Queen of the Prairie

Queen of the Prairie they call it. Filipendula rubra 'Venusta.' It reached full bloom on July 1 and, though I can't say its blossoms are my favorite color--I generally dislike pink, especially pink of this intensity--it makes a statement and marks the beginning of high summer in my garden.

In a couple of weeks the pinks will fade to a subtle coppery color, much more appropriate to the surrounding plantings, as the tall yellow perennials come into bloom--Rudbeckia maxima, Rudbeckia nitida 'Herbstsonne', Silphium perfoliatum, Silphium lanciniatum, Silphium terebinthinaceum, Inula racemosa 'Sonnenspeer'.

Much more to my liking ...  Pontederia cordata, pickerelweed, in the pond.