The two color stars of the garden right now are the coneflowers and the rudbeckia. And I think they are both native to this area, so it makes sense that they are dominating the back garden. I do also have a sweet little lily that opened up –it is not very tall so it is like a happy little surprise tucked into a busy bed. It is unusually overcast here this morning and it looks like it might rain more.
And look at this below —exciting things about to happen with that plant in the front.
And here is Sidney; he is the real star of the garden with his lovely self coming around the walkway. And showing off a little bit of tummy.
It is overcast again today and raining right now. Earlier the cats were out meandering around on the sidewalk by some open purple coneflowers. These two are completely unconcerned about rain; I know cats are often described as avoiding water or being finicky about stepping in it, but that doesn’t seem to be the case with the cats who live mostly outside.
This, above, is the white salvia that was hidden in the earlier photo of the front bed. Oddly I had a purple one in this bed, but it was never totally happy and this year didn’t come back at all.
The russian sage is starting to open its blooms. I really like this light lavender and the silvery foliage. I probably need to stake it or tie it to try to help it to have some shape.
These lilies are still producing some lovely blooms.
I am attempting to get the plants bedded in with lots of straw to try to hold the moisture we do have, and it is taking me longer than I would have imagined since we are now past the 4th of July. I did get the massive strip between the south beds and the fence taken care of early in the season. This is the place the squash are all meant to go. They are planted on the far south side of this bed. Here is a picture I took from the upstairs window.
The bed only partly showing on the left edge of this picture above has tomatoes in it. Between that and the rudbeckia are (among other things) peppers, a couple of sweet potatoes and some broccoli. There is not much edible goods to the right of the walnut tree trunk other than the squash all the way at the far back of the bed. There is some sorrel in there, but it is a rather bitter variety and I don’t eat much of it.
I put this geranium here to see from the living room window, although the walnut tree trunk is good too.
I have this other geranium below in front of the other walnut tree. But I think I will be moving this one soon.
In the front of the house, the blooms are rambling around a bit. The phlox at the far edge of this picture are just the beginning of a massive patch. These are unfortunately growing in (possibly through?) the front steps.
This bed has lots in it including russian sage, a rose bush, gay feathers (that haven’t bloomed yet), day lilies, the firecracker bee balm (I know that is not what it’s called), cone flowers, japanese iris, snow on the mountain, and some naked ladies. And there is a nice white salvia in here that you can’t see at all in this picture because it is on the other side of the malva and cone flowers. Here is a picture of the phlox, just getting started.
Yesterday it started raining and really broke the heat. And then it rained on and off all afternoon and a good part of the evening. I am very relieved. Absolutely everything in the garden looks so much better today. It is also overcast and looks like it could rain today –and fortunately much cooler than it has been. The kitties are happy.
The lily in the bed south of the house has started to show off in all its stunning clear white color and rich fragrance. The one by the barn has also opened… and it is a creamy yellow color. I hope it comes through in the picture. What I know won’t come thru is the amazing fragrance. So lovely.
First, here pictures of the white one in the bed south of the house. I am pleased with this bed this year. It is the one I can see from the sofa in the living room.
Here is Cousin also enjoying the view of the flowers.
And here is the creamy yellow one near the barn. I really had thought that this one was also white. But when I look back to the pictures from last year, definitely yellow tint.
This new lily opened and the amazing thing is that I had forgotten all its loveliness. It was new last year and somehow I didn’t remember it. It is a deeper, more maroon color than it appears in the closest of these pictures. This first picture looks fairly accurate. So lovely.
Also, the trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) is starting to really show off. The hummingbirds come to visit these flowers.
The kitties were enjoying the front steps last night. Here is Tiglet looking dapper as ever.
Minnie has that one odd phlox that is already open. Below she is working on a walnut tree.
The Queen Anne’s lace is starting to really open up now. I’ve been pulling out lots of it, trying to keep it under control —another invasive item in my garden.
This lily will be impressive when it opens.
This astilbe is a lovely light pink; it was marked as having red blooms on the package when I bought it, but it isn’t red. I like this soft pink.
This lily too will be quite something. These blooms are white and very fragrant.
On this first day of July, I am posting some pictures of flowers that are blooming nicely right now. There are several things that are growing nicely (red amaranth, for example) but which are not yet blooming. So here are some pictures of brightly colored flowers.
The yellow primroses are unbelievably tall this year. There is one plant right in the middle of the picture, dwarfing the rose to the left. And this yellow is really bright –not buttery, but brilliant. I did find a couple of Japanese beetles this morning, so the primroses may be short-lived. But they are lovely.
And the coneflowers are just starting to open. They are so spectacular when they are broadly open in all their purple pink glory. But I love them like this too when they are just starting.
And finally here is a very handsome Milton, lounging.
This purple plant with cup-like downward pointing flowers showed up in a nice swath by the barn a few years ago. I do not know what it is –maybe someone can help with the identification? It does well in this spot, and it has shared a few stray seeds and spread a little to some other places.
Here is a handsome Tiglet sitting outside. The clouds in the next pictures did manage to drop a very little bit of rain for the garden last night. Much needed rain.
An entertaining bit of kitty discussion inside: Claribel and Milton are quite good friends, because he has a very good big warm tummy for a small cat to curl up against. But whenever he steps over a boundary she is quick to swat him back. I think this touchiness on her part is necessary since he is twice her size and can be a bit of a bully.
Milton being nice and washing Clari’s ears. I didn’t see the precipitating event, but I am guessing he had a chew on one of her very tasty little ears. Caramel, in her sturdiness, looks ready to referee if necessary. Below is a much nicer picture of Cara, where she doesn’t look quite so stout. And here is a picture of Claribel; she has successfully held her own and Milton has meandered away, unconcerned. Cousin has taken his place..
