Anyone who spends enough time in the Pacific Northwest learns that summer does not begin in June; and in fact, June is quite simply a disappointment. But September is something else altogether. Our summers may not begin until after the 4th of July, but they linger well into what many people think of as Fall. And this year has been spectacular! We've had day after day of 75 degree weather and clear blue skies. Which is, to put it mildly, very distressing to the school children now locked into classrooms. But that will be a conversation for another blogpost...
This weather pattern makes it very easy to have a late summer garden full of color in the Northwest, and a plant that never disappoints is the japanese anemone. The blooms are born on top of tall stems which float above the garden. And the flowers dance along with any breeze, true to their common name of "wind flower".
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| A cheery mass of pink anemones |
This anemone is also drought tolerant and shade tolerant--two garden conditions that are frequently challenging. It's happy in both the woodland garden and in a partially sunny garden border, naturalizing easily so you will have plants to share. I have never observed this plant to be aggressive or invasive, so definitely accept any "free" anemones your garden friends are offering.
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| Beautiful in white... |
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| White anemones naturalized in a woodland garden |
With no rain in sight, I continue to water the annuals and pots and enjoy the fall flowers. The rain will come again soon enough, and in the meantime, a morning cup of tea on the deck is a daily gift.
