Forecast: Hazy Sunshine

On summer days when I work later into the evening, it's doubly nice to arrive at home.  Not only do I look forward to dropping the cares of the day at my doorstep while I'm greeted by a joyfully wagging tail, but I get to see the front yard bathed in beautiful backlighting.  Here's what I see from the driver's seat as I open the door:

I sometimes stop and look a while, sometimes marveling at all of the colors and shadows, and sometimes reflecting that I really need to cut back the overzealous bronze fennel that extends into my walkway...

... and embraces the urn where the equally enthusiastic brugmansia is planted:

Looking slightly left, I reflect on the need for some larger-leaf plants, or something else with chunky texture, to finish off this newly replanted corner:

The sea kale, with its large leaves, can certainly hold its own...

... against the 'Red Rocks' penstemon and the trio of 'Acapulco' agastache...

... but maybe I need to nestle a few more large rocks amidst the sea of pebbles and cute little hens & chicks at their feet:

As I turn and l down the sidewalk, I'm almost to the front steps...

But I'm stopped in my tracks by the gorgeous sight of 'Sparkling Burgundy' eucomis:

Pineapple lilies aren't really supposed to be hardy here.  But one of Plant Delights' 2008 catalogs said that they had reports from customers that it was hardy to zone 6, so I decided to gamble.  I'm so glad that I did--I seriously can't get enough of the way this foliage complements the warm tones of the heuchera, and of the bronzey foxglove spires, too, when those are in flower:

Not to mention the way it picks up the bristly forms of the grass behind the heuchera, and the clumps of foxglove foliage on the right side of this photo:

I don't mean to gush, it's just that this is one gorgeous plant!  But enough of my self-distraction--there's no time for that.  One of my longtime favorite garden bloggers, Leslie from Growing a Garden in Davis, is going to stop by my tiny garden for a tour on Tuesday, before she heads up to Buffalo for the garden bloggers' meet-up.  And because of my many works in progress, my garden is NOT ready for its close-up, that's for sure.  (Eek--time to go weed!)

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July, everyone!