Guara

The Guara is on the top centre of the lower picture. (It's 'Pink Cloud'.)
see also the above enlargement

Trying to stretch the garden season.

Today I took my son out to one of the local nurseries to get more plants.
Oh no! more perennials. Is this becoming a recurring theme? I am trying out mainly perennials with my evergreens. (in the front garden that is) I may leave annuals just for pots and hanging baskets next year.

Under the tree in the back yard the roots being very thick, forced my paving edgers out of line.(The tree is on a hill in heavy clay.) The only recourse, besides cutting the tree down was making a rock garden. Rocks were added to hold up what was left of the soil. I started planting the rock garden earlier in the spring. I pruned the Dusty miller and added a Spanish lavender Lavandula stoechas. The lavander has a pineapple shaped flower. (I like how silver, white and variegated leaves glow by the moon light) (The backyard faces east by the way)

I had a Dianthus 'Flashing Lights' (Deep red) which filled in nicely so I added another, a Dianthus 'Artic Fire'. ( white with a red centre)

Red Hen & Chicks Sempervivum 'Crimsonette', Dwarf Pincushion Flower Sabiosa columbaria 'Misty butterflies' (Lilac blue flowers), Sedum 'Angelina' (bright yellow foliage) and an Alyssum 'Mountain Gold' round out the bed.

Back to the front garden: I added 3 Cranesbill one is a (Geranium x Cantabrigiense) , Echevera's and Sagina subulata Irish moss a week ago. Today it's Ophiopogon planiscapus Black Mondo Grass, Echevera secunda in flower. (Red and yellow) I had some Sisyrinchium Blue-Eyed Grass beside the 'Extra Blue' Limber pine Pinus flexilis. a new trial is purple Primula x tommasinii called 'YOU and ME' in Purple. "It carries two pairs of identical flowers nested one inside the other" It's from Log House Plants in Oregon. I will post some pictures as they fill in.