vestavia hills – Page 3 – Fine for Friday

6 Beautiful Late Summer Bloomers Aug 2025

It is late summer and the summer bloomers are fading. There are still some new beautiful bloomers to catch the eye. Some are blooming again after a summer break.

It is still quite warm but the diminishing daylight hours have rejuvenated some late summer bloomers.

I will be posting tomorrow on Six On Saturday. Come join us with your morning coffee. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk

I had 3 hardy hibiscus in the same location. a few years ago. The ‘Midnight Marvel’ is the only one still surviving. It has been really putting on a show this month.

The Blackberry lily is a misnomer. It is Iris domestica. It is also know as tiger lily. It seeds with small black bulbils. I thought it was done since the spring but it is renewed and blooming again.

The Obedient Plant is a favorite of mine (Physostegia Virginian). It has just begun blooming and will gradually climb up the spike until it’s done. A native of these parts, it can be a little pushy as it grows and spreads.

The golden buddleia shall be nameless but still beautiful.

The male and female Tiger Swallowtails are on ‘Miss Huff’ lantana and a buttonbush (Cephalanthus Occidentalis).

The Crape myrtle is also nameless but ‘Watermelon’ seems to come to mind. This shrub grows 10 to 12 feet high. In some years, it is covered in blooms but it is much less showy this year.

I am glad to show you some bloomers that are still doing well in my garden.

Happy Gardening!!

6 Beautiful Garden Photos that Inspired My Planting This Week 8 August 2025

This week in the garden; 6 inspiring photos of flowers, plants, and garden beauty from my home gardening journey.

The hot spell is over. We have had rain so the sun-loving perennials are still bright and cheery. Chores in the garden are numerous but I am able to spend a few hours each day in the garden.

We spent last week on the Atlantic Coast on Amelia Island near Jacksonville, Florida. We stayed at a quaint B & B in Fernandina Beach. Shops and restaurants were within walking distance. It was hot last week there but we were able to duck into air conditioned buildings regularly in order to keep cool.

I have some long-blooming summer perennials to show you today.

Aesclepias tuberose with milkweed bugs — Milkweed bugs

The milkweed is past its bloom and the prominent okra like seed pods are covered in milkweed bugs. The pods will soon open and disperse their little parachute equipped seeds.

This purple coneflower was growing in the gutter. It was dug up today and transferred to a more hospitable location. It is truly a tough plant.

The tickseed is almost past blooming. I think this is a native Coreopsis pubescent. It is a reliable reseeder.

The ginger lily began blooming this week. It is Hedychium sp but it was gifted to me as a tuber so cultivar unknown. It is near a water source and it is thriving.

The Salvia farinacea is very drought tolerant. It has a common name of mealy cup which is rather coarse sounding so I will just all it blue sage.

The Rose of Sharon is loved by humming birds and the seed pods are loved by goldfinches. It is an old classic shrub needing no care. Blooms are sun loving and come in white, pink and rarely blue.

Does anyone use the iNaturalist app? I find it extremely helpful to identify wildflowers, bugs and butterflies.

I am joining the SixonSaturday group in the morning. https://gardenruminations.co.uk

Happy Gardening!!

Summer Doldrums II 25 July 2025

It is hot! I have said it before and I will say it again for several more weeks. I am now having to irrigate regularly and spend time watering the containers. It is mundane task but the flowers continue to be beautiful.

This summer there has been an abundance of butterflies and pollinators. There has also been some unusual type of insects that I have spotted.

If you happen to be viewing this today and you enjoy gardens, you should be aware that I will be joining the SixonSaturday group tomorrow. For more photos of private gardens, come spend some time there. It will be worth your while. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk

The Oak Leaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) has changed its foliage to late summer bronze. This four season native is a favorite of mine.

The Stag beetle is a large beetle. It feeds on decaying wood but here it is just laying on the concrete of my driveway. It must have lost its way. It is a mean looking specimen.

The imperial moth is a looker. The host plants are pines, maple, oak, Sweetgum and sassafras. There are plenty of each of these around me. I cannot ever remember having seen this moth before.

The knockout roses are beginning their second flush of the year. There will be another in the fall. These may have been stimulated by a layer of compost laid on the ground under them a few weeks ago.

The ginger lily (Curcuma sp) has these exotic pineapple like blooms. I don’t notice a fragrance but I love the color.

The Katy Road Roses are blooming well into the summer. Another name for them is Carefree Beauty. You may remember that in years past they were weakened by sawfly attacks. This year I have managed to control that with Neem oil applications. The reward is continued blooms.

Watering and deadheading are my main tasks for this time of year. It is too hot for much else.

Happy Gardening!

Summer Doldrums 18 July 2025

The heat is consistently stifling everyday now. It is energy sapping. Some days have breezes that provide relief but that is the exception. It will be this way until mid September so I have to buckle up and bear it.

The main jobs now are deadheading and removing the occasional plant which has succumbed. The sawflies are under control so the roses are happy.

The garden is still madly blooming. All the stored up rain is driving it. The mainstays of rudbeckia, echinacea and Shasta daisies are magnificent. It did rain some this afternoon so there is hint of cooling in the air.

As usual, I will be posting my blog with the SOS group tomorrow. Come take a look at beautiful gardens with 6 photos each. Here is the site. https://gardenruminations.co.uk The rules are there. Perhaps, you would like to post 6 of your own.

The Purple Heart loves the heat. It is a Tradescantia hybrid if you are unfamiliar. Others in this group are know as spiderworts.

The Indian Summer is a rudbeckia that I have grown for 3 years now. Some survive the winter and others are a reseed I think. The large bloom is spectacular and the foliage is hairy so it tolerates the heat well.

The coneflowers are butterfly magnets. Here I am featuring the Pipevine Swallowtail which is new to my yard. I planted its host 2 years ago and I am very pleased to see this butterfly.

The Mexican hat is one that I grew from seed this winter. It is a prairie coneflower Ratibida columnifera. It has a cousin which has abundant larger yellow blooms. I like this one which is much smaller but with a distinctive bloom.

This prostrate lantana is really coming into its own the last 2 weeks. I was gifted six small plants this spring and I am very pleased with the growth habit.

Finally, I have a swamp milkweed, Asclepius incarnata, to show you. I bought it 4 years ago and I thought it was a no show. I think I had been it out thinking it was goldenrod. It has survived despite my misdeeds. I am grateful.

Happy gardening! I hope the rain and the sun are meeting the needs of your garden.

Summer Breeze 11 July 2025

Last week, I spent the weekend on the beautiful Gulf Coast. The song I remember was “Summer breeze makes me feel fine”. It did. Coastal breezes, wonderful seafood and relaxation with good friends.

This week, I am back and I have photos of lush plants for you. Our summer pattern of humid days with afternoon thunderstorms is upon us. It doesn’t rain daily but often enough to give us very healthy plants.

I joined the Six on Saturday group as a spectator last weekend. I will join as a participant tomorrow. Take 6 recent plant photos in a blog and join us. Here is where we can be found. https://gardenruminations.co.uk

I have tried overwintering my caladium bulbs but to no avail. I clump 4 or 5 tubers in a large low planter in the shade and enjoy new cultivars each year.

It’s been the year for lilies. Large, fragrant and abundant has been the ticket. This Casa Blanca has been the showstopper this week.

The hardy chrysanthemums make a wonderful ground cover. They slowly spread and transplant easily around the yard. I thought these were ‘Peachies Pick’ but they look too white.

The Limelight Hydrangea seems to grace every yard in my neighborhood this summer. The knockout rose has been replaced in popularity. This is the original cultivar and it is a beauty.

The Cashmere Bouquet has a long genus Clerodendrum. It was a swap from a friend. It spreads by rhizomes so it does require some effort to contain but it is a beauty with a pleasant fragrance.

The Gerber daisy is a bright red and really captures the eye. They are not listed as winter hardy in our area but do well if located in sheltered places.

I hope you are enjoying your gardens. Happy Gardening!!

Summer Heat 27 June 2025

It’s hot here. My pattern has become to garden in the morning and complete indoor tasks in the afternoon.

I took last week off for a trip touring gardens in Sewanee, Tennessee. It was cool and rainy at times but well worth our time to visit. Sewannee is a small college town located on the Cumberland Plateau just 90 miles southeast of Nashville. There are many beautiful vistas there. Many alumni have built homes near to the campus and that is where we visited.

My photos today are from my garden on the corner. I volunteer there every Friday that I am in town. I have one other photo that I took in Sewanee.

As usual, I will be joining the Six on Saturday group tomorrow. Come check it out. The rules are there if you wish to post 6 photos of your own. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk

I have shown this aster before but it is in full bloom and magnificent today. The crocosmia is not my favorite but it is charming me this year. There are more blooms than ever and most of the stalks are upright. Meanwhile, the Limelight hydrangeas is stunning. You can see my repurposed fountain just to the side.

The pollinators are really loving the purple coneflowers this year. I am loving the purple coneflowers too. The growth in the perennial bed is so lush that we have very little weeding to do. The Texas star struggled last year but is making a resurgence this year.

This is my Sewannee picture. This gorgeous Diana Fritillary is thirsting on the Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’).

Happy Gardening! Next Friday is Independence Day here in the USA so Happy 4th to all my fellow Americans.

June Heats Up 13 June

It is getting hotter as the days lengthen. The humidity is rising and most days is around 75%. I am good for 2 or 3 hours every morning but I am avoiding the afternoon as much as possible.

The perennial beds are so dense now that little weeding is necessary and that is a good thing. I am enjoying cut flowers for display in the house.

In the morning, I will be joining the SixonSaturday crowd. It is fun to find six photos, put them in a blog or post and then upload it to our host website. In this case, it is hosted by Jim Stephens. Here it is https://gardenruminations.co.uk/.

The purple coneflowers continue to be impressive. It is attracting the pollinators. I am preparing for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census https://gsepc.org which will occur on August 22 and 23. This fuzzy fellow is a bumblebee.

The canna started blooming this week. I moved it here last fall so I am glad to see that it is happy. I am uncertain of a name but it may be Durban.

The Stoke’s aster has just begun blooming. It has done so well in my garden that I have divided it and now have two thriving colonies.

The plumbago is in a container. It is the second time that I have tried this phlox look alike. The first time, I planted it into the perennial bed and it fizzled. I am giving it another try in a container. It is such a beautiful blue.

The Henry’s Lily is in its second year in this location. No pests or predators and a magnificent bloom. I love those massive stamens.

The Blephilia or pagoda plant is a polite plant along a walking path. It meanders a little but it can be forgiven.

It continues to be a special year in my garden. The rain is sufficient and the heat is just right.

Happy Gardening!

June Heat 6 June 2025

It is heating up. Slowly but surely, as the days continue to lengthen and the sun moves to the north, it is hotter. It’s been gradual but consistent. The rainfall has also been steady so the garden is in great shape.

I have been able to tend the garden regularly and I am very pleased with its progress. My blueberries really started to produce this past week and I have made some blueberry ice cream. Yum!

I will be joining the SixonSaturday group again tomorrow. It is fun. Just take 6 photos and link the post or blog where they are located to the group. Here is the website hosted by Jim Stephens https://gardenruminations.co.uk.

The Vitex Agnus-castus or Chaste tree is in full bloom this week. It was a struggle to plant it a few years back since it was in a 15 gallon container. It was worth it.

This Rose of Sharon is a beauty of an heirloom plant. I have another with a white throat. The shrub survives a long time and is often found in old country cemeteries and abandoned farm properties.

I apologize that this is a little out of focus. This Tradescantia is a reliable perennial. It dies back over winter but reliable returns each spring and grows all summer with these delicate blooms.

The Knockouts need weekly Neem applications to keep the sawfly larvae at bay. I recently put a new layer of compost around them and I am being rewarded with the second blooming of the year. There will likely be a third bloom in the fall.

All the daylilies are doing so well this year. I am showing this representative which will be nameless.

This Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ steals the show for me today. It will be a large plant of 8 to 10 feet in height so it may need some pruning at times in its present location.

Hope you are able to enjoy some gardening! It makes you happy!!

Summer Perennial Beauty 30 May

All the photos today are from the Corner Garden near my home where I volunteer every Friday. The perennial border is magnificent this month. The weather has been just great.

This garden is along a busy highway and a busy intersection. As much as 1700 cars a day pass by according to the bean counters. Many motorists acknowledge us as they wait for traffic lights to change. It can be noisy there.

I will be joining the Six on Saturday group in the morning. There, gardener’s gather to show 6 photos each. Come see. Join us and post your own from a blog or post. The website is https://gardenruminations.co.uk. Jim Stephens is our host.

There are hundreds of Shastas that have just begun to open this week. I think the variety is ‘Becky’.

I don’t have the cultivar name of this lovely daylily. There are so many cultivars to keep up with. These were moved to a sunnier location last fall and they are thriving.

Here is another anonymous perennial. This time its a coreopsis. Look closely and you will see the hover fly on the right.

The Stoke’s Aster may be ‘Peachy Pink’. Although it is an ill-fitting name, the bloom is outstanding. From 3 plants started several years ago, there are now several dozen in the garden.

This perennials is dominating. It has formed several independent clumps. The growth of this and the other perennials has minimized the need for weeding.

As you can see, the daylily is true to its name. The fleeting blooms are accompanied by lush foliage. It is also anonymous but a beauty.

Hope you are enjoying time in your garden. Happy Gardening!!

Our Beautiful Spring Continues 9 May 2025

Here in the SouthEast, we usually expect May temperatures to be in the 80’s. Wonderfully, that is not so this year. We have had mild weather and adequate rainfall for weeks now. It is very welcome.

The bluebirds are making nests. The songbirds are in full throat. The butterflies are fluttering by. The bees are buzzing.

My winter vegetable garden is bolting. I planted some tomato plants and peppers just to say that I am a vegetable gardener too. I do have a good crop of blueberries coming and a Japanese persimmon that looks very promising for fruit later this year.

The milkweed is blooming and ready for the Monarchs. This is the first Rudbeckia that I have seen.

The dahlias are from an assortment of seeds that I propagated a few years ago. The lambs ear is my favorite when it blooms.

The hybrid Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’ is a showstopper. It is covered in panicles now.

The Hydrangea panniculata is known to me as French Hydrangea. I do not know the cultivar. It is a long lived legacy in my yard. It does not bloom every year since it blooms on last years growth and is susceptible to cold winters. This is the second year in a row that it will bloom.

Those are my picks for this week. It is getting more difficult to cull it down to six.

Happy Gardening!