My new driveway bed, the unveiling

Perhaps some of you remember my early-spring moaning while digging the new bed next to the driveway.  Well, it hasn't looked like much until lately even with 'White Maman Cochet' and 'Souv de St Anne's' blooming. Naturally, just when those two roses are in between flushes, the bed finally has a full look, but here goes.

I added caladium bulbs that I had dug up next to the garage (to make room for the snapdragons) at the back and at the curb, thinking they'd be good filler.  As usual, they do their job and then some.  This is where I put all the seedlings that I had left. My placement wasn't very good, and I've already had to move a few things. Oh, well.

In the back half there's Mealy Cup Sage, gaura, hollyhocks, a snapdragon and a coreopsis (both not visible) and Echinacea 'Pink Parasol', all seedlings.  Plus liriope, Giant Apostle's Iris and at bottom right the Bourbon rose, 'Souv de St Anne's' from about 1916, a sport of 'Souv de la Malmaison' .

The gaura is in the middle. It didn't stand up much and basically was a flopper, but at least it bloomed a little. The iris is much bigger than it looks.

The hollyhocks has flower buds on it, and something has been munching on it. I'm very surprised to see the buds. Can't wait to see what color it is. Keeping my fingers crossed for baby pink.

This iris is growing just as well as the others. This is the one that bloomed this year.

In the foreground is 'Souvenir de St Anne's', I'm pleased with its growth so far which seems to be faster and less awkward that 'SdlM'. As soon as she's in bloom again, you'll be the next to know.

Here's 'White Maman Cochet'.  I know you're saying "Where?"  She's been quite a steady producer of flowers and is not as gangly as the pink 'Maman Cochet'.  You can see her better in the next photo.

In this photo from June 28th you can better see the structure of this young Tea rose.  I'm pleasantly surprised by all the canes WMC has thrown.  It seems as though all Tea roses grow differently.

Here's a new cane with its candelabra of flower buds getting ready for a show.  There are a lot of right angles on this rose.

'Pear Harbor' is still blooming which is amazing since I moved it out from under 'Le Vesuve' in March. I didn't know how it would respond to such treatment, but it didn't even blink.

The 'Pink Parasol' echinacea is fading nicely to white which I prefer to brown any day.

 

This salvia has gotten huge. I've cut off several stems to give the WMC some room.

'White Maman Cochet' is nearest to the street, and it won't be long until she is as wide as this 8-ft wide bed. I'm looking forward to her hugeness.