Naked Ladies and a Bunch of Hot Air

One of the tricks to getting someone to read an article, or a blog post in this case, is to use an intriguing title.  If you just read that sentence, you fell for it.  Now I should probably explain myself.

It's not every day that a hot air balloon lands at Welkinweir. Probably because they really aren't supposed to, but due to some miscommunication, we had a rather large "flower" in the garden for a minute or so.

And there is a lily, affectionately known as naked ladies.  It has other names too, like magic lily, surprise lily, and resurrection lily.  If you're going to google it, I suggest typing in Lycoris squamigera.  They are blooming among the ferns near the spring house.  They have such interesting names because the foliage disappears before the flower stalk comes up.

Naked ladies and hot air aside, I want to share several photos of what is blooming in the Barn Ruins, or what was blooming during the past few weeks.  The Barn Ruins is second to the Children's Garden for summer interest, and definitely worth a visit, but I suggest bringing insect repellent and coming in the early morning.

gooseneck loosestrife, Lysimachia clethroides

Salvia

The black and blue salvia on the right is quite beautiful, but the blue is hard to capture on camera. Come see it in person!

Geranium 'Rozanne' on left, and ladybells, Adenophora confusa on right 

blue eyed grass, Sisyrinchium

Crocosmia 'Lucifer'

Belamcanda chinensis, also known as blackberry lily. The one on the left is 'Hello Yellow'. I do not know the red spotted variety.

Japanese Jack-in-the-pulpit

perennial sunflower, Helianthus

Lonicera sempervirens, 'John Clayton' on left and 'Major Wheeler' on right

The portulaca are putting on a great show. I believe these are Portulaca grandiflora, more commonly known as moss-rose.  We seem to have almost every color out there.

  

If you come too early you might miss the portulaca since they wait until mid morning to really open up. but definitely put visiting Welkinweir on your list of things to do this coming week.  http://welkinweir.org/