Tag: lilies

Summer Solstice 21 June 2024

Stokes Aster June 2023

It happened yesterday. The summer solstice occurred yesterday afternoon about 4PM here in the Central Time Zone. Summer is here. Now the daylight hours will gradually ratchet back. It is hot here and it will remain so for the next 10 weeks.

I have been busy harvesting blueberries and tomatoes. I planted some beans from seed but they have yet to appear above the ground. My perennials are doing so well that they have crowded out the weeds which is a good thing. The blooming plants have really been impressive this year.

Tomorrow, as has become customary, I will be joining the Six on Saturday group and sharing my blog with 6 or so photos. Others from around the world will do the same. Come and see. Better still, come join us and share six of your own. Our host is Jim Stephens and here is the link to find the Six on Saturday site. https://gardenruminations.co.uk.

Lilium lancifolium “Tiger Lily”
Iris Domestica “Blackberry Lily”

I started a lily garden 2 years ago and have grouped several species of the together. Here are two of my favorites at the moment. I started the Iris from seed given to me. The oriental lily was purchased on line. This patch can be seen out the dining room window.

Gladiolus acidanthera “Peacock Orchid”
Phlox paniculata
“John Manick Phlox”
Tithonia
“Mexican Sunflower”

The Peacock orchid is new to me. It is several weeks later than my other glads and not as tall. They are staying upright so far without need for staking. Yeah!

The phlox is in its third year and performing admirably.

The Tithonia is a pollinator magnet which really pleases me. It is a showy bloomer, sturdy upright and about 4 feet tall.

Anemone virginiana
“Tall Thimbleweed”
Zabulon Skipper

The next two photos are not from my garden but from a walk in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens yesterday.

The anemone is a native and striking alone or in the grouping in which I found it.

The skipper really stands out against the green leaf upon which it is resting. The skipper has love grass as a host plant of which there is plenty nearby.

I hope your weather allows you to enjoy the outdoors. I hope your garden is thriving and that your plans are working out.

Happy Gardening!

Summer 14 July 2023

The garden is lush, healthy and bloom filled. We have had sufficient rain to keep things that way. The butterflies are increasing in number and the air is filled with the buzz of insects. The hummingbirds are regularly seen getting their fill.

The dilemma is that the heat keeps my outdoor tasks restricted to the mornings. The afternoon heat is too energy sapping. We were out of town for several days and upon returning it is noticeable that the weeds are getting a little out of control. A need a few days of effort to right the ship.

Here are my photos for this week.

Casa Blanca Lily
Gloriosa Daisy
Dahlia ‘Gallery Singer’

The Casablanca Lily has really shown out this year. The stalks are about 4 feet high and I have had to stake them to keep them erect. You can see the repurposed fountain in the background. It became non functional so it is now a succulent planter.

The Rubeckia ‘Gloriosa Daisy’ has a blend of colors. It has been a great performer.

The Dahlia ‘Gallery Singer’ is a first timer for me. It is in a grouping of 3 Dahlia Singers and 3 Dahlia Serenade. The deep color is a standout.

Crape Myrtle ‘Natchez’
Oak leaf hydrangea
Buddleia ‘Sungold’
Crape Myrtle ‘Watermelon’

Two varieties of Buddleia here. The white natchez shrub grows over twenty feet. This one is still small so the blooms are easily seen. The watermelon red is well established and lines the driveway very majestically. The crape myrtle is the staple shrub here in the American South and I think these photos say why.

The oak leaf hydrangea is a native shrub. The blooms in pannicles come out white and then the color becomes reddish to bronze in summer and fall. The blooms remain as an appealing brown during the winter. This is a good look at the pannicle.

The Buddleia is a Sungold I think. It is 3 years old and beginning to assume an admirable shape. The butterflies and insects are attracted to it.

That’s the round up for this week. We are still at peak summer. Soon the inevitable slow fade will begin so I am enjoying the beauty as much as possible.

Every Saturday a group of gardeners from around the world share photos of their gardens. This is hosted by Jim Stephens at this link https://gardenruminations.co.uk/

Come join us and see what is happening.

Happy Gardening!