What's Blooming Now - July 25, 2012

Gardens Remains in Bloom During the Hot Summer Months

A walk through White River Gardens continues to reveal  lots of gorgeous blooms despite the extra  hot and dry conditions we are experiencing this summer. As you approach the Gardens, take a moment to look at the large cement urns dotted along the sidewalk adjacent to the parking lot. They are filled with a variety of non-hardy succulents and drought-tolerant annuals, a good choice for this dry summer! You’ll see beautiful agave, kalanchoe, lantana, agastache, and more.

Once inside the Hilbert Conservatory you’ll spot some of our OMG! Orchids and their companions. The Dendrobium ‘Uniwai Pearl’ orchid has stems loaded with white blooms. It was developed in the 1970s at the University of Hawaii for the cut flower market.

Another eye-catcher is the Blue Sky vine (Thunbergia grandiflora) that is climbing up a column. You need to go upstairs onto the mezzanine to see its big, blue blooms.

As you exit the Conservatory for the outdoor DeHaan Tiergarten, one of the first things you’ll spot as you emerge from the double doors are the raised planters on the Belvedere. They are looking lush in an ancient-ruins sort of way. Wooly grey and smooth striped tradescantias (Wandering Jew) and heart-shaped sweet potato vines run amok through lantana, cordyline, salvia, and other tropicals.

Veer to your right into the Polly Horton Hix Design Gardens for more delightful sights.  Some fun favorites right now are the two-toned ‘Mojito’ Elephant ear (Colocasia) in the Gathering Garden, vibrant ‘Bergamo’ Bee Balm (Monarda), found at a spot in the Motion Garden, and the Whimsy Garden’s Chenille plant (Acalypha), a funky tropical often grown as a houseplant.

Next stop on your Gardens tour are the Clowes Water Gardens. They are packed with colorful blooms, and yes, your eyes aren’t deceiving you; those are tasty melon and squash vines! Along with vivid pink, green and burgundy annual grasses and flowers, you’ll see several kinds of dwarf watermelons, canteloupes, cucumbers and squash. All of these plants are referred to as cucurbits because they are all members of the plant family Curcurbitacea; how’s that for a mouthful?

Finally you arrive at the Efroymson Wedding Garden, where four ceremonies will be held during the last weekend in July! Luckily for all our guests this garden looks lovely. The roses are displaying their second (or is that third?) bloom, and the ‘Pink Diamond’ Hydrangeas are reaching their full bloom. It is a fitting location for a wedding, or a quick game of tag!

There’s still a lot more to see, so visit White River Gardens soon to catch it all! And don’t forget your camera!