on my part.
FIVE – Snow in June? A blanket of white covers an area near the stream. Not snow, just the annual viburnum petal drop. All in the cycle of bloom and grow. These enormous viburnums are due to be rather severely pruned, so next year’s blooms will be meager by comparison.
SIX – I’ve saved the best for last this week, I think. Delphiniums are just beginning to shine all over these gardens. I grow at least eight varieties since they thrive here. My love for them knows no bounds! No dwarves in these beauties, but plenty of doubles and unusuals. Most are Pacific Giant and Magic Fountain varieties started from seed. The photos tell the tale.
If you’re eager to see garden beauty from around the world, be sure to visit The Propagator who hosts Six on Saturday, and access links in his post’s comments.
Gardens at Coppertop -- March Picker 
Your photos are so inspiring and the colours so vibrant – and you have a wonderful array of bright blooms which I’m most envious of as slugs would eat those here in damp London. A lovely garden and a lovely blog. Thanks.
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Thank you for the kind words! It’s a beautiful time of year.
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Love those delphinium as well! I have a few that popped up last year from one of those packets of pollinators seeds….I let them go to seed and scattered them and this year have many.
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Nice! Can’t have too many delphinium. They are also very easy to harvest seed from, although they don’t always resemble their parents…
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I can see why you are having such an affair with delphiniums. They are outstanding. Love all your colors.
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Thanks, Lisa. I love their height and the many varieties.
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Nice Six! You seem to have space in your garden! The last photos are beautiful and the last one with an overview of a part of your garden makes me want to walk there …
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Yes, we’re glad it’s a spacious garden, allowing for plenty of room to grow favorites. Sometimes it’s a lot to care for. I’d welcome you to walk through any time, Fred.
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I agree – a lovely colourful Six! Beautiful delphiniums.
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Thank you! The colors are difficult to duplicate online, but we all have that problem.
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The delphiniums are glorious. Such vibrant colours in your garden from all your flowers. You must have the perfect climate.
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Thank you, Jane. I thrive in cool temps as do the plants that grow best here. Some people find the Pacific Northwest summers too cool, but I find them energizing. 😉
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The blue delphiniums look fabulous against the grey of the house! I bet from inside it is lovely to look out and see them peeking up at window height! My favourite is the red poppy though. I do love red in the garden!
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Red seems a color to either use sparingly or with total abandon in the garden. I’m in the sparingly camp, but sounds like you go for it! Of all things, the delphs against the house are along the garage, so not great viewing, but they are right next to the hot tub for our outside viewing pleasure. 😉
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Hehe yes I am definately a garish “burn your eyeballs out” red gardener. So far my garden is nowhere near that yet but one day 😊. Hot tub delphs… I like it.
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Absolutely stunning. Your garden is beautiful and so is your house, I too love the colour scheme. I really want to start growing more flowers in the garden rather than just tons of veg and this post has spurred me on.
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Many folks grow either flowers or veggies, but I say if you have room, why not indulge in both? May you have the same great success growing beauty as you’ve had with growing food.
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What a beautiful garden! I just love your sweet peas and have made a note of the names. You are blessed to have the room for lots of wonderful peonies. I’m so glad I’ve found your blog 😄
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Welcome, and I appreciate your encouragement!
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Oh my! I read ‘White Supreme’ as ‘White Supremacy’! I wrote a naughty article about that, but it is not what you think. White does happen to be my favorite color, and ‘Festiva Maxima’ happens to be my favorite peony, even with the red flecks. They just make the white look whiter. The white delphiniums are rad too, but I could go both ways on that one. Delphiniums really are at their best in blue.
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Whites with black seem to be a theme for me this season, and I’m having a good time with it. Have a good week, Tony.
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Oh my goodness, your photos have me drooling! Those colour combinations are so beautiful, I love all the soft blues and the sweet pea mix is lovely. I’m a great fan of less-than-stellar greenhouse upkeep, those little ‘extras’ are always such a joy when they pop up!
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Thank you! Yes, it’s like Christmas with the greenhouse gravel surprises.
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Delphinium and peony together?! You are truly blessed. We missed the peony bloom while on vacation, but so it goes. Your photos are so beautiful, thank you for the tour 🙂
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Thank you, JoAnn. I don’t think their bloom periods overlapped before, but I might have forgotten. (Good thing I keep a blog so can check 😉 ) I cut lots of peonies for the house but enjoy the delphs best in the garden. Funny how that works.
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Our local garden center had super plants of Campanula ‘Sarastro’ but the Campanula I planted last year didn’t come up this, so I resisted. Now I wish I hadn’t. The single red peony at the top is the one for me; that is classy. As for Delphiniums, as much as I envy yours, I’m not tempted, our molluscs live well enough as it is.
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That peony is ‘Bowl of Beauty’ and I like her, too. I think many gardeners are frustrated by snails and slugs eating their delphs. No idea why mine have been safe, but I do find slugs eating ligularia and dahlias if unprotected. Darn those slimy foes!
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Great variety in Delphinium. I like the combination with Peony in the background, blue and white break it up nicely. I wish I had a greenhouse!
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Our greenhouse is a simple one, but definitely helps extend the growing season. Also, tomatoes would suffer here without it.
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Mine always do ok, not stellar mind you, but ok. What kind of suffering do you experience?
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Our nights can dip into the 40s which stunts tomatoes and peppers. Even eggplants. The greenhouse is also warmer during the day which encourages great growth.
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Last year’s tomatoes were sad. I harvested around October
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My lone delph, a black knight, was munched to the ground by the slugs and/or snails. It is staging a recovery but i doubt it will flower this year. Shame. Lovely photos, lots of colour in your garden.
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Thanks, Prop. Sad about that Black Knight — one of my favorite varieties since it’s iridescent here.
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Lovely sweet peas, fabulous delphiniums. I love Campanula ‘Sarastro’ too, your clump is magnificent.
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Thank you, Chloris. I can’t get over how gorgeous your garden is right now!
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