Current Bloomers

The summer solstice is happening next week Saturday. As spring fades, the Prospect Gardens continue to reveal their splendid secrets for those who take notice.  Here's nine plants that are currently on stage. Enjoy.

Pale Purple Cone Flower

Elderberry Shrub

The Pale Purple Cones can be found throughout the gardens. They are more airy and delicate compared to their deeper purple cousins. Neighbors have been very generous in providing these flowers from their mature gardens. Purple Cones are fairly easy to grow and spread quickly, even when surrounded by rocks as is the case here in Prospect Gardens.

The Elderberry shrub, planted during the first year of the garden and nearly six years ago, produces many berries. Janice, who lives just down the street, and her husband harvest the berries for a tasty but tart sauce, and with plenty of sugar, a sweet pie.

False Foxglove

The False Foxglove (Pestemon Digitalis) is a newcomer to the gardens, blooming for the first time. Nate, who lives in the Regent Neighborhood, provided these lovely hardy plants.

Nate teaches for the Oregon schools and is in charge of a school prairie that serves as an outdoor classroom. Nate has the good fortune of combining his love of teaching with his passion for gardening. His wife also teaches. Nate has beautiful gardens surrounding the couple's stone home that reminds me of a cottage surrounded by prairies.

Goatsbeard

The Goatsbeard comes from my backyard garden. I don't understand why it has that odd name, considering the delicate and lacy blooms. Plus the blooms have a wonderful mild smell. Old fashioned lace may be a better name. How would you say that in Latin?

Hosta

The Hosta is one of many that make up the shade garden. Like many other plants in the Prospect Gardens, this hosta and several others like it, was donated. In fact, the entire shade garden consists of donated plants.

The shade garden began one sunny day when a neighbor, while getting ready for a patio installation, was removing her hostas. I walked by and the neighbor asked if I wanted them. Saying "no" would most likely doom the hostas to the landfill. So I said "yes" and immediately hauled the plants down the street and dug them into the ground under the trees on the southside of the gardens. Over the years, friends gave Jack-in-the-Pulpits and a neighbor provided Jacob's Climbing Ladders.  I also added a few shade loving plants from my backyard gardens. The result now is an attractive shade garden.

Meadow-rue

The source of the Meadow-rue is also from my backyard garden. I love the gossamer flowers that sway in a gentle wind. This one is more stately than its older parent, which tumbles over its supporting cage. This young plant will most likely need to be caged and supported as it ages. A form of assisted living?

Milkweed

The Milkweed joined Prospect Gardens last year in an effort to increase habitat for the Monarch Butterflies. The Monarch population is decreasing. A local group provided the plants. They are part of a national effort to increase habitat for the Monarchs. Urbanization and advanced agriculture are reducing habitat. I got the plants at a local Saturday market where the group had a table. A few regal Monarchs usually come visiting.  I will welcome them again and this time with sweet nectar from the blooming plants.

Primrose

You can't miss the flashy Primrose as it heralds the coming of summer.  What a bold announcement  for upcoming sunny and warm Wisconsin summer days!  Reflect on these yellow flowers long enough and you will surely forget about the cold Wisconsin winters.

Primroses are bold in other ways. They spread easily and according to one of my neighbors they could be weeds. They can be aggressive and need to be controlled. However, the brilliant yellow flowers easily make up for such transgressions.

Spiderwort

Tucked away in the shady parts of Prospect Gardens are the Spiderworts; although they also like a little sun. This one has deep purple flowers. Another species has white flowers. On my way to Qigong this morning, I noticed that a neighbor's garden has one with pink flowers.

Steve, an instructor of Qigong, led us in a series of slow meditative movements on the shores of nearby Lake Wingra.  The practice involves moving meditation, along with slow flowing movement, rhythmic breathing, and hopefully a calm meditative state of mind.  The sunshine and blue sky added so much to the meditative state and to the practice.

As the summer proceeds the gardens will change. The Purple Cone flowers will burst into full glory, reaching  peak color in July and early August. Goldfinches, one of my favorite birds, will return and feast on the Purple Cone's drying seed pods. The Goldfinches will put on a fine show as they dance among the flowers while ignoring the passing commuters. Commuters who are paying attention will notice the show.