Astilbe Season

It's Astilbe season!! My shade garden this year has hosted columbine, lily-of-the-valley, astrantia, hosta, japanese fern, coral bell and lupine. But right now astilbe is holding court. Most of my astilbe came from my Pittsburgh garden so I feel as if I am greeting old friends when I see their feathery plumes.

But one astilbe is new to the garden this year. I saw Astilbe "Milk n' Honey" in a slide presentation at the Gardening Seminar I attended in April. It set my heart a-flutter! My husband will attest that on the rare occasion that I get tunnel vision about a plant, not finding it is not an option. I could only find one nursery in a 25 mile radius that carried it. I threw myself at their mercy on the telephone and begged them save one for me. They were happy to oblige. Here it is in its first year. The plumes have the puffiest, softest pink at the base. Only v-e-r-y gradually does the pink climb the plume. I hate to play favorites, but I think this is, shhhhhh, my favorite this year.