Sigh of Relief

We are thankful for the rain that fell last evening. I feel sure the garden sighed in relief from the hot dry weather, I know that the gardener did. We have been dragging hoses but our efforts pale in comparsion to the wonderful rain that fell.

The rose of sharon are blooming and the beetles are letting me enjoy a few blooms. This one is a double that we added to the garden last year.

 We have several that were pass-a-long plants that were given to us by my husbands mother.

They are rose and white with a rose center but my favorite is this solid white one. 

Blooms in the 'Limelight'

We planted this 'Limelight' hydragea from Proven Winners this spring. I have tried to grow the mophead hydragea for several years and not had a great deal of luck getting them to bloom. I am really pleased with this one and want to add more of the paniculata type hydragea to the garden.

  

I did find this hydragea on a sales table and planted it where it will get a little more sun than the other mopheads. I love the blue color of the bloom but our soil is not acid enough for the color to remain blue. If you look closely you can tell the leaves are not in great shape but there is lots of new bright green growth sprouting.

The heat and lack of rain has really affected the daylily bloom but there are still some in spite of this weather. A few favorites blooming now are:

'Margo Reed Indeed'

'Stella's Ruffled Fingers'

This daylily has been blooming non stop since the last of May.

'Premium Cream'

 
 
 

Rearranging Things ... In the Garden

Last year we built this deck and placed a purchased pergola in the side garden overlooking the pond. We used it very little because it was in full sun for all but the few hours around noon. Even though we loved the view it just was never used.

Last week we moved the pergola to the back yard while leaving the wooden deck in place. I really like how it turned out and even though it still gets some afternoon sun it is a shady place to sit for most of the day. We still need to add stepping stones to it from the Dogwood Garden.

Roses Respond

I have grown roses for most of the 38 years that we have lived on this farm. I had roses here before I knew what Japanese beetles were. After their initial invasion I gave up on the roses and lost most of them. In the past couple of years I have added a few of the English roses that were supposed to be more care free. But the truth is there is no such thing.

After the rainly spring that we had there was some black spot showing up and then the annual arrival of the dreaded beetles.

About two weeks ago I deceided that if I were to get to enjoy any roses at all I would have to resume some preventive measures. And the roses have responded.

Even 'Peace' that has been here for more years than I can recall is blooming again. Notice that there is a daylily planted to its left, what you can't see is that there is another one to its right. I had given this rose up for dead. It still doesn't have the strongest canes but its will to survive and beautify its place in the garden is stll there.

View from the Pergola

We built the pergola long before there were daylilies here. Now both sides of the walk from the house to the pergola are filled with daylilies, roses, lilies and a few other companion plants. The pergola is covered with a huge wisteria which seldon flowers but provides a shady spot to view the garden.

Some of the flowers blooming in this section of the garden are:

'Sunset Angel'

'White Mountain'

'Loafin in Lahina'

Daylily Companions

As I have added daylilies to the garden I have also been searching for companion plants. I find myself adding far more dayliles than other plants but it is my goal as the clumps become large enough that I need to divide to space them so that I can add those plants that will compliment the daylily.

Highland Pinched Fingers with Verbena bonariensis

Serene Thoughts with Mealy Cup Sage

I have also planted some lily bulbs as an experiment in some of the beds. This is one of the beds that will need to be divided soon. 

Daylily Blooms Galore

There are still so many blooms even though we are a little past peak. I stroll thourgh the garden early in the mornings to see what's in bloom today. There were many beauties today including

Marietta Full House

Pineapple Moon

and Premium Cream 

Bright Combination

There was a time that I would never had used such bright colors in the garden. I still love my pinks and lavenders, but this draws you into the garden to see more.

Daylilies Surrounded

Boxwood hedges that once enclosed roses are now filled with daylilies.