It wasn’t too long ago that we were digging ourselves out from underneath a couple feet of snow thinking summer would never get here fast enough. Well it is here now. Soaring temperatures have already begun to lure people away from their gardens down to the beach or up to the mountains into cooler climates. Rain hasn’t been our friend either. A chance of showers is a fading memory and when we do get some rain we are pummeled by hail and high winds that are gone in a flash. The lack of rain has turned our neighbor’s lawn into a lifeless, parched tan mat that is still unbelievably mowed on a weekly basis. Consider converting some of your lawn area into planted areas to reduce noise and carbon pollution. Fortunately we have resilient plants in our garden that are able to withstand the tests of heat, drought and neglect. There is plenty of activity here too as birds and butterflies have found refuge, taking advantage of the plump seed, delectable nectar and juicy insects our plants have provided. Come visit our garden to take in some of the sights and sounds of summertime.

This welcoming, roadside planting at the DCH entrance illustrates some of the best qualities found in public landscapes: lots of color, low maintenance and highly visible to passersby. Plant combination includes two annuals, Lantana ‘New Gold’ and Althernanthera ‘Red Thread’ and the succulent-like perennial, Donkey-tail Spurge (Euphorbia myrsinities).

False Spirea (Astilbe chinensis ‘Pumila’)
Brighten up a shady spot in your garden with this compact False Spirea. Ideally planted in shade to part shade in well drained but not dry soil, the plumes of this perennial plant can be found by the entrance doors to DCH.

Black Swallowtail ( Papilio polyxenes) caterpillar feeding on fennel in one of our container gardens. Other plants like dill and parsley, both in the Umbelliferae family, play host to many butterflies and insects.

Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica ‘Natchez’)
These white blooming Crape Myrtles were planted in 2002 when DCH celebrated its 25th anniversary. Known for their hardiness, the unique, single-stemmed specimen trees reveal another attractive element of smooth, cinnamon-hued patterns beneath the pealing bark.

Dumbo’s Ears (Rudbeckia maxima)
The exquisite deep gold flowers attract a hoard of interest from birds, bees and butterflies that alight on blooms located atop stems up to 6’ tall. The common name is derived from the large, attractive, powder blue leaves that make it a garden worthy perennial from spring through fall.

Wednesdays are volunteer days in the garden. A couple of our volunteers are cutting back the perennial catmint, Nepeta x faassenii ‘Walkers Low’, to stimulate fresh new growth and more flowers later this summer.

Fleece Flower (Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Firetail’)
An unusual perennial and very effective when planted in large sweeps and allowed to naturalize. The rose colored flower spikes bloom in July and persist for many months if planted in full sun with good soil drainage.

Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’)
Transplanted from the ground into these arts and craft style containers located at the entrance to TheDCH, ‘Annabelle’ is a prolific bloomer that is attractive throughout the growing season. It is quite hardy as a container plant too.

Mophead Hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata ‘Preziosa’)
Burgundy stems contrast nicely with the emerging flowers that become suffused with pink to deep-red tones as they mature. The leaves echo the reddish-purple colors in the fall.

Prairie Dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum)
Absolutely the most talked about plant in the garden. Enormous, paddle-shaped leaves emerge in May and are followed by 6 - 7 ft tall towering wands of yellow flowers frequently visited by goldfinches and our 5’2” Re-Entry Training Intern and resident apiarist, Sarah Loomis.

A Praying mantis looking for its next snack.

Annual vines come and go but this Morning Glory is always welcome upon return. Ipomoea ‘President Tyler’ freely self sows along the fence line and up the post of our garden gate. The gate was made from recycled materials by sculptor, Stan Smokler, with the assistance of students from the Challenge Program, and donated by the Garden Gate Garden Club.

Sweet Coneflower ( Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Henry Eilers’)
One of the newer plants in the garden came to us from our friends at North Creek Nurseries who raved about this extraordinary and superb perennial with unique, hollow, quill-like flower petals that cover the plant throughout the summer. We love it.

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Voted the power plant because it attracts such a varied collection of beneficial insects to the garden and provides a fascinating look at bio-diversity in action. It is a host plant for Monarch butterflies and their larva. Should be a perennial must in everyone’s garden.

Blue Anise Sage (Salvia guarantica ‘Black and Blue’)
We want to call this our ‘patch of blue’ because it will bloom continually until frost and has overwintered in this location many years for us. It’s a zone buster and a wildlife attractor…can you find the hummingbird?

Variegated St. John’s Wort (Hypericum inodorum ‘Glacier’)
A very unusual, low growing shrub for a perennial border or walkway with both ornamental berries and flowers appearing simultaneously. The variegated leaves add another layer of interest.

Rosa ‘Garden Sun’: a wonderful climbing rose we received from our friends at Conard-Pyle. A former lamp post provides a sturdy base for this orange-flowered beauty to clamber on.

Oakleaf Hydrangea(Hydrangea quercifolia)
Architectural leaves, cone-shaped flowers and attractive, peeling bark make this shrub a year round favorite.

Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)

Why just look at pictures? Come visit our gardens!