Sweet Hydrangea Alabama

 Leucospermum 'Scarlet Ribbon'

It seemed good to place two more re-blooming Hydrangeas in the re-worked bed transitioning from full sun to dappled shade courtesy of Baby the Oak.  

In our region, new shrubs are best planted at the start of the rainy season, but we do what we can do when we can do it.   

 And this is a remarkable rainy season:

Hydrangeas for sale were not to be found locally, since they are sold in flower, because people buy plants in flower.  A big-box home improvement store offered 'Bloomstruck', with free shipping, at a good price.  I was curious as to what a big-box mail order plant would be like.

They arrived during our Wednesday rain storm, and got planted during our Wednesday rain storm: 

The shipping label indicated they originated in Loxley, Alabama.  Extensive growing fields right along I-10, the main highway from east to Southern California.  Interesting. 

That being The South, there's a Waffle House a few hundred yards away:

 Tired from their long journey down I-10, but not bad:

 

What the big box will be selling in our local store in six or eight weeks.  Mine won't be sitting on hot asphalt drying out. 

As rain fell, I watered them in with fresh collected rain water, and we got yet more rain overnight. 

The wire cylinder protects the tiny rooted Hydrangea cutting that eventually may be the bed's Hydrangea #4:

More Hellebores await transplantation into the bed.  The pot of Aeoniums needs to move when it dries out and becomes light enough to move.  Then for the next year or two, we can see how these plants will work in this location.  

 The theory is:  Hellebores offer interest in winter and early spring when Hydrangeas are dormant or leafing out, and that Hydrangeas offer interest in late spring, summer, and autumn, when Hellebores are fine green foliage clumps but less eye-catching. 

Elsewhere in the garden, before the rain arrived Tuesday night, I moved a few more small plants around and planted a new Salvia and the six packs of Verbena 'Imagination' and Marigolds.  They will provide color after the Dutch Iris finish for the year.  

A garden buddy also gave me some Verbena bonariensis seedlings, which I want for the goldfinches.  V. bonariensis is a rampant re-seeder, but--goldfinch food!  Got those in, too. 

Marigolds hopefully to flower after the Iris, simultaneous with deep blue Agapanthus in June, and for the rest of summer: 

Five more Marigold plants here.  The Lavender will eventually grow to fill the space, but this year Marigolds will add color:

What's to look at in the garden at the moment?

Leucospermum 'Pom Pom'.  I kept thinking--this plant reminds me of another plant--which one?  I realized yesterday it reminds me of "Saucer" Magnolias--Magnolia x soulangeana. 

This is the first of the two 'Carnival' Leucospermums purchased last year. 'Carnival Sunrise', maybe? 

The Matthiolas are lovely thanks to cool weather and rain.  Their fragrance is heavenly:

Then, an unexpected thrill, entirely due to the marvelous amount of rain we got this year.  What's so thrilling?

Those red tips are new shoots emerging from the Itoh Peony 'Misaka'.  'Bartzella' has some, too.  I am so happy to see those!!!!!!!!!   

The rain did this.  Rain is magic:

There's the new Salvia,  S. nemorosa 'Blue Marvel'.  'East Friesland' and 'Blue Hill' have been excellent here, even though S. nemorosa is classified for USDA 3-8, and this garden is in 10.  Perhaps they like the light soil and sharp drainage? 

Young Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset' is starting to impress:

TB Iris, probably 'Cobra's Eye', dripping rain:

Forgot--bought some tomato plants, too. Grown here, a few miles away, not in Alabama: