August has been hot, miserable and the flower garden has been ignored. The vegetable garden is "in" and it takes priority. The vegetables must be preserved for winter so a casual stroll through the flowers, is rare. The person who coined the phrase, "Take time to stop and smell the roses," did not have a garden full of beans waiting to be picked. I prefer the phrase, "Produce waits for no man." When I walked to the flower garden, I wasn't sure I would find anything flourishing. The orange cosmos can be seen from the house so at least I knew something would be blooming.
The Black-eyed Susans were still flowering from last month's post although they looked a bit ragged up close.
The feverfew was blooming which didn't make me happy. They looked good for the picture but it means they weren't harvested soon enough to use the leaves for medicine. When they blossom they put their energy into producing seeds and then go dormant.
The phlox was a bit haggard but the butterfly didn't seem to mind. The pollinators were eager to find every single bloom.
The red Amaranth didn't seem to know which way was up. I have had that problem before.
Standing in the blistering hot sun taking pictures isn't fun so I decided to move to the shade garden. There weren't any blooms but at least it was cooler.
The camera was level, the tree leans toward the sunshine in the open field.
I did it! I found some blooms on my hydrangea. Mission accomplished. Time to do something else. Should I go back to work in the kitchen....?
Or do nothing?
I chose nothing.
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Beautiful blooms! Love seeing the butterfly!
ReplyDeleteNice shade garden, too. Looks like your Beauty Berry is a little ahead of mine. I intend to show mine off in a Bloom Day post even though they are not blooms!
Happy garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
I was surprised how far along the berries were. Mine are located in deep shade and don't seem to mind the lack of sunlight at all. We can both share them on GBBD...and be trendsetters!
DeleteYour garden is looking great! We've been waiting for it to cool off a bit too. Thanks for sharing and Happy GBBD!
ReplyDeleteI love those vibrant orange cosmos! For some reason I never see them here but then the frilly pastel forms aren't very happy here either. Your wooded area looks blissfully pleasant to me and I don't blame you for taking refuge there. I hope you get a break from the heat soon!
ReplyDeleteI have planted the frilly pastel cosmos but they did not seem to like it here. The orange kind must be tougher or something because they have been growing in that same spot for years.
DeleteThe wooded area was not planned but evolved because mowing around the rocks was horrible. Of course, weeding is even worse I have discovered.
Wonderful pictures! I failed to plant cosmos this year - my bad. I love your orange ones.
ReplyDeleteI planted them once years ago and they have reseeded themselves since. Originally the bed was more in the sun and they were thicker, but now the tree is larger and they are in deep shade. As long as they keep returning, I will not change anything.
DeleteEverything looks so green and happy and you've got a lot of blooms. Impressive considering you say the flowers have been neglected. You're right, produce waits for no one! I didn't grow much produce this year because we have so many organic farms in the area that sell their produce by the roadside. I've been freezing and dehydrating a lot of peaches lately!
ReplyDeleteIt looks good because I cropped out the weeds. It was much easier than actually pulling them. I have been processing what few peaches I was able to buy. We had a late freeze followed by a rainy spring so the local peach orchards lost 90% of their crops. I wish we had some good produce farms close by but the land here is too rocky. All our local farms raise goats.
DeleteHello Rebecca, and thank you for stopping by my blog and commenting, which is how I found yours.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the photos of your prolific garden. So many bees, butterflies and insects enjoying the bright flowers. Good luck with the veggie garden. Time waits for no one.
Hello Jeannie,
ReplyDeletePlease forgive me, I inadvertently called you Rebecca in the comment I just left on your blog. Oops! I need to toddle off to bed as it is late here.
You are just fine. I have been called so many different names before, I don't mind. I am glad you were able to visit.
DeleteHi Jeannie. Your blooms look like they are thriving despite the heat and I love that you have Monarchs! I enjoyed the visit and your last photo is priceless. Happy Gardening!
ReplyDeleteLee, we have almost worn that swing out. It is cracking and we must sit down gently. One day soon it will break and then whatever will we do????
DeleteThe shots of butterflies and bees on flowers are breathtaking .loved the shot of hanging plant growing on tree log.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice week.
Hi Jeannie, Your summer is very similar to ours. Hot and humid with no rain! Last weekend, we finally had a few days of good rain but, as you know, unless it continues, we're going to be dry and it's still hot and humid.
ReplyDeleteIn some ways, your flowers look better than mine. Many of them are done blooming early......
How's Scooter? Idgie, our cat, knows almost nothing about any other pet but her.....I'm never going to tell her about dogs....she probably wouldn't believe it anyway!
Scooter is doing just fine. Right now he is snoozing on the couch beside Pack Leader dreaming of hamburgers. I thought you read my posts about Scooter to Idgie at night as bedtime stories...never mind, it is best you don't. They might give her nightmares.
DeleteHow blooms are lovely and the setting looks beautiful ! Hope it cools down for you . Happy bloom day.
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda. I am ready for it to cool down also!
DeleteHow did I miss your flowers for 3 days? It probably has something to do with the fact that I'm up to my armpits in produce, canning and freezing like a mad woman every spare minute. And the fact that I was at the hospital with a family member for quite a bit of time during the week (no worries, everything is going to be fine).
ReplyDeleteThey are so lovely, even if I'm a little late viewing them. I love the butterflies and other insects you have captured. You probably have been told a million times, but you have a real eye for photography.
I had to buy a cantaloupe. All your melon-growing made me hungry for melon. I'm sure yours tasted better, but I was satisfied:)
Yesterday it was peaches, today it is pickles, tomorrow it will be salsa, the next day green beans - if I didn't go out and take pictures, I would never seem my flowers for spending so much time processing the produce. The next house I buy, I will have the vegetable garden and the flowers altogether right outside my kitchen window so I can see it.
DeleteThis afternoon, after it cools down a bit, I am dragging Dustin to the garden to pick the second watermelon. Bill finished eating the first one last night and it was delicious. We still have one melon left in the refrigerator and no one wants to eat it. After eating the other 14, we just don't want it. I still would like to trade you some of my melons for your zucchini.