What's Blooming? Color!

While the violet-blues of the Salvia River continue to dominate, other plants are bringing more colors from the spectrum as the garden eases into its summer cloak. Reds, oranges and yellows can be found, making an effective contrast to the blues and purples of the meadow sage.

In the Light Plate, Echinacea 'Orange Meadowbrite' (Coneflower) can be found between the Salvia River and the Seam, growing through the delicate blades of an ornamental grass, Molinia caerulea 'Dauerstrahl' (Moor Grass). Look for Monarch butterflies lighting on the dark cones as they continue their migration through Illinois.

Above the Seam in the transition area of the Dark Plate, Knautia macedonica (Knautia) is opening before its companion plant, a daylily, Hemerocallis 'Gentle Shepherd' that will follow next month. If you are familiar with the lavender perennial pincushion flower (Scabiosa), you will see some similarities as they are both from the same family, Dipsacaceae. However, the flower of the knautia is claret red and only an inch across. As you traverse the stairs, notice that the red of the knautia echoes the color of the burnette on the opposite side.

The tallest plant in the Meadow is in bloom with bright yellow daisy-like flowers. Silphium laciniatum is commonly called Compass Plant because it can align its leaves north and south to reduce exposure to the hot sun and conserve moisture. This North American native can grow to 10 feet, towering above the Rattlesnake Masters and Green Edge Coneflowers that are interplanted throughout the Meadow. Beginning in late summer, the seeds of its cones will feed birds through the fall and into winter. Look for goldfinches perched along its stem, looking for food.

Summer Solstice

Sunrise 5:16 am on the longest day of the year, but the sun will not reach the garden until well after six. When the light reaches the meadow, the leaves of Silphium laciniatum (Compass Plant) are backlit, emphasizing its deeply-cut leaves that look like large hands reaching toward the sky. In the foreground, a pink cloud of Geum triflorum (Prairie Smoke) catches the light as it filters through the trees that form a canopy over the Dark Plate (Robinia pseudoacacia 'Chicago Blues').

On today's garden tours, some of the highlighted plants include Monarda bradburyana (Eastern Bee Balm). This pale pink bee balm was planted last fall in the Light Plate. It makes a nice companion to the deep violet Allium purpurea (Ornamental Onion) that is interplanted with it. Look for both of these plants coming through a ground cover of a young ornamental grass, Sporobolis heterolepis 'Tara' (Prairie Dropseed).

In the Light Plate, growing near the Monarda and Ornamental onions, Stachys officinalis 'Hummelo' (Betony or Hedgenettle) is beginning to open. This plant was developed by plantsman Piet Oudolf at Hummelo, his garden and nursery in the Netherlands. Oudolf uses this plant in the Lurie Garden because of its deep violet orchid-like flowers that are compactly borne on flower spikes. It attracts all types of insects while in bloom and when dry, its silhouette gives interest to the winter garden.

Small garden signs will direct you to other plants in bloom that include: Echinacea purpurea 'Rubinglow' a deep pink coneflower that is just beginning to show; Phlomis tuberosa 'Amazone' (Phlomis) a tall plant with pink flowers clustered around the stem; Sanguisorba menziesii (Burnett) with red knot-like flowers and toothed leaves, growning near the stairs at the Seam.

What's Blooming?

While the Salvia River continues its violet surge through the Light Plate, other parts of the garden are transforming from their late spring colors to summer in hues of pink, red and orange. This morning at 10 am Lurie Garden docents will give short 20-minute tours of the garden, pointing out new blooming plants.

In the Dark Plate, look for the chocolate-colored leaves of Penstemon digitalis 'Husker's Red' (Beard Tongue). Though it's flowers are a pale white, it is the foliage that is striking, offering a bold contrast to the greens nearby. As the seed pods develop, they add an interesting maroon silhouette to the garden.



Along the upper path of the Dark Plate, you will find quits a large showing of Geranium sanguineum 'Max Frei' (Cranesbill) with its bright fuscia blooms. It makes an excellent ground cover in front of the tall ornamental grasses.

If you wish to take a self-guided tour, pick up one of the yellow booklets on the Lurie Garden at the tent on the south end of the Seam. As you walk the paths, look for garden signs that give both botanic and common names.

Last of the Peonies

The heavy rains we've had the last few days have left their mark on the garden. Rivulets have appeared along the paths and water stands in pools wherever there is a slight change in grade. It feels as though bloomtime is about two weeks behind schedule.



In the Dark Plate, the petals of Paeonia lactiflora 'Jan van Leeuwen' (Herbaceous Peonies) are drooping and dropping. It was only a few weeks ago that these plants were the stars of the garden, brightening the understory with their hot-white flowers. Now they look as though pieces of white tissue have blown in to cover the stems.

Although they look less stately, the peonies bring interest to the garden with their gauzey petals and shaggy, golden centers. Come into the garden and watch these plants as they move into their next phase, when their seed pods will swell into shapes the size of large, green olives.

Shrouded in Mist

Foggy and 56 degrees. Last night's nearly half-inch of rain left the garden looking moist and lush. This morning, the tops of skyscrapers to the west and north of the Lurie Garden are shrouded in fog. A few blocks west, the Sears Tower has disappeared entirely.

This phenomenon has left tiny water droplets on the plants, giving them a magical look usually rendered from an artist's imagination.



The tiny stamen tips of Astrantia major 'Roma' (Masterwort) look as though each is embellished with a Swarovski crystal bead.



Pink clouds of Geum triflorum (Prairie Smoke) are weighted down with moisture. If the sun were to come out at this moment, you would think they were covered in diamonds.



Official summer is less than two weeks away, but one could never guess from the cool, wet weather we have had this spring. This has been a Northwest spring, an Oregon spring, where overcast skies have intensified the colors of the flowers rather than washing them out. When we have a day like today, I wish that the Lurie Garden extended another five acres.

What's Blooming?

It is a perfect day for strolling the garden with a Master Gardener docent. Skies should remain overcast, creating good, reflective light for photographing plants.

In addition to the Salvia River in the Light Plate, you will find a variety of plants from the blue-violet palette. Tradescantia 'Concord Grape' (Spiderwort) is blooming in the center near the Seam. You can get a closer viewing in the northwest corner of the garden near the Shoulder Hedge.


Stands of Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' (Hybrid Wild Indigo) are scattered throughout the Light Plate. This is a bold plant with spikes of deep blue pea-like flowers.

For contrast, three varieties of Amsonia, more delicate with star shaped flowers, are planted in close proximity.

Amsonia hubrichtii (Arkansas Blue Star) has needle-like leaves and clusters of tiny, pale blue flowers.


A. tabernaemontana var. salicifolia (Willowleaf Blue Star) has, as its name implies, leaves shaped like those of a willow with clusters of flowers in a medium blue.


Amsonia 'Blue Ice' is making its debut this year. Only 12 to 18 inches high, it fills in as a ground cover with its willow-like leaves and slate blue flowers. All three plants are native to the southeastern U.S.

The majority of plants blooming in the Dark Plate are white - giving the eye a rest from the abundant purples in the Light Plate. Look for brilliant stands of Paeonia lactiflora 'Jan van Leeuwen' (Herbaceous Peonies) on both sides of the Cloud Plaza. Each flower is nearly 4 inches in diameter with hot-white petals in one or two rows with a large, central mass of golden staminodes.
Overhead, Robinia pseudoacacia 'Chicago Blues' (Black Locust) is still in bloom, its dense pendant clusters of white flowers gently perfuming the air. Nearby, Baptisia leucantha (Wild White Indigo) is beginning to open its creamy white flowers.

Garden tours begin at the white tent located at the south end of the Seam. Tours last about 20 minutes are are given every 15 minutes from 10 am to 1:30 pm.

The Salvia River

The Salvia River is at its peak, flooding the Light Plate with shades of violet. This area of the garden is so named because it cuts a boomerang-shaped swathe through the Light Plate from the Shoulder Hedge to the Meadow.

Plantsman Piet Oudolf chose four varieties of Salvia for this area: Salvia x sylvestris 'Rugen' (medium blue-violet), S. x sylvestris 'Wesuwe' (deep violet), S. x sylvestris 'May Night' ( dark blue-violet) and S. x sylvestris 'Blue Hill' (true blue).

The Salvias are planted in wide bands, crosswise to the channel. When you stand on the north path of the Light Plate and look south over the Salvia, the bands of color seem to ripple and undulate toward you - like a river.



The common name for these Salvias is Meadow Sage. The stems are square, indicating they are from the mint family. A closer look at the leaves show a similarity to the Mediterranean herb used in cooking, S. officinalis.