Look Around The Garden Beds - Backyard - Mid-August 2026

There is too much going on in the garden to break everything down into an individual post in the [garden diary].  Some of the more meaningful things that I'd like to track get their own posts, but other things that I just want to note are going to be included here in this round-up.  Calling it "A Look Around the Garden Beds".  

Start with the Garden Edit under the tree swing tree.  The Summer Beauty Alium are in bloom, but starting to fade.  They're doing great here.  Makes me remember why I liked them out of the gate.

One of the climbing hydrangeas that I planted on that same tree swing tree is growing.  See the vine climbing up the trunk:

A little bit behind these Allium is a layered look of ornamental grasses and Little Lime Hydrangeas. And Three Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio' Maiden Grasses. The grasses are "dwarf" grasses, so they're staying shorter than most grasses, allowing the blooms of the (also dwarf) Hydrangea show through. I've always admired this slice of the garden in terms of layers.

Across the lawn (on the other side of the garden), the Lucky Charm Anemone are starting to begin their blooming season.  After being disrupted when I planted that Blue Spruce (on Standard), they've recovered and have leaf'd out and filled in the space:

Closer to the house are the (unknown variety) Costco boxwoods that went in the yard weeks after we moved in.  They're big and bare in the middle with some dead spots.  This is something that I should think about dealing with this year. 

The Oakleaf Hydrangeas seem to be recovering a little bit - thanks to the rabbit fence.  The fence isn't perfect (rabbits still are getting in!!!!), but far less of them.  This Oakleaf Hydrangea has died out on the stems, but look at what is coming back from the base.  Foliage.  

Speaking of Oakleaf Hydrangeas, we're down to one Little Honey Oakleaf Hydrangea.  The rabbits killed the other two.  But, this one is doing ok.  Rabbit fence, FTW???

I planted some White Polka Dot annual plugs around the backyard.  Some spots are doing better than others.   On the southside, this drift has put on some height:

But, this other set - a little further back - is struggling.  

On the northside of the garden, the two colonies are doing ok.  Are they brightening up the dark spots in the garden?  Yes.  Sort-of.  

There's a lone Japanese Painted Fern back by the firepit.  That seems to be putting on growth.  That's a good thing.  I should plant more of these.  

But, the Ghost Ferns are doing even better.  

The three Abiqua Drinking Gourd Hostas are back. But, not living up to their billing.  They're small.  Lack of water? 

The Queen of Hearts Brunnera is just a quiet giant.  I really like these.  And, forget about them.  

The Jack of Diamonds, on the other hand, is a dud.   Could this be due to the Black Walnut trees?

The Burgundy Glow Ajuga seem to be doing just fine.  They've puffed-up and hopefully are putting down some roots to weather the cold Winter.  

The 'garden edit' back in the [garden nook] has done well.  The Sun King Aralia are awesome.  The Oakleaf Hydrangeas behind them are IN BLOOM.  IN BLOOM.  And the Alliums in front of them are just steady eddies.  

And, last (for this roundup) is the pair of Praying Hands hostas.  One is bigger than the other, but, I continue to like these.