Christmas in August

This was definitely a moment today... when I walked around the front and found this hibiscus bud pointing at me.

Look what I found!

Dahlia 'Taratahi Ruby' in the Front House Garden.

Becky on a Good Day

She's almost lost among the fescue and coral bells in Kelly's garden.  Hot here today!  Sprinkler this evening.

Dahlia Bud

'Kari Fruit Salad' today. Slow to colour up and open.

from the window

Rain today so I was contemplating my view. If I am looking for the positives in the thrip infestation, this would be it. The infected glads that were cut down blocked my view of the Zinnia in this garden so I now know for next year that I need to plant something shorter than glads there.

Have a Bright Day!

I love the way their petals are all curled up.

So Sad...

...my 'Hunting Song' were not saved despite how good the buds looked. But aren't they going to look great next year!

Tree Sedum

In the early morning sunlight.

My Hero for Today

Sean came by today and went to the store to get a huge list of essential items we were out of. As a result, I was able to spend the whole day in my garden.

Longwood Dainty

Small and cute... and obviously a favourite food for something in the garden.

Old Bloom

Quite a colour change for 'Raeann's Torch' from when it first opened. The yellow edge expanded and the red really washed out. The collarette, as a result, really stands out as bright yellow. I like this one.

Late Dinner

Thought I'd have dessert first.

I'm Home

Had a wonderful visit but it was nice to drive into the Valley this evening.

The Flip Flop Path is now...

The Flip Flop Steps

Kelly: "Bam!"

Linda: "The trip down is less hazardous now."

Starting to feel vaguely like The Flintstones.

Frogger

Frog in the pool room.

Trees Down

You can see a large stump in the middle right of this picture.  This one tree down should add a couple of hours of sunlight a day back in the henge.  3 or 4 other small trees came down on the north side (right in the pic).  In the forefront is the terrace from a different angle.   (I was standing beside the fern patch at the foot of the flipflop path - back of garage is to the left.)

Hawk Nest

Mom, Dad and Baby nesting in my cousins yard. Closer view here.

Blue Calamint

I've been days trying to focus on these tiny flowers!  I have always thought this was a type of catmint until I just now dug out the tag.  It's calamintha nepeta and the word 'nepeta' had me thinking catmint.
Anyway it forms a mound about 2 feet around with all these tiny purple/white flowers... sort of fairy-like.

Whirling Butterflies

Finally they are whirling!  They are sort of jammed between the mallow and the blue lobelia but the pink/white/blue combo looks kind of cool.

Front House Garden

Thought I would get this up before I take off. I am so glad I put this in this Spring. It is hard to keep still because it was weeds for years so it seems like I am pulling constantly and still not keeping up. The delphinium are new transplants this year so they are way done and you can't even see them anymore but they are there. This is as far as it is finished though. In the Fall, I plan to get it planted to the end of the house with a lot of room for dahlia left open. The dahlia here are doing really well so it seems like a good spot for them.

Flowering Potatoe

Pretty sure I wasn't supposed to let them do that. Oh well, I guess I am a flower gardener.

Little Stonehenge Terrace

The entryway steps are on the left and the 'terrace' in the middle is for planting.  The flip-flop path is at the top - a name that has stuck.  You'll notice that I've already got tri-colour sedum started n the very bottom level.  Pink Pewter lamium is going in the top level.
Notice the five pillars - if you laid a board across them, the tops are level with each other and also the earth's gravitational field ;)  You can see them better from above.

Rose Hips

Rose hips are starting to develop on the wild rose. I hate to say it but this and the Virginia Creeper out back turning red are both sure signs of Fall. How sad.

Pretty Nora Leigh

This is the tall variegated phlox that compliments my Snow Fairy so nicely.  I was getting itchy to take a picture of it.  The colour of the buds is deceiving.  One more phlox left to make an appearance.

Prairie Coneflower

The only thing on my garden list today was to get the Prairie Coneflower transplanted. I now have it in two spots. Next to the closest 'John Cabot' rose along the drive edge and also along the lawn edge from the 'Therese Bugnet' roses on the slide side. It looks a little shocked in both places but I am sure it will bounce back quick.

From Your Garden to Mine

It's going to look awesome flowing over this rock in the 'henge.  The challenge will be to keep it moist so it's a bit of a test.  I have everything planted except for the hydrangea and daylilies.  They'll be either in the ground or in pots by tomorrow evening - all look good.

Bouncing Bet

I was excited to find this today eventhough it was smack in the middle of a huge patch of grass that is quite a bit taller than it. There is a big patch of it in there and once I dig it, I will be able to easily get rid of the grass around it. Judy gave me a division a couple of years ago and I made the mistake of planting it with the white Summer Phlox. I had thought that the white had overtaken it but happily, I was wrong. Judy got it given to her as 'Bouncing Bet'. The only 'Bouncing Bet' I have ever been able to find is a Soapwort and this almost fits the description as spreading groundcover with very fragrant phlox like flowers. I wouldn't have called it a groundcover and this is at least 2 ft. tall. Also, I don't think Soapwort overwinters here. Despite my pink problem in the sun garden, I am moving this out there. I might wait until it is done blooming though because it really is fragrant and the smell is wonderful. Since this is towards the bush from the 'Stella D'Oro', she might get deadheaded more often now.

Odd Sedum

This is called athoum sedum and I got it late last season... another thing overlooked when you were here.  It's been spreading and caught my attention today in the front rock garden.  I just might have to start some other patches of it.

and growing...

It started baseball size and more than doubled in 17 days. Now it is basketball size and looking even bigger from the bush side. I am curious now as to how big it will get.

Spider Webs

I finally got my camera to focus on these cool little things!

The Opening

Half of the flower isn't open all the way yet, making it look lopsided. So, you get another photograph of part of a flower because I can't wait until it is actually open to share it. Dahlia 'Raeann's Torch'. Opening today.

A La Fresco

This is just starting to bloom behind the Snow Fairy.  Definitely another one of my favourites.  These flowers will bloom all the way up tall stalks.

Black and Blue

So dark in bud but so bright in bloom... I love these little guys.

More on 'Golden Wave'

This Yellow opened when I wasn't even looking. Here is yet another view of it. I was watching the Pink bud and when it opened wider today to a yellow centre, I went out to get a photo of it and found this flower too. It is a different flower form than the other two as well as a different colour. It is a semi-double petaled single flower. Both the others have been fully double flowers with two single petaled side flowers that frame the bigger flower. I am loving these things. I hope they overwinter for me.

You've Got Mail

The seeds are dry and cleaned. On Monday when the post office is open, I am going to dig up the 'Endless Summer' bits along with the Combine Garden Daylily and the dark Creeping Jenny. These seeds and the ones on your seed wish list will join all that in the box. Anything else you can't live without next Spring that I could throw in?

Yellow Spiral

I have lots of different calendula  but I'm drawn to the yellow ones.  This looked so beautiful and perfect this morning.
There is more yellow across the front deck.

A Moment of Weakness

I stopped to buy a paperback and got distracted.

Last of the Lily

'Stargazer' opened today and is the last although the 'Acapulco' was not yet fully open this morning. If the rain stops, I am going to go take another look later.

Sweet Pea at Front Deck

They are doing as well as the Nasturtium did last year in this spot. The dark green pad-like leaves of the Nasturtium made for a nicer contrast rising up through the Virginia Creeper though. I hoped these would have the added advantage of scent but not that I have noticed over the vetch blooming in the fields. Maybe once that is done. 'Pink Flame' opened.

From the Mighty Oak

Walked up front this morning and this bonked me on the head.  I'm still waiting for a flash of insight.

Green and Purple

There may have been prettier flowers today but this was by far the best picture.

The Next One

'Hot Lips' opened all the way today. Single flower so far but lots of buds to open yet.

Last of the Lilies

Opus One popped open today in the back garden.  I can't really see any difference between this and Casablanca - can you?  They're both wonderful!

Nigella Opened

In two colours so far. This pale and this dark. I absolutely love them. Both colours are great. There are three flowers and two of them are the dark. I am definitely putting some of these in next year.

Silvery Pink

This always reminds me of pale pink nail polish.  I had one before and it didn't come back.  Four years later I'm trying again.

Surprise !

After all the conversation yesterday, look what I happened upon in the Combine Garden on walkabout with the camera today. Side view here and there are lots of buds.

Something Old is New Again

Just needs a paint job.  We are going with your suggestion of white.  Looks a bit better than here and it's quite comfortable and sturdy for a bench.

Last to Open

This should be the last of the Calla to open. It is more red and less purple than this shows. Another lemon yellow 'Flame' opened yesterday in a pot on the front deck. More 'Crystal Blush', which are now turning pink, and 'Picasso' showed up in the Bird Sanctuary and Boardwalk Gardens. The red and yellow 'Flame' is still producing more blooms. I really like these. I hope they survive the winter in my basement. On an added note, I am taking the refrigerator from Sean's trailer. It was new a couple of years ago and is smallish. He will sell his trailer without one and I will put it in the basement for all my stored plants.

Definitely Nicky

I guess this is why the pictures are misleading.  This really is this, a day later and out of the sun.

Here she is...

Calendula 'Bronze Beauty' top view. Just as lovely as she is from the side. They are all very small with getting in so late and no sun for almost ever. I am still hopeful they will self-seed here for next year. I am watching to see if I can encourage that.