July Garden Blogger's Bloom Day

And a stingy one at that. Our garden isn't very interesting from mid-late summer with very little color. I was just over at Nancy Ondra's great blog Hayefield and was amazed at what all she has blooming!  

We have been very fortunate this past week with some abundant rainfall (at least 4 inches so far). It rained again yesterday and is looking like today might give a repeat. I wish other parts of the country could get some of this. It has been a huge relief and I know how frustrating it is to go without rain for long periods.


The only blooms I could find in our garden were:

A lone Shasta Daisy

Lily "'Scheherazade"

A fading coneflower that I can't remember the name of - just planted this year.

Crape Myrtle "Tonto"

A morning glory that I've tried to eradicate from the garden but it just keeps
reappearing year after year

A faded hydrangea blossom

The only hydrangea with fresh blooms is "Big Daddy"

The paniculata hydrangeas are just beginning - this is "Tardiva"

Thank goodness for the containers. They were all looking like they were on their last leg until the rains came. They have doubled their growth in the past week and look all refreshed.

This butterfly was really enjoying the impatiens. I think this is the Swallowtail Butterfly
that uses our Dutchman's Pipe vine as a host.

Containers at the back door steps

I wasn't too successful in planning the Pan Statue planter this year. It looks like the Euphorbia "Diamond Frost" has vanished!

One of my favorite annuals for containers is purslane. It is forgiving and will survive a few days without water, unlike impatiens, which every year I vow to never plant again due to their insatiable thirst.

Be sure to check May Dreams Gardens for more garden bloggers sharing their blooms this month!


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy