In Spite of the Groundhog - YOU CAN GROW THAT!

Phlox 'David's Lavender' with Clematis 'Rooguchi'

Did I mention our groundhog has returned? She might have been summering at the neighbor's. I'm not sure because I hadn't seen her until about a month ago. She arrived in time to nibble--okay, let's face it, CHOMP--the Phlox down to half its height. Now that I think about it, she does that every year, and every year in late August I'm rewarded with bushy, heavily-blooming plants.

Aside from a few tropicals, there isn't much else going on in my garden right now, so a smattering here and there of phlox is a good thing.

I've been really impressed with Clematis 'Rooguchi' this year, and if I were to give an award for the longest-blooming plant in my garden, it would definitely be in the running. (I'm pretty sure our groundhog can't reach or doesn't like the taste of this plant.)


I absolutely love the color of Phlox 'Blushing Shortwood'. Mostly white with a pretty blush of pinkish-lavender, it plays well with anything it's planted with, in this case an annual Salvia called 'Mystic Spires Blue'.


Phlox 'Blushing Shortwood'

Meanwhile, the Asian beetles have pretty much taken a powder and the devastation that used to be my Impatiens and roses are recovering. I've been cutting spikey and rounded flowers for bouquets, the latest of which contains stems of Lilac 'Bloomerang', Heuchera 'Autumn Bride' and Salvia 'Mystic Spires'.

Meanwhile, check out C. L. Fornari's blog post about her campaign whose catch phrase was commandeered by the company that makes Scotts Miracle Gro.