Week 30

1.  Honeysuckle.

Aphids savaged the honeysuckle earlier this year, ruining all the blooms.  With them gone, the honeysuckle's returned in pink & yellow vengeance.

2.  Heucherella.

3.  Crooked Veronica.

Close up.

Step back.

4.  Valiant S&S fight.

Of the methods tried, the most effective protection from S&S has been covering young plants at night until they're too big to be delicious.  It's a twice daily pain that I'm always glad to see the end of.

This week, I came across some roof felt trimmings & cut them to size.  They work like a dream at keeping slimy things off.

5.  Teddy Bear sunflowers.

Even full grown, these are S&S favourites.  As they're only 12" tall, I grew them in planters & found that those in metal containers stayed fairly untouched.  Perhaps copper isn't the only deterrent to S&S marauders.

The photo above is how they're advertised to look.  There are, however, variations, some rather alarming.

6.  Unknown pest.

I can't quite figure out what's made its home in the curry.

It doesn't appear to feed off the plants & admittedly, is rather cute, so I'm letting it stay for the moment.

That's it for this week.  Thanks for stopping by.

Too Many to Love

1.  Salvia Strawberries & Cream.

I've become a real salvia fan.  The small flower details are so gorgeous.

2.  Thalictrum Black Stocking.

Earlier in the summer, when I bemoaned everyone else's thalictrum being in bloom, someone suggested perhaps the dry summer was the cause.  Many waterings later, we've got buds.

3.  Rain lily.

Another flower that's watered regularly.  Never get tired of these guys.

4.  Surprise lily.

This tiny little guy sprouted next to the rain lily.  I stopped growing these a few years ago because of red beetles.  I do, however, recycle pot compost onto the flowerbeds, so perhaps an old lily came to life, thanks to care given the rain lily.

5.  Woodwardia.

In most instances for me, a fern is a fern is a fern.  Woodi's a little different, although I can't say why.  I never get enough of his new growth.  Saying that, his mature fronds are also gorgeous.

This next photo was taken immediately after the first.  The new fronds really play with the light, changing colour ever so slightly.

6.  Zinnia Queenie Lime.

I planted different varieties of zinnia in various spots in the garden.  Universally, they've not done well this year, whereas last year, they were wild thangs.  Even so, just look at this face as it wakes up.  There's even a small heart at 10 o'clock.

And that's all for now.  Thanks for stopping by.

Odd Shots

Ever take a photo that turns out as something different but you like it better?  Here's half a dozen examples.


1.  Goldenrod & day lily.

2.  Fuchsia.

3.  Fuchsia & allium.

4.  Achillea falling across daisy.

5.  Border bouquet - hollyhock falling into achillea, sides of sea holly, lamb's ears, & sedum.

6.  Balloon vine escaping its cage.

That's it for this week.  Thanks for stopping by,

Onward, July!

1.  Chocolate Daisy.

Both the flower & scent of this plant  are reason enough to grow it, not to mention its sage coloured foliage.

And wouldn't you know, it's got a lovely seed head as well. 


2.   Rhodochiton Vine.

First year in our garden, & I didn't think the purply pink bells could delight me more.

Until they did this.

Rhodochiton's a tough little vine that's survived the high winds & drought.  Best of all, the slugs aren't a bit interested in it.


3.  O, Veronica.

I don't think Veronica did this last year, so'm not sure why she'd doing it now.

A yellow achillea hangs 12" or more above it, but surely doesn't warrant such an extreme recoil.  Interpretive dance, maybe.


4.  Russian sage.

Just starting to flower.  

The particular green of its foliage . . .

. . . sets off well, the pink dianthus next to it.


5.  Verbena hastata.

The v. hastata's coming into bloom.

All grown from seed off the original plant that didn't survive our wet winter.  

Any suggestions about getting keeping it alive this year?


6.  Wild plum.

Usually, the wildlife's stripped off all the plums at this stage of the summer.

This lone plum's size surprises me.  

That's it for this week.  Thanks for stopping by.