Serendib Garden

(Veronicastrum virginicum, native), with hostas in front.

Hm — this is odd. This year, my fairy candles (Actaea racemosa, native) is about half the height it normally is, and it’s only put out two plumes, instead of the dozens it usually has. I can think of two possible reasons — the redbud has grown and overshadowed it so deeply that it’s not

I think #3 and #4 are red admirals, but not sure for the first two. Is it two views of a Question Mark butterfly? So far this year, I’ve seen common yellow swallowtails and monarchs in my garden as well, so I think that puts us up to 5 different butterflies this year? More than

Asclepias incarnata (rose milkweed / swamp milkweed (native, good for monarchs), with Annabelle hydrangea behind. This blooms a little later than common milkweed, and is a little less overpowering in appearance, blending nicely into a mixed perennial border.

About 4′ high, blooms in shade, lovely for woodland gardens. This one isn’t native to us, but there are also native varieties of meadow rue, with somewhat different appearance and time of bloom. Look for Early Meadow Rue (Thalictrum dioicum) or Purple Meadow-Rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum).

These pansies I planted in heavy deciduous shade have been going strong straight through the summer — I didn’t expect that. More pansy planters in shade next year, I think!

I think this might be “Black Beauty.”