Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Blooms in July


I wasn't going to participate in Garden Bloggers Bloom Day this month, then I took a walk through my gardens with my camera hanging around my neck and there were some things just begging to be photographed. July always promises great color in the garden and this year's version is no exception.

Daylilies are the stars of the garden right now, but I'll save those for a separate post. Here's the best of the rest:



The only thing wrong with these sunflowers is that they always face east and they're on the east edge of the garden. Facing the wheat field. I have to jump the fence to look at them!


Origanum rotundifolium 'Kent Beauty'


Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Sun Showers' with Hemerocallis 'Leprechaun Eyes' in the background.


My mom gave me a jar full of seed that was labeled "Larkspur." I planted it and this is what I got. Feathery foliage and a mixture of colors of blue, pink and darker pink. Consolida regalis, maybe? Lovely!


Gaillardia 'Tizzy'
I've seen hardiness for this one listed at both zone 5 and zone 6. Of course, I'm hoping for 5.


Globe Thistle (Echinops ritro)
Just to the left of these, out of the picture, grows Sea Holly (Eryngium planum). It's blooming now, too, and its purply-blue stems and blooms are a nice echo.


The camera generally has a hard time with reds, especially when the sun is shining on them, but this Echinacea 'Tomato Soup' is pretty true to color.


Eschscholzia californica 'Dairy Maid'
California poppies, like poppies in general, are normally not the easiest things for me to grow, but this year I've gotten more blooms than the single one I got last year.


Curry Plant (Helichrysum stoechys)
Highly fragrant. I go out of my way to catch a whiff of this when I'm in the garden. Yummy!


Bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis)
I'm thrilled to pieces that I've got two good plants of this from the many seeds I sowed. This is one plant that I find very difficult to grow, but I absolutely love those bells!


Begonia x tuberhybrida
This was one of those pre-packaged deals at one of the big box stores.


Can't get enough of those sunflowers!


Visit May Dreams Gardens to see more great July blooms!


22 comments:

Darla said...

So glad you did participate this month. You have some great blooms and man oh man, those sunflowers are beautiful.

Janet, The Queen of Seaford said...

Good morning Kylee!! What neat blooms. I am going to Google that Hibiscus! WOW. I like that ornamental oregano - Racquel bought one when we went on one of our outings. What a find with that Begonia..big box store- that is where I got my cannas and the caladiums this year. Love the sunflowers! The bunnies eat all my seedlings- three years running with none of the ones I planted!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I am so glad you participated in GBBD. You have some blooms I haven't seen elsewhere. Love those sunflowers and the Ireland Bells are special. You chose to show some really great blooms.

Anonymous said...

Wow! What spectacular blooms you've got there, Kylee! Yes, your sunflowers are especially striking. They're so...comfortable. :)

Gail said...

Kylee, The garden is so lovely...my husband was looking over my shoulder and asked me if looking at garden photos is what I do when I blog! I said, 'Here, look at this oregano; I can see where to plant it now!" So, thank you for helping me see where to plant that gorgeous oregano! gail

Bren Haas said...

Did those sunflowers come up volunteer? I love it when birds leave gifts like that. I have some over in my new strawberry patch that I may just enter in the next flower show at the fair grounds.

I can't wait till my rows of Sunflower bloom..... LOVE IT!
Happy Summer Dear friend.

Cathy S. said...

Such Beautiful blooms Kylee! hope your weather has been nice like ours has been. Love the Globe Thistles.

-Cathy

Muum said...

love those sunflowers, too! And your poppies! I'll look for that color, it is yummy!

healingmagichands said...

The begonia, ahh! The sunflowers, yes! Your garden must be lovely with such lovelies in it.

But the one that really "got" me was that hibiscus. What an amazing blossom, perfectly photographed.

Glad I stopped by!

Lona said...

Wow, the 'Sun Showers' hibiscus is an eye opener. So pretty. I love Echinacea and will have to add Tomato Soup to the never ending list. I also love your 'Dairy Maids', the yellow blooms are so delicate looking. Sun flowers have so many varieties anymore and yours is a beauty.

Adrienne Zwart said...

Your flowers look so healthy! Love all the vibrant colors and the combination of textures.

Mia said...

Just love all the colors you show from your garden, but Gaillardia Tizzy, so special, I fell in love..

Adrienne Zwart said...

Hi, again, Kylee. I'm pleased to meet you and happy to be listed on your Ohio blog-roll. Thanks!

As for the name, I've always loved it. Does your niece like it, too?

min hus said...

Kylee,

Your flowers always look so pretty and you have so many unique things I've never seen or heard of. Where do you find these cool things? The Origanum rotundifolium 'Kent Beauty' is going on my list!

Unknown said...

FAbulous, fabulous, Kylee. I can't decide which I love most, the sunflowers or Tomato Soup. My echinaceas are just forming flowerheads now, so I'm still trailing along behind you.

Anonymous said...

My, my you have so much going on. Interesting how the weather affects different parts of the country. Kylee, my goal next year is an Origanum 'Kent Beauty'. I want it very much.~~Dee

joey said...

Kylee, your garden is delightful and the last sunflower photo ... stunning! Happy Summer gardening weather.

Connie said...

I have the same problem trying to grow Bells of Ireland. :-( My grandmother used to grow them so freely.
I also have Kent Beauty Oregano. I had to buy a new plant, because even though I brought last year's plant indoors for the winter, it died. Do you have any tips how to overwinter it?
Sunflowers are just sooooo cheerful!

Rose said...

I'm so glad you decided to participate, Kylee! And glad I visited...a little belatedly. You have so many interesting blooms; the new echinacea is so pretty, but I wished they'd come up with a prettier name than "Tomato Soup" or "Mac 'n Cheese." They deserve something more romantic:) But most of all, I love, love those beautiful sunfowers! I'm going to make a note to try to plant those next year.

Kerri said...

Kylee, those sunflowers are worth jumping the fence for :)
Ooh, that oregano has such gorgeous colors in the blooms and leaves.
I sewed last year's saved larkspur seeds but they didn't germinate. Bummer! Must try again.
Glad to see you had success with the Bells of Ireland.
Your summer blooms are beautiful! Thanks for sharing them :)

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Kylee, I've had good luck (!) winter sowing bells of Ireland, I love them too! I think technically we are zone 6 now--the AHS (or USDA or whoever it is) changed the zones a few years back. But it's confusing because you don't know if plant tags have kept up. Argle! Also, I'm now thinking of meeting up at Franklin park instead of Toledo. Does that work? I'm trying to press Carole for dates...

Sylvana said...

I absolutely love that last photo of the sunflowers. That is pro-quality shootin' there!

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