Welcome to Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day for August 2011!
Here in my USDA Hardiness Zone 5b garden in central Indiana, the blooms are set against a backdrop created by the driest July in recorded history and a stretch of days with high temperatures that were 90 F and above for over three weeks, besting a record set in the dust bowl year of 1936.
I ventured out into the garden early Sunday morning to find some blooms and was greeted by the rain gauge flaunting an inch of rain from overnight storms. Leaves still had droplets of water on them and the garden looked almost relieved. I was relieved, too.
Without this rain, a visitor might have assumed the garden had been neglected. Plants cried out for water and the ground clung to its weeds like a toddler clings to a security blanket. I did some watering through the driest days, but you can never water like the rain.
Out in the vegetable garden, the sunflowers are beginning to bloom. The bright, lemony yellow happy face above is one of the many colors of sunflowers found in a mix called Flash Blend from Botanical Interests.
Nearby the zinnias are also blooming even though by mid-afternoon on many days, they were as wilted as week old lettuce.
These are are a hodge podge of varieties grown from seed sown directly in the garden in mid-June. I think the late sowing actually helped them through the dry spell.
I've waited since spring to see the blooms in the newly planted August Dreams Gardens.
It's still filling in and finding its way. The large purplish-maroonish flowers are Eupatorium dubium 'Little Joe', the little white daisy flowers on those wispy light stems belong to Boltonia asteroides 'Snowbank' and the orange-ish flowers in the background are Helenium 'Helbro' sold as Mardi Gras.
One end of this garden border is anchored by a popular perennial that helps support many late summer gardens... Rudbeckia hirta, Black-eyed Susans.
August would not be the same without two other blooms that I can always count on. The Resurrection Lilies, Lycoris sp., showed up on schedule, popping up from the bare ground, their spring foliage long gone.
And the August lillies, a passalong Hosta, bloomed in spite of what July did to its foliage.
It's been a long summer for them and they've looked better in past years.
Finally, as I walked around the garden, noting where the dry, hot summer did its damage, I found a little Viola, a bloom that likes it cool, blooming away in the garden, unaware of how out of place it looked with all the blooms of August.
The little viola probably has a lesson to teach us about overcoming adversity or something like that. I'll ponder that another day when it isn't so busy.
What’s blooming in your garden as summer starts to wind its way toward its end?
We would love to have you join in for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day and show us. It’s easy to participate and all are invited!
Just post on your blog about what is blooming in your garden on the 15th of the month, leave a comment here to tell us what you have waiting for us to see and then put your name and the url to your post on the Mr. Linky widget below so we can pay you a virtual visit!
“We can have flowers nearly every month of the year.” ~ Elizabeth Lawrence
Here in my USDA Hardiness Zone 5b garden in central Indiana, the blooms are set against a backdrop created by the driest July in recorded history and a stretch of days with high temperatures that were 90 F and above for over three weeks, besting a record set in the dust bowl year of 1936.
I ventured out into the garden early Sunday morning to find some blooms and was greeted by the rain gauge flaunting an inch of rain from overnight storms. Leaves still had droplets of water on them and the garden looked almost relieved. I was relieved, too.
Without this rain, a visitor might have assumed the garden had been neglected. Plants cried out for water and the ground clung to its weeds like a toddler clings to a security blanket. I did some watering through the driest days, but you can never water like the rain.
Out in the vegetable garden, the sunflowers are beginning to bloom. The bright, lemony yellow happy face above is one of the many colors of sunflowers found in a mix called Flash Blend from Botanical Interests.
Nearby the zinnias are also blooming even though by mid-afternoon on many days, they were as wilted as week old lettuce.
These are are a hodge podge of varieties grown from seed sown directly in the garden in mid-June. I think the late sowing actually helped them through the dry spell.
I've waited since spring to see the blooms in the newly planted August Dreams Gardens.
It's still filling in and finding its way. The large purplish-maroonish flowers are Eupatorium dubium 'Little Joe', the little white daisy flowers on those wispy light stems belong to Boltonia asteroides 'Snowbank' and the orange-ish flowers in the background are Helenium 'Helbro' sold as Mardi Gras.
One end of this garden border is anchored by a popular perennial that helps support many late summer gardens... Rudbeckia hirta, Black-eyed Susans.
August would not be the same without two other blooms that I can always count on. The Resurrection Lilies, Lycoris sp., showed up on schedule, popping up from the bare ground, their spring foliage long gone.
And the August lillies, a passalong Hosta, bloomed in spite of what July did to its foliage.
It's been a long summer for them and they've looked better in past years.
Finally, as I walked around the garden, noting where the dry, hot summer did its damage, I found a little Viola, a bloom that likes it cool, blooming away in the garden, unaware of how out of place it looked with all the blooms of August.
The little viola probably has a lesson to teach us about overcoming adversity or something like that. I'll ponder that another day when it isn't so busy.
What’s blooming in your garden as summer starts to wind its way toward its end?
We would love to have you join in for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day and show us. It’s easy to participate and all are invited!
Just post on your blog about what is blooming in your garden on the 15th of the month, leave a comment here to tell us what you have waiting for us to see and then put your name and the url to your post on the Mr. Linky widget below so we can pay you a virtual visit!
“We can have flowers nearly every month of the year.” ~ Elizabeth Lawrence
Comments
I did not know you were fighting drought and heat as well. Your garden looks marvelous. I like the August Dreams idea. August is a tough month down here in Texas, but I've featuring purple flowers for the group.
Thanks for hosting.
David/ Tropical Texana/ Houston
Thank you for hosting!
It's so interesting to see that is blooming around the world. That is good news about your rain. I collect rain water but it rarely ever lasts beyond summer. Not just your viola with a lesson about adversity. I'd bet your hostas have a tale to tell as well.
Thanks for hosting!
I love the lycoris... I have seen them but not thought of using them until seeing them here. Are they hardy in zone 5? I will have to check.
Thanks for the opprotunity to share with so many great gardeners! I enjoy the sharing.
Julie
The weather this summer sure has taken its toll on things. I've been amazed how many pansies and violas has survived so long this year. I was thinking 'they' must be breeding them more heat-tolerant or something. Happy Bloom Day, and thanks for hosting!
btw - I see no signs of neglect in your garden!
Hope you all in the Midwest and South get some cooler weather and rain soon!
In Germany the weather was also strange this year: in spring we had no rain for about two monthts and the summer was the most rainiest I remember.
Thanks for hosting GBBD!
Cher Sunray Gardens
Love Victoria
Thanks once again for throwing a great party.
Summer is definitely handing over to Autumn in my garden - earlier than usual.x
I still have quite a few blooms.
Blessings, Beth
Also, love your Black-eyed Susans. Mind just started blooming too and I think they look great!
Thanks for hosting, as usual.
Kate
Happy Bloom Day all!
Thanks for hosting today's garden extravaganza!
wearing their blooms and nothing else. What a way to beat the heat!
Happy Bloom Day!
Love your zinnia's...some day I'll remember to plant some seeds.
Your Zinnia seemed to fare better than ours.
However, I've chosen to show off a spiky version of one of my favourite flowers this month instead.
It was great to meet you in Seattle at last :)
Happy Blooms Day everyone!
Rudbeckias have always been a favorite - very evocative of late summer!
My GBBD post is at www.wellylady.blogspot.com. Thanks for hosting Carol!
In my garden, I'm very happy because one of my three giant pineapple lilies, Eucomis pole-evansii, is finally blooming this year.
This is my 1st time to take part in GBBD
Unfortunately, so is my blog. Hopefully by next month it will be up and running enough for me to participate in this. My computer's dying on me, so it all depends on how quickly those problems get ironed out.
Your beautiful sunflower looks like 'Valentine' one of my favorites!
I'm rain dancing for rain for all my parched garden friends! But I'm not doing a resurrection lily dance, I promise!
Rosie
I can't help smiling at that happy sunflower face :)
Love those Resurrection lilies!
Happy Bloom Day and thanks for hosting.
Thanks for hosting - love the violet. Makes me feel cool and calm.
Cassy from Beginner Free Guitar Lessons
Yael
Thank heavens for sunflowers and zinnias.
Nothing is lush here, but some things are alive. My GBBD post is on the main blog; the list with botanical names is at Annie's Addendum.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
I just got back from Oregon after being away a week and a half, so I'm very late in putting up my Bloom Day post this month, but didn't want to miss it! I was just happy when I returned to find any blooms at all in this heat and drought:)