The scent from the flowering Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum) in section D, wafting through the warm, humid air, is the scent of early summer in the city. Ah, summer. We do not, in my opinion, get enough summer in Seattle, but it’s here now and it sure feels good.
Here are some recent bloomers.
Morina longifolia (whorlflower) section A
From the Himalayas, the whorlflower is used in Tibetan and Chinese medicine. It is a striking plant when flowering but holds its own all year as an evergreen, herbaceous perennial.
Liatris spicata (blazing star) section C
Blazing star, native to eastern North America is a good choice for a sunny meadow garden.
Psoralidium tenuiflorum (slimflower scurfpea) section C
This midwesterner blends well with the Liatris, Echinacea and Eryngium neighbors in its section C garden bed. The roots have been used by Native Americans to treat lung conditions and headaches.
Jasminum officinale var. grandiflorum (white jasmine) section B
As if on cue, the jasmine breaks into flower when the last adjacent French roses (Rosa gallica) are losing their petals. The national flower of Pakistan, jasmine releases its delightful fragrance at dusk, just in time for an evening stroll through the Medicinal Herb Garden.
Callirhoe involucrata (purple poppy mallow) section B
Tough, easy to grow in full sun and drought tolerant, it self-sows but not too much to control . Some plants in the garden linger on but never really thrive. Others are a bit too successful and must be constantly managed, but purple poppy mallow, though a bit sprawled out and weedy looking, is a dependable space filler with dazzling blooms.
Nolina microcarpa (sacahuista, beargrass) section C
Bees!
Behold the magic wand of bee heaven.
Honeybees love the sacahuista. The entire flower spike, roughly 8 feet tall, is covered with bees on sunny days, as long as the flowers last. If you’re local and you don’t go to observe the honeybees, you’re missing out on an amazing phenomenon. There are thousands of flowers on the single spike and every day, more flowers open. The honeybees from the hives across the street have figured it out. It is truly a rare spectacle and it might not happen again here for a long time.
spire of lofty white
Nolina microcarpa
bee heaven here now
See you in the garden.
Thank you Keith for the images of flowers and pollinators! Wish I was local so that I could come and visit the Nolina microcarpa. It sounds like quite a wonderful spectacle.