Euphorbia produces these fabulous chartreuse spikes in spring, which have now faded to tan. This plant is somewhat opportunistic. It reseeds freely, so many new plants are taking root here and there. In the Pacific Northwest, Euphorbia is a semi-evergreen that should hold on through our mild winters.
Lamb’s ear is a tough perennial that is evergreen in our mild climate as well. I love the grey-green, velvet-like texture of the leaves. The flower spikes that bloom pink in early summer have dried out completely. The bees that flock to them have moved on to other nectar plants.
A few blooms pop up here and there, like this drought-tolerant Rudbeckia. I’m looking forward to planting several more next season. The sage in the background thrives in our hot, west-facing garden providing a lushness during an otherwise parched time of year.
Come late fall, I will go through the front yard to cut off the brown flower pods from the Euphorbia and Lamb’s Ear. I will likely cut and divide more perennials to keep stuffing the garden with drought-tolerant, low maintenance plants. For the time being though, the front garden is a reflection of the season – dry, hazy and just hanging on through these last long days of summer.
Celia says
I love your front yard! And I love all of those plants. I never knew about euphorbia and lamb’s ear until moving the the Pacific Northwest, they grow so freely and beautifully all year.