Monday, July 19, 2010

The shepherd tended her phlox




Every year more tall garden phlox find their way into my garden. Hybridizers have done so much with phlox in the last few years. No longer do we need to put up with the mildew that plagues the species and earlier cultivars. The reason I like phlox so well is its long bloom period, drought tolerance, impact, and of course butterflies.

I was thrilled to find this black swallowtail in my garden Sunday afternoon.

Here are some of the phlox blooming this summer.

Volcano White


Volcano Purple


Volcano Red



Volcano Pink


Blue Paradise



Unknown


And David who is a four foot tall four foot wide, snow capped presence in the garden.


37 comments:

Phillip Oliver said...

I love it too for the long bloom period. I didn't know there were so many varieties to choose from. I don't even know which variety I have.

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

You have such an amazing phlox collection. I need some in my garden.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Marnie, I was just thinking of how much I like phlox when I was out watering this am. All of them look great except for Eva Cullum, which has quite a few yellowing leaves. I am going to have to think of a very tall plant to put in front of it to hide the bare stems.

Eileen

Anonymous said...

I love phlox too. I have a wide range of colors as well that do well in sun and part shade. White phlox is under used, if you ask me.

Cheryl said...

Hi Marnie.....the swallowtail and phlox is a beautiful image.

I love phlox, they are just so pretty.....they definately come in my top ten.

Your plants look very healthy and extremely pretty.......

joey said...

Beautiful phlox, Marnie, and the swallowtail photo ... stellar!

Alex aus dem Gwundergarten said...

Wow, what lovely phlox you've got. I've got a white and a pink one, but don't ask me about their name. Don't you have ever problems with mildew?
Greetings from Switzerland
Alex

Southern Lady said...

What a great collection of phlox! I have never planted any. Maybe it is time that I did. Carla

ShySongbird said...

They are all beautiful Marnie, I love Phlox too and have one which a very elderly neighbour (sadly,long gone) gave me years ago, it had originally been given to her by another neighbour who in turn was long gone so it dates back a very long way!

The Swallowtail is lovely too and the post title very cleverly thought out :)

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Love your Phlox, Marnie.. I didn't realize there were so many varieties and colors. Around here, I mostly see the purple colors in the early spring. They are pretty--but don't bloom for long. We have a couple of patches of them in our big rock bed --but that is all.

Gorgeous pictures!!!
Hugs,
Betsy

Gail said...

I love phlox, it's a mainstay in my garden and has been there for 25 plus years~I finally found the volcano series, but it was at Lockwood in Buffalo~No room on the plane for them! Gorgeous photos marnie and your header is beautiful~ gail

*Ulrike* said...

I love phlox! My mom said there is a German saying that when the phlox finishes blooming, summer is over and fall is on its way! You have some beautiful colors.
By the way, have you tried the Provence lavender? That is the one that I grow, and I have tried quite a few yet that one always makes it.
Take Care,
Ulrike

Louise said...

I had no idea that phlox came in so many colors. Must look into some for next year's garden.

BeadedTail said...

Wow! Such beautiful, vibrant colors! Gorgeous! The butterfly is very lovely too!

Lona said...

Hi Marnie. Oh, girl I love phlox too. Does anything smell so wonderful and last long too. I like your volcano phlox's. I do not have a red although I planted Spitfire one year and do not know what in the world happen to it. The Blue Paradise is wonderful. You have a collection of beauties.

troutbirder said...

That's quite some phlox you got there Marnie. If you ever need another shepherd Baron is available. :)

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful selection of tall Phlox you have growing in your garden. See and the Butterflies are crazy for it too! Bonus! :)

Judy said...

I have never grown phlox, so I was surprised there are so many colours!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

You have some dandy phloxes Marmie. I can almost smell them.

Rose said...

What a beautiful collection, Marnie! Do you know I just added my first phlox to the garden, other than Gail's PPPP. I guess I have always been worried about mildew problems. Today I noticed a gorgeous pink as well as some other beauties in the Idea Garden--time to add another plant to the "wish list":)

I'm still chuckling over your punny title...

tina said...

They are absolutely gorgeous. Where there is one butterfly there will be many more now.

100 Thoughts of Love said...

phlox and coneflowers are my favorites

Darla said...

I am quickly becoming a fan of phlox. Yours are beautiful and I just about fell out of my chair over the red!

Balisha said...

So many varieties...can't choose a favorite. Your pictures are wonderful..and that butterfly picture...ahh.
I love them too. The bloom in the woods and I can see them from the house. Balisha

F Cameron said...

I love tall phlox, too. I have four, one is 'David' but the bunnies cut him back so much that he isn't very tall right now! 'Nicky' can hardly get going with the bunnies

Your volcano series look fabulous! Swallowtails and other butterflies do love phlox. We have had a big BST population explosion. The cats on the fennel made it to the willow and vitex. Everyday, I see new Black Swallowtails drying their wings.

seema gupta said...

i am just lost in the beauty of this colourfull flowers...

regards

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Aren't swallowtails great? And I just love your title, had a great chuckle over it. :)

walk2write said...

I love all of the colored varieties, but David is still king in my opinion. Maybe it's because he was the first one I ever planted years ago. Do you know that I haven't yet tried any of the tall phlox in Florida? I'll have to rectify that situation. We're zone 8. I think it might work in the right spot.

Sherri said...

Phlox are so beautiful-they add great color to the garden. I'm glad they found a way to combat the mildew issue!

Deb said...

I love flowers so much! thanks for posting these fabulous photos.

Dawn said...

I didn't have any idea there are so many varieties of phlox, they are sooo pretty and up here..very expensive! Beautiful photos.

Kathleen said...

I'm so envious of that first photo Marnie! I spent all Saturday afternoon out in the heat trying to get a picture of one of those very Swallowtails and look ~ here it is on your blog! Great photo. I haven't seen one since but I'm still not giving up!
Maybe I do need some phlox tho ~ that might help? I don't have any for some reason?? These are just beautiful and if they bloom for a long time, all the better. I'll have to look around this fall for some clearance plants.
ps. It is strange that I have so much orange when I love pink. I guess when it comes to purchasing I don't stick to only that color ~ but I was surprised myself by how much there was...

Vetsy said...

Marnie I have a few phloxs but I think yours are prettier.

The David that's four feet and white I can imagine must be a stunning specimen in your garden.. Wow! I'd like to have one of those in the future.

Northern Shade said...

That is such a pretty shot of the swallowtail on the phlox. Your Blue Paradise phlox has a nice colour, and the white centre of Volcano Purple really makes it stand out. Phlox are great for the showy blooms and long flowering time. I grow David, and David's Lavender, but they won't be out here until mid August.

Dee @ Red Dirt Ramblings said...

I love them too. Phlox paniculata is a garden staple here. I can't grow 'David' so I put up with the mildew plagued 'Mt. Fuji'. I'm wondering if I could grow the 'Volcano White'. I've never heard of the volcanoes before. Thanks for the heads up.~~Dee

Priscilla @ Homegrown Delight said...

Found you at Blotanical. You have a beautiful garden, I love Phlox, and your nature photography is amazing! Hope you're having a great week. Looking forward to reading you posts :)

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