Gardens at Coppertop

Ready or not, we’re all on to August tomorrow! The garden is full of delights, as is expected in sunny mid-summer. Some of my favorites are below.

The dahlias I’ve grown from seed this year bring new surprises each week. These blooms were ready for their debut. The pollinators are aplenty. Which is your favorite?

The rose garden is in its sixth year, with all 20 original roses flourishing. I’m continually making bouquets to bring indoors. In the designated rose garden, besides one Iceberg climber and 17 David Austin English rose bushes (of seven varieties), I grow two floribunda roses: Pumpkin Patch and Connie’s Sandstorm. Both are available in the U.S. but perhaps not elsewhere. Pumpkin Patch, shown in the first two photos below, is a gorgeous, dependable rose. Connie, in the last two photos, adds a bit of subtle brownish mauve to the garden. The two floribundas are practically thornless, a respite from some of my English roses (Gertrude Jekyll and Munstead Wood should come with warnings…)

But right now, I can’t get enough of my three Lady Emma Hamilton rose bushes. Her hues change with the weather, her fragrance is sublime, and the amount of blooms she produces is unbeatable.

Before leaving the rose garden, I make a point of pausing along the edge to inhale the clove-like fragrance of hardy phlox ‘Bright Eyes’. This patch has expanded over the years to border the roses nicely.

We’ve feasted on raspberries for weeks, and I’ve frozen close to 10 pounds for future delicious projects. The last two weeks have brought sweet cherries to our table. Well actually, Hubby has climbed the ladder and brought the cherries. These are Lapins cherries.

Fruity and veggie abundance has been matched by the number of eggs our hens are producing. Wow! One young hen persistently found a way around the fence and netting we protect them with, and I often found her wandering the garden. Then I would guide her back through the gate. Last week I was able to catch her in the laying act — and discovered almost a dozen beautiful gifts beneath the shady ferns. We appreciate our chickens (and bake a LOT of quiche).