Feathery Plumes

Another picture taken in the early morning: the feathery plumes of miscellanous Astilbe varieties show their wonderful vibrant colors in the first light of the day, although they're still almost in bud.

Astilbe, a genus of the Saxifrage family, is an indispensible summer-blooming plant for light shadow and half shadow. They are easy to grow but they need sufficient moisture all over the year. Never let them dry out, and they'll keep their ornamental, fern-like foliage after they've flowered!