Despite challenging August temperatures and humidity here in central Virginia, these beauties are awash with blooms and deliver a lovely scent. Enjoy!
This is the second year for these hostas. They were shared by a garden friend who has spectacular specimens in her town landscape.
Hosta close up. Pudgy bumblebees straddle these blooms while gathering nectar at the base of each flower, providing food for them and daily entertainment for moi.
Hostas and clematis create a WOW! factor in an otherwise quiet August landscape.
Second year for this clematis. It appears to like this thirty-foot long split rail fence. Although it was recently attacked by hordes of Blister Beetles, I managed to send these chewers to the “swim to eternity pool” (AKA bucket of soapy water) where they will reproduce no more.
Twice-blooming Huldine clematis will soon cover the cattle panel arbor above one raised bed. Pretty, yes?
Gifted hostas live well here at Swallowtail Cottage and stems sway at 48″ tall. WOWZA!
And I cannot omit the Formosa lily here at Swallowtail Cottage…the seed came from Tufton, a property once owned by Thomas Jefferson. The fall pods below make a splendid winter show…the seeds are stacked like plates within these shimmering jackets.
Formosa lily self sows, is easily established and becomes a perennial. Care for seeds?
Lastly, I must show off my Sakata (a Japanese seed company) Lilliput melons. This year proved to be a banner year, despite fungal issues on the leaves. These personal-sized melons take their time, yet I eat half of one per day now and smile with every juicy bite. I will spare you the image of the silly looking chicken wire circled melon patch. Hopefully I will harvest melons up to frost. Thanks to P. Allen Smith for the trip and the seeds. www.pallensmith.com
As a steamy Virginia summer wanes, this was a decent growing season, despite my weekly grumbling whenever I headed out to mow turf, or pulled relentless weeds, or captured those Blister Beetles and Red Velvet Ants (AKA cow killer, ouch!).
Charlottesville, yes Charlottesville, Virginia, USA is my town, population 150 thousand (town and county), and both she and her residents are resilient, despite recent controversy, hostility, loss of life, and world-wide news coverage. Fortunately, I find sanctuary here at Swallowtail Cottage, merely eight miles from town.
Which reminds me:
The enduring wonders of nature assure me that peace is found when I take notice. Many years ago I coined a phrase:
there is a fine line between order and chaos.
May you all be safe in the world, walk that fine line, and take notice of beauty while feeling her embrace.
Copyright © 2017 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
home, garden, life 
Thank you for stopping by Cynthia. Look next for the spider lily photos blooming now. 😉
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Such beautiful photos of your gardens. Thanks for sharing.
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Yes Karen. Whites simply glow in the evening. The white phlox, clematis, and hostas delight.
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Love all your white August blossoms, they seem to have a cooling effect…even if only mentally. 🙂
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Thank you Jeanne. I wish I could have a slip of the wild autumn clematis, as the hybrids have barely a scent at all. At least the bees appear to enjoy these flowers.
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Your garden looks so, so lovely, Diane. The small white clematis – I think we have some of that growing wild here, with a lovely scent. You have a green thumb I will never have in ten lifetimes!
I’m glad you’re all forging on in Charlottesville – I suppose what choice does one have, but I wish you and all the folks down there the best.
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Beautiful images Diane.
You are an amazing person in all that you do. Ron
~ added from email
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So glad that my garden efforts soothe your soul. Take care T.
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So much beauty and always so restful. I feel calmer from my frantic day having read your words and wandered a bit around Swallowtail Cottage’s garden with you.
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Hi Joe, call it beginner’s luck with the clematis. I do have a very old Nelly Moser here too that stayed under a line of evergreens for years until I found a tuteur for it. I pretty much ignore them both. Time will tell if vines need drastic pruning at some point.
Those hostas receive morning sun and do suffer with scorched leaves. The blooms make up for the unhappy leaves. Since I have little shade here, and the privacy fence needed something dramatic, I trialed them there.
I need to know where to send the seeds when they form. Do you have my email?
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Diane, I am envious of your ability with the clematis. After trying & failing a bunch of times with all sorts I gave up. Those gifted hostas look like they are in full sun. Would know the variety ? Gifted plants are the best because of the memories attached.
I like the Formosa lily & the seed history. I’d like to get a few seeds from you if possible for a white hospice garden that has, so far’ been a disappointment.
Thank you for the post& good luck, Joe
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