We’re in Malvern, Pennsylvania, today visiting Lynn Crawford’s garden. We’ve been to Lynn’s garden before (Peonies and Other Favorites; Flowering Tonight Only!), and today we’re looking at some summer blooms.

What is late summer without dahlias? In Zones 8 or warmer they can be left in the ground over winter. In colder climates they are easy to dig and store over winter in a cool spot like a basement.

A lovely rich pink dahlia

Dahlia blooms are endlessly variable. This one has petals with a lighter fringe at the edge.

Dahlias love rich soil and plenty of water to support the most vigorous growth and biggest, most abundant blooms.

Just stunning! Dahlias are equally beautiful in the garden or cut for a vase inside.

I thought I would share this picture of my Vitex (chaste tree, Zones 6–10) in bud. I have enjoyed this shrub for many years with its blue/purple flower spikes. It reminds some of a buddleia or lilac, but I prefer the vitex flower. I also have it in white (alba) in a tree form. Just last year I was thrilled to find a pink variety and have added it to my garden. It is a young plant and the blooms are not as striking as the blue/purple ones, but I am hopeful. It is a magnet for bees and butterflies, and sometimes it’s difficult to get close enough to cut some stems for a bouquet because of all the busy bees. It enjoys full sun and is drought tolerant, deciduous, and hardy in my Zone 6. The foliage is large, with five leaflets. This China native is popular in the southern part of the United States, especially Texas.

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