The summer garden is well established now. The work of the spring is bearing fruit. I am especially glad that we laid a thick layer of pine bark mulch because the weeding is easily managed.
The Shasta Daisies are following the purple coneflowers. The black eyed Susans are just beginning to open buds as are the Stoke’s asters. The pollinators are out in force especially the native bees and the bumble bees. I did see a Hackberry emperor today.
As usual, I will be submitting my blog post tomorrow with the Six on Saturday group. Come look and see photos of gardens from around the world. Our host is Jim Stephens and here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk. Submit your own. Just follow the instructions from this site.
The chaste tree is in full bloom now. The tree or shrub really is now near full size and the purple flower panicles are magnificent.
The purple coneflower native is really attracting the pollinators. You can just see the bumble bee in the flower on the right. I will not deadhead these flowers as they really attract the gold finches in the fall. Sorry that this bloom looks moth eaten since the abundant blooms on this plant are perfect. I wanted to capture the bee.
The Rudbeckia is in full bloom. I lost about half over the winter but the survivors are really putting out. I have been able to grow these from seed.
The crocosmia is really showing out near the pond. I have been able to control it here. It tends to spread rapidly with few blooms in other locations.
The Shasta Daisies began to come out this week and they are very beautiful with that “sunny side up” look.
Two young ladies entered the garden carrying a round plastic container. When they opened it, inside was a bumble bee amongst some plastic flowers. Three weeks ago, they had found this bee on their deck and it could not fly. They decided to nurture it with small amounts of honey and came up with the idea of the container to keep it in recognizable surroundings. They take the bee to flowering gardens in the area and allow the bee to enjoy the flowers.
I forgot to ask if they named it. I’ll call her “Buzz”.
I hope you are having weather that allows you to be outdoors.
Happy Gardening!!
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How old is your vitex agnus? I had one that I kept and grew for 8 years and it has since died. Our winters weren’t too cold but it seemed to dry out.
The vitex has been in the garden for 4 years. I bought it as a mature shrub in a 15 gallon container. It seems to be really thriving with no signs of pathology. Fingers crossed.
As I did for mine ( mature shrub). Fingers crossed for yours in the coming years.
The Shasta Daisy is a show. I hope Buzz enjoyed its flowers too.
My Shasta daisies will open before my E purpurea. I both love and dread the opening of the E purpurea flowers as it seems to signal Japanese beetle season and they love to munch on each flower so that none are pristine. I usually get a week of perfect flowers and then the battle begins. Sweet story about the bee caretakers.
Like your shasta daisy, mine are still in tight bud. I too have my Crocosmia Lucifer by my pond and mine has grown too big and needs splitting after it has finished flowering. I’m sure Buzz enjoys her freedom in each garden!
That’s a fabulous photo of the Shasta Daisy! I hope Buzz has a long and happy life! The two young ladies appear to have a very caring approach to wildlife. I love your Rudbeckia hirta “Indian summer” – that’s one I’m not familiar with. Very nice!
You are ahead of us with most of your blooms. They are beautiful! Fun information about “Buzz,” who seems to appreciate your flowers, too. 🙂
I love Vitex agnus but sadly it is just a little too tender for our winters here. All your other summer flowers will eventually appear here too, but it is early days yet. The photo of the daisy with Buzz is beautiful! 😃
Love the bee in a bucket story! How sweet.