Blasted Garden(Snowflurry in July)

It's not just me~ since the beginning of June this summer has been a real scorcher. The garden is crying out for attention that I can't give it. There will be casualties but some recent rain has helped many plants revive and a few plants are just survivors anyway.

A little Verbena 'Snowflurry' in July is a wonderful thing. This plant amazes me with its transient nature. It dies out here and pops up there with fresh blooming plants appearing at any time of the year~ willy nilly,lol.



This is what I would expect to see thriving in this weather. This sedum was a special trade with Gardenweb friend Nancedar. I'm afraid I haven't labeled it so its identity is in question. Have yet to see blooms from this one.



You can't keep a good wildflower down. Rudbeckia triloba is a welcome sight with fresh blooms and a visitor.



The bronze fennel has been a pleasure this year for the gardener and the insects. Black Swallowtail caterpillars in all stages were feasting on Tuesday morning.



A little less than perfect but the bees still love the Bog Sage~ Salvia uliginosa.

My casualties from last year's round of new plants from Plant Delights Nursery were numerous~ this new ironweed, Vernonia lettermannii was not among them.

The last of my Bachman seedlings to bloom~ this was the last flower:(

and the Energizer Bunny award for daylilies this year goes to 'Cripple Creek'~ I can't praise this one enough. Mwah!

A Grand Debut

It has been a typical August week in the garden with hot temps and not much new to see except for the debut of flowers on Hibiscus grandiflorus. It seems as though the tight little flower buds transform magically overnight. I love this plant for its greyish green velvety leaves almost as much as these powder puff pink blooms. Another plus is the Japanese beetles and Sawfly larvae don't like the velvetey leaves.





Stokesia laevis 'Peachie's Pick' was divided and transplanted in several different locations in the garden last fall. The result has been a nice staggering of bloom time among the plants this summer.



My one stalk of Sedum 'Matrona' in bud. The voles ruined the original clump and this is a start over plant.



I thought I had removed Lantana 'Miss Huff' a couple of years ago but it has persisted amid the new plantings. I leave it to see who will win out.



My first clear shot of a Silver Spotted Skipper( I wish it had been captured with the newer camera).



The bunnies kept this new planting of Mexican Petunia trimmed back until recently. It's nice to finally see flowers.



Galaxy Explosion is reblooming.



This clump of Blue Love Grass didn't get a trim this year and is in full fluff.



And to finish~ my wonderful patch of Bog Sage~ still keeping the bees happy:)