DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

The dog days of summer are definitely here! (see pic below)

At this time of year I am tired and so is my garden.  We have had rain all around us but none here.  I am hopeful though that we will get some this week.  I am thankful though that some flowers thrive in these xeric conditions. 

LIMELIGHT HYDRANGEA

RUDBECKIA "GOLDSTRUM" AKA BLACKEYED SUSAN, OSTRICH FERN AND SHASTA DAISIES

RUDBECKIA "TRILOBA" OR BROWN EYED SUSAN

MORE RUDBECKIA, PURPLE PHLOX AND AGASTACHE "TUTTI FRUITTI"

I have been working on my woodland/shade garden in the past few weeks and it's really taking shape.  I'll post my progress soon.  Till then I'll have to steal my tolerable moments in the garden and wait for the next act and the flowers/foliage it brings..FALL!

St. Louis Botanical Garden

We are back from our 3 day trip to St. Louis.  The last day there we visited their botanical garden.  We were blessed with an overcast day and not miserably hot temps.  Here are some highlights.

THE SECRET GARDEN

VICTORIAN GARDEN

DAYLILY GARDEN

LOVED THE GLASS SCULPTURES IN THE FOUNTAIN!

GLEN IS COOLING OFF IN THE MISTERS...

I took many individual flower pics for my own reference.  Here are a few I thought were neat-o.

FIRECRACKER FLOWER "ORANGE MARMALADE"

DAYLILY "PARDON ME"...LOOK HOW SMALL!

ROSE "STRIKE IT RICH"

We visited the famous St. Louis Arch and Anheuser Busch factory, ate tons of food (Lamberts--yum) and did some shopping.  Glen is such a sweetie...he took me to the Lowe's near our hotel and I hit a honey-hole of plants!  I got several clearance plants...variegated yucca (3.62), 3 evergreens (1.00 each) and a pygmy red barberry to replace the one Glen mowed down this spring (4.25)!  We took the scenic route home (off the interstate) and I got to hit an antique mall.  Can life get any better?? 

VACATION: A Tiny Glimpse of Retirement

Hello from Utopia!  Tomorrow starts my first full day of 9 days off work!  What shall I do I ask myself?  It stretches out before me seemingly without end.  We're travelling to St. Louis for 3 days next week.  Hope to take in the Arch, Botanical Garden and maybe see the Bellefontaine cemetery plus anything else we have time for.  I saw a garden show about the St. Louis Botanical Garden and it looks like my kinda place.  Since the humidity has been lower I am back in love with my garden again.  I have been enjoying some late season blooms and garden views. 
Phlox "Peppermint Twist"----

Hydrangea "Cityline Paris"---

Watermelon "Sugar Baby" is definitely my baby and first attempt at growing watermelons- ever!

Is "cottage garden" a synonym for "eclectic mess??"  I sure hope so.

Pond - I like to keep my tropical looking plants segregated to this area.

I think the Tiger lillies look like fireworks (how appropriate)!

These orange daylillies are real troopers and the most vivid orange.

The spring house depends on foliage for interest right now.

This white rose was a "foundling" 2 years ago and started from a cutting.  It gives a shot of coolness right about now that is desperately needed. 

So whatever your 4th of July holiday plans are...make sure you get out and see what's blooming in your garden.  Like fireworks..those blooms are  here today and gone tomorrow in a flash!

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?