kniphofia (red hot pokers)
monardo (bee balm)
Louisiana flag iris
yarrow As May eases into June, baptisia and dahlias yield to yarrow, monardo, red hot pokers and a few late irises. Next up: echinacea, lavender, yellow red hot pokers, and more yarrow.
My garden was designed and planted nine years ago by Ed Steffek, the creator of the Blomquist Native Plants area of the Duke Gardens. Upon moving to Durham in 2000, we purchased a spec home in a brand new neighborhood which happened to be situated on a lot on which a wetlands ditch ran all the way across the front lawn. I was introduced to Ed by a friend and asked him to turn a ditch into a babbling brook. Ed transformed the lawn. In addition to a babbling brook, Ed wanted me to have a cutting garden as well. This time of year, my house if filled with several vases of flowers from the garden. Ed died suddenly a few months after completing my garden. I think of him often in the spring.
School is out in four weeks AND my garden appears to be as excited about this fact as I am!
