Beauties of the Night.....and Some of the Day

I have been noticing my neighbor's Moonflower every morning when I walk the dogs. All the blooms are spent and drooping. I decided to walk down the street tonight after dusk to see if there were any blooms open. Lo and behold….there were multiple blooms!

Once I got home I looked out my deck garden door and guess who else is blooming…for the third time this summer? Right! The Epiphyllum oxypetalum. This time there are about 6 or 7 blooms in various stages of maturity getting ready to open. I have really enjoyed this plant this summer. After this bloom session is done I will need to prune it back a little to move it into the garage. I may have some cuttings….stay tuned!!

As with everyone else's garden, mine is still putting on a good show. The pineapple lily that I bought earlier this year gradually turned green from the great burgundy color. Now there is new growth and it is the dark burgundy. Is this normal? I have no idea! It is certainly interesting looking. The pink is flowers falling from the Crape Myrtle.

The Black and Blue Salvia is also a new addition from last fall. It took so long to look like it was going to bloom and now it is getting the attention it deserves. Next to the B & B is one of the many Blackberry Lilies , Belamcanda chinensis, and it is in its berry mode. This garden borders my neighbor's yard. They were most curious as to the type of berry I was growing and wondering if it was edible! I told them I wouldn't try it.

The zinnias I have are the first in many years. I am really happy with the show they have put forth. Lots and lots of color. (The bees seem to enjoy it as well)

I love the contrast of the Dusty Miller and this variegated Iris.


The Clematis paniculata on the swing set is starting to pop like popcorn….a snowfall of white blooms.











Last but not least – I found the name of the Canna in the header photo of my blog. It is surprisingly hard to find many places that sell it…I bought mine at Sam's (!!??!!) I know…it was a box of 18 and it wasn't too pricey. Before the other plants filled in I was able to count the Cannas and they all came up!! This lovely variety is Canna Rosever. The foliage is chocolate burgundy in color and the blooms are a beautiful peachy- rose. I am digging up a few of these guys to take with me to South Carolina!!

BIG RED!

No, this isn't about the soda popular in Texas. Big Red soda is super sweet and not my cup of tea...
This is Texas Star, Hibiscus coccinea. Other common names are Scarlet Hibiscus or Swamp Hibiscus. This is a hardy Hibiscus that is salt tolerant, which is a bonus for me. Additionally they don't mind wet feet nor drought conditions. In the winter this plant dies back to the ground. I often leave the dead stalks until I see new growth the following spring, just as a reminder there is a plant in a certain spot! These great big red blooming flowers are in multiple places in my backyard. The birds spread the seeds as well as germinating where they drop from the stalks. The leaves are deeply palmated --often looked at a second time ---some think I am growing something else! There is one at the corner of the house that is tall....VERY TALL! At this time it is 10 feet 2 inches tall. The goldfinches love this seed in the fall. The hummingbirds check out the red flower quite often as well.


Other 'Reds' in the landscape include the Canna, Caladiums, Petunias, Snapdragons (I am surprised these are still going strong!), celosia, and a couple Cordylines (Spikes). Amazing that each season has a dominate color. This season is RED!!

July 2009 Garden Blogger Bloom Day

Hard to believe it is already July 15th! There is so much color in my yard this time of year. I thought the easiest thing to do would be to put up a collage of current blooms and berries.
From the upper left hand corner- Rubus argutus Navaho (thornless blackberries),Gaura lindheimeri 'Ballerina Rose', caladium bloom, Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage), Lagerstroemia x.Tuscarora (Crape Myrtle), Lantana camara 'Miss Huff', Hibiscus moscheutos, some 'fun guy', Rosa 'Carpet Rose' white, Lobularia maritima (Sweet alyssum), Hydrangea paniculata, Hibiscus coccinea 'Texas Star', Dwarf Yellow Canna,H. paniculata, Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower), Sambucus (elderberries), more blackberries, Cleome (Spider Flower), Caladium 'Red Flash', Pennisetum setaceum rubrum 'Fireworks' & Artemisia 'Powis Castle', Hybiscus syriacus 'Marina' (Rose of Sharon 'Blue Bird'), Dwarf Red Canna.



Be sure to click on the collage and make it larger.

Here is an interesting bloom-- a Caladium bloom.


As always, it is time to check out the other garden blogger's blooms---head over to Carol's web site May Dreams Gardens.

HOT HOT HOT- Smithfield Gardens

Aren't these colors great together? Crocosmia and Cannas with Lantana in the background.
Racquel and I went down to Smithfield Gardens yesterday to meet Les and Helen. We got there early and shopped for a while and checked out many of the display gardens. Racquel and I had planned on driving over the bridge and seeing Les with no date in mind when Helen said she was visiting Les on Monday and could we meet. After a lovely tour of Racquel's garden (it looks just like it does in her blog! Perfect!) we drove to Smithfield Gardens in Suffolk, Virginia.
We walked around and ooh-ed and aah-ed over lots of plants and then the display gardens. Love the hot colors in the picture at the top of the page. When I went around to the other side of the bed to see more of these hot colors there was a Hummingbird zooming from one bloom to another.
He was going so fast, but I did catch a blur!!


I love Gladiolas but have too many voles to grow them successfully.





After Racquel and I made our purchases Les and Helen drove up. We got a guided tour from Les. It was nice to meet both Les and Helen. I believe Helen will be blogging about the visit (with photos) on her blog. I am the good looking one. ?!?! Helen asked an interesting question-- What kind of garden do you have? Hmmm...? Messy? Haphazard? laissez faire? Interesting question. I am not sure, perhaps one that attracts birds and butterflies? with fragrance and color? Will have to get back with a better answer----- one of these days.

Les shared some seed heads with us---this is one still on the plant...............know what it is??


Yes,Daucus carota -Queen Anne's Lace. I love how it looks red/pink as it ages.
A grand day all around!! Thanks Racquel for driving, and great meeting Les and Helen.