The Lowcountry warm weather has turned cold and I am yearning for the balmy days of summer when flowers are blooming and birds are tweeting.  I am sitting in my “Carolina room” looking out over the marsh.  The marsh grasses have lost their vibrant green glow and look like winter wheat.  The creek waters reflect the gray winter skies.  Thank goodness for the Live Oak and Palmetto trees that offer their green foliage throughout the year

My spirits needed a lift so I decided to share with you photos of summer flowers from our perennial gardens.  I hope you enjoy this.  You might also like to revisit a previous post, A Walk in My Spring Garden.

Our little greenhouse serves as a winter refuge for tender plants.  In the spring and summer it houses new seedlings and cutting starts.  It is also the place my sweetie loves most.  He spends hours and hours in this little space tending his plants.  It was a Christmas gift from me to him when we lived in New Jersey.  We dismantled it and brought it with us 17 years ago.  It is the centerpiece of our side garden that is surrounded by a living fence of Carolina jasmine and tucked away behind a large cedar and magnolia tree.

 

We have three magnificent Magnolia trees in our front yard.  When they are in bloom the scent is intoxicating!

The butterfly bush attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.  These plants love the full sun that is so abundant in our front side yard.

Agapanthus is a plant that was new to me when we relocated from New Jersey to South Carolina.  These lovelies are the result of my husband’s effort to propagate plants from seed.  They were born and raised in our little greenhouse.    He is a true gardener and possesses the patience of a saint!

The smooth bark of the Natchez Crepe Myrtle is a nice backdrop to the agapanthus’ delicate purple flowers.

The hydrangea is 17 years old.  It adorns the brick path to our front door.  It blooms all summer long.  The mop head flowers peek out from behind a Mexican marigold plant (the strong fragrance is a deer deterrent).  This perennial shrub needs a lot of care.  It survives year after year thanks to the “gardener man” I live with.  I love the white flowers.  When the bush is flush with these large pom-poms I cut them and bring them inside.  They add a special touch to any room.

The pale yellow centers of the hydrangea can be seen if you take a close look.

Native flowers, like the purple aster, tolerate the Lowcountry heat and humidity.  After the flowers bloom the greenery remains sometimes throughout the winter, if we do not have a hard frost.

I love roses.  The rose bush that produced this flower is 17 years old.  It lives on the path that leads to the little greenhouse.  Year after year it produces beautiful ruffly flowers with the most intoxicating fragrance.  I use these roses as cutting flowers.  A single rose in a bud vase is often all you need to make a statement.

The daylily is a new addition to our garden.  When I purchased it from a grower at the Port Royal Farmers Market he assured me that I would love the blossoms and I do!

It just occurred to me that all is not lost in winter.  The camellias are full of buds and will any day offer their bounty!

The tree frog nestled in the petals of the camellia flower is one of my favorite photographs!

I hope you are staying warm and cozy,

Sandra