Now that the heat of summer has set in, I find that color takes a back seat to form and structure. In my own garden, this is nicely illustrated by the bloom of an Agapanthus. I was thrilled to see its large radial blooms this year since late freezes have prevented its appearance for two years in a row.
Mine is not the only garden to exhibit some geometry. In the Sunshine Community Garden lives the Mermaid, an antique rose that is far too large and too thorny for my garden. In these blooms, the petals are not the star attraction. Check out the large golden stamens that radiate outwards.
(Must. Not. Buy. This. Rose.)
Sunshine Gardens is also home to a Passion Vine, another plant I lust for but can’t have. My husband thinks its blooms look like an alien life form that is going to eat his brain and has forbidden the planting of it. The geometry of this bloom is truly without equal.
Blooms are not the only plants to exhibit structure in the garden. As the mercury rises and the garden gets crunchy from continued water restrictions, I’m going to depend on the strap like leaves of the Soft Leaf Yucca to carry the garden through August.
