Six On Saturday — July 4

Happy Independence Day, here in the U.S! My hope is that people act wisely and celebrate safely.

This week our weather has turned decidedly chilly and drizzly. It doesn’t feel much like summer. The cucumbers and squash are rebelling, but the peas couldn’t be happier. Peony season has been nicely extended!

ONE – Sweet peas are like their edible legume family members in how they appreciate the recent cool temps. Blooms on a few varieties that I grow up trellises all over Coppertop began in the past few weeks, but are really starting to take off now. Their perfume is unbeatable! King’s High Scent with the lavender edge continues to be the most fragrant.

TWO – An area of the garden with a trio of birdhouses is looking lovely currently. Spiraea and digitalis are featured here, including some new solid white foxgloves I started from seed this year.

THREE – 4th of July is the time for Coppertop strawberries, and we’ve been eating them by the handful. My sister, Meg, has already made us a delicious strawberry rhubarb crumble with some of the pickings. Yesterday I attempted to rescue many more before overnight showers could ruin them.

FOUR – Delphiniums signal the 4th of July here at Coppertop, and I can count on them blooming for the holiday. The blues are at their best.

FIVE – Also in the perennial beds, it’s the season for Campanula persicifolia or bellflowers to peek through other plants in many of the beds. As all gardeners know, these readily make their presence known! I don’t mind.

SIX – Finally, some before and after shots of the sunflower patch behind the garden shed. Shown are early June and early July contrasts. The slugs have had their way with plenty, but the first surviving flowers are slowly opening, revealing some interesting varieties. C’mon, sun!

Early June and Early July
Early June and Early July

Thanks go to The Propagator  who faithfully hosts this weekly garden update and welcomes all contributions. 

43 thoughts on “Six On Saturday — July 4”

  4. Happy 4th of July. Your garden looks like it is ready to burst into color like the fireworks if you get some sun to ignite the blooms.

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  5. Those delphiniums are a lovely colour and so healthy looking. I wanted dark blue and healthy, but the only ones to survive are a gentle lilac colour and a pale blue. Never mind the foxgloves and hollyhocks have provided height and colour, although not dark blue!

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  13. What a beautiful garden you have! I’m impressed by the strawberry crop you have. The sunflowers are going to look stunning when they are in full flower. I hope I remember to sow some sunflower seed this spring. They are so lively and colourful!

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  14. Your delphiniums are magnificent. Mine failed to return this year, but even staked, they were hard to keep upright in the winds we have here. The tall blues in the border at the side of the house are quite breathtaking.

    I love that little bird campus, complete with swimming pool and beautifully planted garden! If you ever decide to build a human version for rental – do let me know. 😁

    Enjoy the beautiful perfume of your sweet peas and eating your strawberries. (Lovely garden roses on the table!) My 22-month grandson is enjoying coming over to pick, wash (ie, play in the water) and then eat ours.

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    • The tallest blues are Pacific Giant, aptly named! I love the image of your grandson joining you in the garden. Covid-19 has me separated for too long from my two grandsons on the east coast, and I am quite sad about it. Enjoy for all of us who can’t be together! 🙂

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  17. I’m liking the spirea very much. Had it several years ago, and like it as much for the light green foliage as much as for the flower.
    Your garden looks so beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

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  18. Foxglove in the first year?! I only expect them to bloom if I purchase them already growing from a nursery. Those that self sow do not bloom until their second year. (We do not grow any here in these landscapes, but a few grow outside of the landscapes.)

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    • I know they’re purported to be biennial, but my routine each year is to start the foxgloves in mid-winter. I have success with the majority blooming their first summer! I always buy my seed from Swallowtail down there in CA and the whites are the variety ‘Snow Thimble’ or ‘Camelot White’ (since I intermingled both). Have a good week, Tony.

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  19. Your foxgloves and delphinums are wonderful and make a real statement! 😃 I envy you all your lovely established trees and shrubs providing some dappled shade for plants.

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  20. hmm i have seed of that campanula, i must go look and see when they should be sown. you delphiniums are fabulous, i’ve never been able to grow them, the slugs and snails always get them. all looking fab in your garden, hope you had a good 4th July.

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