What's Blooming Now - The Dog Days of Summer
August 16, 2010

Yes, the hot, sultry weather continues, but so do the blooms at the White River Gardens.

Hosta ‘Royal Standard’ is a late booming hosta with large leaves that look medium green in the shade and goldish-green in more sun, as we have in the Ornamental Allee. The large, white flowers, on scapes (stems) up to 40" tall, are both beautiful to look at and wonderful to smell. It does take more sun and drier soils than many of its kin, but the more sun it has, the more water it needs. ‘Royal Standard’ was the first hosta patented, in 1965.

Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) is a native plant that can grow 4-6’ tall. Having hairy stems and clusters of fuzzy white flowers, it is closely related to Joe-Pye Weed, which was blooming a couple of weeks ago. The common name refers to the medicinal use of the plant in the past. It likes full to partial sun and medium to moist conditions. Find it along the Virginia Fairbanks Sun Garden stream.

A coreopsis (tickseed) that is new for us this year and has performed fabulously is Coreopsis ‘Sienna Sunset’. It has been blooming in the Asymmetry garden for weeks. Though not as orangey-colored as is suggested in some internet photos, the large (for a threadleaf tickseed), daisy-shaped blooms do have an orange tone to the yellow in new blooms that fades with age. Its parent plant, Coreopsis ‘Crème Brulee’, is still exhibiting some of its yellow blooms in the Motion Garden. Like most tickseeds, they prefer a lot of sun and well-drained soils that are on the dry side.

And on round two of blooming for the summer are several of the roses in the Gardens. These, like many perennial plants, will give a second, less full re-bloom later in the season. Look for Knock-outs in the Wedding garden and at the east doors into the Conservatory, Oso Easy Paprikas in the Asymmetry garden, and Scarlet meidilands as you turn to enter the Allee.

Hosta Royal Standard	Hosta Royal Standard in bloom	Boneset Eupatriom perfoliatum
Joe Pye	Coreopsis Sienna Sunset	Knockout Roses
Oso Easy Paprikas	Scarlet meidilands