How Dry I Am!

We have had rain but with this continuing heatwave it seems to evaporate on contact!  I am not ready to be dragging around hoses, watering cans and sprinklers but alas..it is the only way to keep the show going.  Things already look like they do at the end of August in my garden.  I still have some stalwart bloomers who enjoy the sunbathing.
This rose was found by my sweet husband in the bottom of a bargain bin at the Aldi grocery store.  I'm not usually good with "body bagged" roses but I took a chance on this one.  It is a floribunda called Camelot.  I am impressed with its disease resistance and clear coral pink blooms like this one:

I have a few more daylillies that have bloomed since my last post.  I know none of their names unfortunately.

I have lovely pink blooms for the first time on this asiatic lilly:

I am still lamenting over my pot ghetto...still too many things to get into the ground.  All the while I'm steadily potting up my rose cuttings that are ready to come out of the misting system.  I see now how this love of propagation is fueling the vicious "can't get it all in the ground syndrome...."  but i wouldn't have it any other way!  Hello summer!

Day Tripper

Yes, I am a Beatles Fan!  My daylilies are cranking up and filling in the holes left by the irises.  I don't know the names of my daylilies.  I have a few id tags (somewhere) but most were given by friends, obtained through plant swaps or from one of my favorite places in Florence-- Rabbit's daylily patch. 

Last but not least an asiatic lily that has bloomed for the first time.  This was a Big Lots find believe it or not!

Sweet Garden Songs

I am no expert on music but I was thinking that the garden right now reminds me of an orchestra in which I am the hardworking conductor.  I'm out there every minute I can be waving my conductor's wand, er- shovel?  Of course it's not all me, the plants know their cue and burst into song at just the right moment!  Sing along with me.....
First a broad view of the garden...my new garden stairs are almost finished!

The foundation plantings are sounding (looking) sweet.  I always get a brash sound from this Japanese Dappled Willow standard at this phase of growth.  It looks like a punk rocker in the midst of my sweet Stellas and Fairy rose.

 

The spring-fed pond is humming along nicely (with help from the frogs).  I was lucky to not have lost my cannas as so many did last winter.

The Spring house is a very "cool" place.  I depend on hostas, ferns, bleeding hearts, impatiens and hellebores to harmonize in this deep shade area.

Sweet autumn clematis has finally made the climb over the archway.  Thank you Phillip for this plant!  Also the rose is a spectacular "found" rose from my travels.  It is large single petaled with hot pink edges and a white eye.  The flowers are in clusters.  It is a vigorous climber (likely planted in the wrong spot)  I may have hit a sour note with it's location...likely will move it due to the dangerous thorns too near the path.

So what's playing in your garden??

I'm Up for the Challenge!

Thanks to Ruth at Muscari Musings for challenging me to post the 8th pic in my 8th album and this is what popped up:

This Nikko blue hydrangea bloomed for the first time last year and was given to me by my coworker (and plant addict) Kim.  She came in to work all frazzled and hot one morning after digging a piece of this up for me.  It sat and sulked for 3 years until last year.  You can imagine my joy at seeing blooms emerging! 

Here is a later pic in full bloom:

There are too few blue blooms in the garden and I just love the sky blue color of the Nikko.  The artemesia combo nearby was a happy accident.  I think they compliment each other well don't you?