Saturday, June 16, 2018

June Bloom Day

I'm a little late for Bloom Day, but it's been a busy weekend.  Besides a birthday party for two of the grandchildren, today was our annual Master Gardeners' Garden Walk.  Since I was a volunteer at one of the gardens this morning, I was able to preview all the gardens on the walk last night.  So many gorgeous gardens in our community, full of imagination and ideas to copy.  Maybe I'll get around to doing a post on them--one of these days.  I spent the morning at a friend's garden who has created a beautiful and peaceful oasis in her backyard.


This is one of Jolene's latest additions--she calls it "the door to nowhere."  I was so happy that we had a great turnout this morning in spite of the sweltering heat and humidity.  Everyone was in awe of this hidden gem here in our little town.


You won't find anything that creative in my garden, I'm afraid, but I do have some blooms.  I'm feeling pretty happy that I finally planted all the annuals I purchased this spring, some of which had been languishing on my back porch for nearly a month!  This is a begonia that I fell in love with called 'Appleblossom.'


'Wendy's Wish' Salvia is an annual I plant every year because the hummingbirds love it.  This year I took a friend's advice and planted one in a container near my back porch where I can see the hummingbirds up close as they visit each bloom.  I've noticed the bumblebees love it just as much.


I've discovered I really like succulents.  This combo in an old birdbath is doing well, and just look at the bloom on the Echeveria!


A close-up of these blooms, which I think are pretty cool.


Among the many annuals I planted in containers and in the garden are some I didn't plant-
-at least not this year.


These are 'Prairie Sun' Rudbeckia, which are annuals here, but this year they re-seeded themselves in the roadside garden.  I love volunteers like this!


Other than the annuals, there isn't a lot blooming right now as we transition into summer.  I say "transition" because according to the calendar, it's still spring, but the hot, sweltering weather we have had most of the time since May certainly feels like summer to me.  In the shade garden, Lamium blooms are spreading everywhere.


Lady's Mantle, a newer addition here, is also sporting its blooms.


Since my last Bloom Day post, the hostas have grown by leaps and bounds in the shade garden.


A few are sending up the beginnings of blooms, like 'Empress Wu.'


Indian Pink, Spigelia marilandica, is nowhere as big as the Empress hosta, but I'm happy it has survived here for several years.


The buds are just beginning to open up.


Elsewhere, a few hydrangeas are blooming, including 'Mary Nelle' above, the 'Annabelles,' and 'Ruby Slipper' oak-leaf hydrangea.


The weather lately has been crazy--besides the heat, last weekend we had bad storms that included a tornado nearby.  Fortunately, we had no damage from the strong winds, but we had five inches of rain.  The rain produced some interesting-looking fungi in the lawn.


Moving on to the Butterfly Garden, aka the Garden of Chaos, there are always some surprises--some welcome and many not so welcome.  Not sure what these flowers are--maybe Evening Primrose?  At any rate, I know I didn't plant them.


I have several butterfly weeds, and this one is really doing well right now.  I haven't seen any butterflies in awhile, but I'm hoping they find my garden soon.


Lamb's Ears are shooting up their blooms in the Lily Bed.


One of the more interesting blooms right now in the Arbor Bed--Common Mullein, Verbascum thapsus.  Some might consider this more of a weed, but it certainly draws attention.


The vegetable garden is growing slowly, but I finally picked my first snow peas this past week.  I'm loving the new raised bed built for me by a friend.  Lettuce and spinach will be pulled out soon to make room for some zucchini and squash.


This past week I visited a local lavender farm with a group of fellow gardeners, and what a treat!  I was able to brag that I have finally succeeded in keeping one lavender plant alive for more than a year:)


The Sidewalk garden doesn't have a lot of blooms right now, but these little Monarda are doing their best till the coneflowers take over.


The first Asian lilies are blooming in the Arbor Bed.  'Stella D'Oro' daylilies are also blooming in many places throughout my garden, but the real show of daylilies won't begin for another week or two.


While there aren't a lot of blooms in this transition time between spring and summer, all that is about to change--the coneflowers will be arriving soon!  Between the coneflowers and the daylilies I am looking forward to one of my favorite times in the garden.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day is brought to you the 15th of each month by Carol of Maydreams Gardens.  Thanks, Carol, for motivating me to post at least once a month!


26 comments:

  1. Hello Rose,
    You've made a lovely post. So many beautiful plants en flowers to see.
    Have a wonderful day
    Rosehugs Marijke

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    1. Thanks, Marijke. The garden is looking good right now, even if there aren't a lot of showy blooms. I just wish it would cool off so I could get out and enjoy it more.

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  2. I think you have lots blooming Rose. Maybe like me you look out there and don't see big clumps of blooms but what is blooming is gorgeous. I love that verbascum. I have tried to grow it but I think there is too much shade here. I love to see the birds and butterflies get on it. I sure hope you make a post about the garden walk. Happy GBBD.

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    1. I'm pretty sure the verbascum was a gift from the birds, Lisa, though I might have brought home a start from the nursing home garden. Last year it was the most talked-about plant on the Garden Walk. I'll do my best to get up a post about the walk--lots of fun and interesting things to see in the different gardens, so I know you would have enjoyed it.

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  3. What a cute door in the garden! You have so many pretty blooms! After eyeing 'Wendy's Wish' Salvia every time I saw it online, I finally bought some this year. Such a pretty annual. Prairie Sun Rudbeckia is one of my favorites too. The Evening Primrose is beautiful, but it does like to spread itself around. It's popped up all around my gardens this year and started crowding out some favorite plants, so I might have to start pulling it out. Love the Indian Pink!

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    1. Oh, I hope you enjoy the 'Wendy's Wish' Salvia, Indie! I've been watching the hummingbirds enjoying it every morning. Thanks for the tip on the Evening Primrose--I thought that was what it was, and I know it can get carried away. I've got several thugs in this area I need to remove before they take over!

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  4. A lovely time of year indeed Rose. The begonia is beautiful.
    You certainly are flourishing. Your hosta look damage free. Some of mine are turning to lace because the slugs and snails have found them :( Oh well.....always next year.

    That is a very artistic little garden. Lot of imagination and work involved.....delightful.

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    1. Cheryl, I am lucky that the slugs don't bother my hostas most years; I don't know why--perhaps because my shade garden can be pretty dry. I'm looking forward to the next couple of weeks in the garden--the coneflowers are just beginning to bloom!

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  5. All gardens are beautiful, Rose. I love "the door to nowhere.", good idea!
    I also love succulents, but they grow badly in our climate. I agree Verbascum is interesting plant, I have it too and it always surprises me, popping its high flower stems between the bushes.
    Have a nice new week!

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    1. I agree, Nadezda. Recently, I've heard a couple of people criticizing gardens they had seen, but I think a garden should please the gardener, no one else! Last year the garden at the nursing home where I volunteer was on the annual garden walk, and the Verbascum was the one plant that everyone noticed and wanted to know more about! It certainly is eye-catching.

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  6. Good morning Rose! Such a delight to see your garden and your friend's. The door to nowhere is splendid. I, too, plant Salvia 'Wendy's Wish' every year if I can find it. I'm going to take cuttings this year just in case. I've also grown 'Ember's Wish' which is really pretty too. I get a kick out of the bumblebees stealing nectar from it. Your blooms are off to a great start. I also like those self-sowers. Thank goodness for them. I noticed that 'Cheyenne Spirit' echinaceas have self sowed here and there. Makes me smile. Happy Bloom Day my friend.~~Dee

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    1. Thanks, Dee. I really enjoy these salvia. I have a new one this year similar to 'Black and Blue' called 'Rhythm and Blues,' which is supposed to get much larger. I can't wait to see how it does. How lucky you are that 'Cheyenne Spirit' self-seeded! I don't have much luck with coneflower cultivars surviving here, but that is one I do enjoy.

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  7. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! It's so interesting to see what's blooming for you because you are always just a little ahead of me. ;) For example, my Butterflyweed, Indian Pinks, Lilies, Coneflowers, and Evening Primrose are just on the edge of flowering. I swooned over that Begonia! It's so soft and graceful--it almost looks like a Rose or a Peony. Happy belated Bloom Day!

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    1. Thanks, Beth! I have the same feeling when I view some blogs from further south than me--I'm excited because I know it's only a matter of time before the daylilies and others bloom here, too. I wish you could see this begonia in person; it really does look like a rose!

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  8. Hello there Rose girl !
    I absolutely love that door way to no where .. I have seen other pictures of doors in gardens and have always thought they were wonderful .. I wish I had the room to do that too !
    So glad your tours went well .. the heat/humidity can really put people off of coming out for an event like this but bravo for those enthusiastic gardeners ! I would have loved to see those gardens as well.
    Your begonia is so pretty , they look like roses ! ... I have a weakness for succulents too .. although I couldn't really find the ones I wanted this year .. seemed to be a bad year right from the get go with such a killer winter.
    Your "blooming" way ahead of me .. funny thing ... I just had to get a few more Lady's mantle this year .. sometimes the oldies come back to you after years of contanstly trying out new plants .. you truly get a hang of how dependable they are .. lovely garden smiling at you Rose , well done girl !

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    1. Hi, Joy! I have the room for a door here, but not the creativity or the construction knowledge to put one in successfully:) The gardener's husband explained to me how they put the posts in dry concrete and then waited till months later to install the door. One of the reasons I enjoy garden walks--lots of great ideas to copy! It was a bad winter here, too, and so many plants were late this year, even in the nursery greenhouses. But I think they have all been making up for lost time the past few weeks. All that late snow is just a memory now as I complain about the sweltering heat:)

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  9. I love all your garden photos Rose. My favorite is the first one of your friends "door to nowhere." which looks like a painting! I also like your succulent planter...very creative! Happy June and happy gardening!

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    1. Thanks, Lee! That door is so creative--I wish I had half her creativity. I was about to throw this old birdbath away, but I'm glad I didn't; it's perfect for succulents.

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  10. What a wonderful collection of photographs here.
    The blooms and the colours are lovely.
    June is so often a wonderful month.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thanks, Jan. June and July are probably the most colorful time in my garden. If only it weren't so hot!

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  11. I've not visited for so long yet its all so lovely. I really like the succulent birdbath!

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    1. Good to hear from you, Suburbia, and thanks! I haven't been doing much visiting of blogs lately either. I need to catch up soon--it's much too hot to spend time out in the garden anyway.

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  12. Looks like evening primrose to me. As always, you are a couple weeks ahead of us.

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    1. Thanks, Jason, I thought that's what it was. I always seem to have some new weedy wilflower each year, no doubt thanks to the birds.

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  13. Lovely! My daughter is really into succulents. They are easier to care for than grandkids!

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