While working in the garden this weekend I was surprised to notice all of the purple and lavender colored flowers blooming this time of year, far more abundant now than in the hot summer months.
From larkspurs to the mallow bush, which I have pruned into a small tree in the picture below, going along the driveway, to...
...the many salvias. Salvias by the way, have become one of my favorite plants, they are so dependable, performing nicely in my hot inland garden. Both annuals and perennials they come in many types and colors, including this rich purple one you see below; it pairs well with the yellow lantana.
Then there are the irises. Iris was the name of the mythological Greek goddess of the rainbow and is such a suitable name for this plant as they come in an array of colors including lots of purple blends; all of them are lovely and many of the newer hybrids are re-blooming.
But the Queen of purple in my garden right now has to be the wisteria growing with abandon up and over the back deck.
I planted this wisteria vine two years ago. It was a bareroot plant from Home Depot, when I took it out of the package to plant it it was so frail and spindly that I didn't have a lot of hope for it's success. Last year it had a few passable blooms and at first this year I didn't think it was going to bloom at all.
Then look what happened! By next year it should reach completely around the deck and my main problem will be keeping it under control. But my, when it is in bloom it is marvelous and the fragrance is heavenly.
Thank you for visiting.
I hope that your garden is full of the beauty that comes with spring.
You never fail to satisfy one's need for beautiful colour in your photos, Adrienne. Your purples are gorgeous. I am going to have to try one or two salvias in the hot and dry spot of my garden - summers here are very hot and dry and some corners of the garden show that. You are certainly fortunate with your wisteria! They can take years to bloom, and yours if quite full. It's all just lovely.
ReplyDeleteOh I love that wisteria...so lush and pendulous as it dangles so elegantly...I do not have any salvias...now I am thinking I need some! That shade of blue is not very common and would fit in nicely in some of our beds...your garden is an oasis of beauty.
ReplyDeleteWonderfully beautiful purple flowers they are.
ReplyDeleteWe love blue and purple flowers, too.
In April wisteria, English Bluebell and clematis were in bloom, and we really enjoyed them.
Adrienne, the purple flowers must be known as the "royals" of the garden. Now, I see what a wisteria is supposed to look like!! Even the fairies couldn't help me. They really are a beautiful flower no matter where or how they bloom.. All the rest of your flowers are beautiful too..Happy Gardening..Judy
ReplyDeleteWisteria is a wonderful plant, and when you trim it back after the spring bloom it comes back in the summer. I agree, you need to control it, otherwise it's all over the place. I love salvias as well and also have the Armistad that you showed - it has such a rich color. Your garden is so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the tip about pruning it back, I didn't know that and I will certainly give it a try.
DeleteI love Wisteria...I don't have a good place for it as it needs a very strong base to climb....you have such beautiful plants.
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of Wisteria too. If you have time and the interest, could you say a few words about growing Wisteria? I think it likes hot weather, but I'm not sure which side of our fence to plant it. One side is north of the fence and gets less baking sun, but still is sunny. The other side of the fence is on the south side and gets the hot afternoon sun from about noon until sundown. The fence will be its support no matter which side it is planted on. Thanks for any info you can share.
ReplyDeleteI am not a wisteria expert by any means. They seem to grow very well in our climate. in fact there is a very famous one in a nearby town to me that hosts a Wisteria Festival every year. All I can tell you is that mine is planted on an east facing support. I think that they would definitively prefer sun to shade, most plants like morning sun if possible. I don't know how hot your summers are, here the days can commonly be over 90. I think if I were you I would plant it on the north facing side of the fence.
ReplyDeleteHope this helps.
Such a lovely garden!!
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