On the Shores of Lake Chicago

gardening in Oak Park, IL, in the clay mud of prehistoric Lake Chicago

Mid-Summer Update July 7, 2008

Filed under: Gardening, Native Plants, Wildlife — lakechicagoshores @ 12:22 pm

Happy bee on hydrangea

The hydrangeas — oakleaf & Annabelle — are in full bloom now, and the bees just love the Annabelle blossoms that have reverted to the wild type. The oakleafs are the bees’ second choice, and the regular Annabelle blooms are practically ignored. Does anyone know what kind of bee this is? Gloria?

Solomon's plume berries

There are lots of berries in the garden now. Solomon’s plume (Smilacina racemosa – above), red baneberry (Actaea rubra), and Caroline raspberry are all ripening. Unfortunately, there aren’t many berries on the blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) or Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum), although the latter may be due to someone making a meal of them before they ripen.

Mapleleaf viburnum bounces back

I was so worried about the mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) after it got nibbled down to nothing over the winter. It’s sprung back quite admirably.

Blue Cushion lavender

The Blue Cushion lavender is in bloom now and it smells wonderful.  I planted two other Blue Cushion plants this spring, and they’re blooming too, albeit not as prolifically.

 

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