Once again I've stepped out of the 2011 'Space - Time Continuum' - low & behold, it's July 21st. Like many areas of the US, it is hot (really, really hot) and dry outside, and I find it so interesting to see what is growing in this oppressive weather. I took another 'Tour De France" around the backyard to see what's going on...
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| "Arabian Nights" Dahlia - with a "Lemon Yellow" Daylily back drop... |
Back in the 'Cottage Garden' there is actually some blooming going on! A new annual (started from seed I might add...) - "
Arabian Nights" Dahlias are large and in charge. The (3) plants are about 3 feet tall and very sturdy, while the blooms are a bit diminutive & would fit in the palm of your hand. The perennial
Lemon Yellow Daylily is hardy and looks amazing next to that dark scarlet red - a happy location accident.
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"Sun Garden" in Sunset
(Pink Guara, "Wine & Roses" Weigela, Sedum, Moonbeam Coreopsis and Paprika Yarrow) |
I am willing to show the 'not so pretty' side of gardening, as I let weeds remain co-located with my perennials. It is just too incredibly hot to pull weeds - and what the heck, they stay dark green in 'sauna hot' temps. So if you look close (or double-click on the picture above), you'll see 'weeds among us' in the gardens - but I'm just not going to get OCD about it. It's just ... too... hot!
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Sedum Angelina, Pink Double-Knockout Rose, Sweet Autumn Clematis
Moonbeam Coreopsis, Fireball Hibiscus, Pink Guara and Rudibeckia |
Many of the plants are putting on a 'pretty face' right now. One of my garden buddies 'gifted' me the
Sedum Angelina last year. I put it in a terracotta pot this season - placed on a stand (aka upside down cube-shaped pot) for height and visual interest. Apparently it's quite happy, as it resembles a 'Chia Pet' now?! The
Pink Knockout Rose is still recovering from 'bunny decimation' - and is happily blooming.
The
Sweet Autumn Clematis continues its climb up the trellis - about 3 & 1/2 feet up. The
Hibiscus is a riot of blooms. Those dinner plate-sized flowers are going to explode - like the plant itself, that has quadrupled in size this year (growing from a 1 stemmed plant to 4). I am going to have to add
Pink Guara down in my 'Cottage Garden'. It has such awesome movement to it in the breeze - it just says 'cottage'. It is so much more hardy then the "
Sweet Dreams" Coreopsis rosea - which currently looks so anemic I feel bad for it.
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| Variegated Ribbon Grass |
As Greggo so aptly noted on a past post - I really like my "halo fade" effect for photos. In this case, it blurs the dandelions, so you can appreciate the Variegated Ribbon Grass and my little Sun chime. I really like this garden vignette - and the stepping stones and fence keep the Ribbon Grass corralled in a small area.
Stay cool! (I'll never complain about my shade trees ever again.)
