Dog Day Suprises

Porch basket

 

My porch baskets full of Pretty Grand petunias, which were lovely when I left, were barely alive when I returned from Peru. I managed to save a few petunias in this one, the other basket had to be re-planted with other flowers--whatever was available this late at a local store.

We're in the Dog Days now, when flowers are generally wilting and fading in the heat of August. Yesterday I found some surprising blooms in my garden: these tiny pink Cyclamen that I planted last fall and totally forgot about--I spotted two of these beauties peeking out of my woodland garden east of the house when I was watering.

 Looks like more buds are sprouting, hopefully they'll make a nice display in about a week. I believe they're the fall-blooming Cyclamen coum, and I'm wondering when the foliage will emerge. It's the first time I've grown them, and it's always fun to see the development of a plant new to me.

 

Cyclamen flowers coming up

Cyclamen

A tomato hornworm has been decimating my cherry tomatoes, but I haven't been able to find it--hopefully parasitic wasps will make short order of it soon if they haven't already. A few days ago I did find a black swallowtail caterpillar eating my dill, a 5th or 6th instar it looks like. It has now disappeared, which means it's likely attached itself somewhere to spin its cocoon. I'll be looking for it somewhere near by, though the chrysalis are difficult to spot.

 

Black Swallowtail caterpillar 

 

Herb's bed is splendid with the Agastaches  and Ageratums in bloom. The butterfly bush in the Little Indians bed behind recovered and is blooming too.

 

Agastaches in Herb's bed

 

Buddleia with Queen Anne's lace

Lots of butterfly action in my garden last week when these flowers were still in bloom: the Monarch butterflies love the Prairie Blazing Meadowstar (Liatris ligulistylis). A gorgeous male Tiger Swallowtail on the Buckeye Bottlebrush, and a Silver-potted Skipper and a Clearwing Hummingbird Moth on my Anise Hyssop. The flowers have faded now, and new plants are blooming, apprently not as attractive to the butterflies, although I did spot a Red-spotted Purple Admiral a few days ago while I was watering. It flew by too quickly to get a shot of it.

 

Monarch butterfly on Prairie Blazing Meadowstar

 

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly (male) on Bottlebrush Buckeye

Silver-spotted Skipper and a Clearwing Hummingbird Moth on Anise Hyssop

 

Recently I've been more focused on butterflies because I took a workshop in colored pencils dealing with incorporating insects and butterflies into botanical paintings, and had chosen to do an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly (female) on Joe Pye week, based on a photograph I took last year. It took me about two weeks and a lot of layers of colored pencils of many shades to finish it. Below is a photo of the finished piece.

 

 

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly, colored pencils on Bristol 300 Vellum finish, 9" x 12"

 My next artwork will probably be the Monarch butterfly on the Prairie Blazing Meadow Star, but in watercolor, just to see if a different medium is faster and/or better for this type of work.

 * * *

My heather is full of flowers after a severe pruning in the spring, and the "Baby Joe" Joe-pye weed is about to open.

 

Heather in bloom

 

"Baby Joe' Joe-pye weed

The plants along m front walk are presenting some nice flowers. This year I grew some Eucomis for the first time. The double Tuberose has some lovely scented flowers. And I've got my favorite tropical Salvias like 'Black and Blue' and 'Faye Chapel' as well as two new ones, 'Brazilian Blue' and Salvia Gentian 'Cambridge Blue'.

Eucomis

Double Tuberose

Variegated cotton and double Tuberose

Tropical Salvias in pots along the front walk

Salvia Gentian 'Cambridge Blue'

A Red Dahlia I couldn't resist buying is starting to bloom. Canna 'Tropicana' hasn't bloomed yet, it's in its second year, and I'm still hoping to see its flowers, but the leaves are so gorgeous anyway, it's fine.

 

Red Dahlia

Canna 'Tropicana' with red 'Double Knockout' rose

I have no idea what I'll have in bloom for the coming August Bloom Day next Saturday the 15th.

Closing for July

Vitex agnus castus

 

Vitex with No Id hydrangea

It wouldn't seem like July without the cool lilac blooms of my Vitex shrub in the east garden. It blooms faithfully every year despite drought or other setbacks. So does the Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) in the back yard--this year it seems to be blooming later than usual, perhaps because of the drought, but the plentiful rain from the storm two days ago really stimulated the blooms.

 

Bottlebrush Buckeye

The tree is a-buzz with insects in the morning, sipping the nectar and collecting pollen from its fragrant flowers. I didn't get photos of the many types of bees, but managed to snap this butterfly, and a Clearwing Hummingbird moth nectaring on it.

 

Silver-spotted Skipper Butterfly on Bottlebrush Buckeye

 Clearwing Hummingbird moth on the Bottlebrush Buckeye

  

I returned from a trip to Peru to find my garden plants stressed, and some dead. My husband was in charge of watering but alas, Herb doesn't have quite the feel for plants, and didn't water often enough. Most of my 'Pretty Grand' petunias in the hanging baskets on the porch were dead by the time I got home. I went out to water before I'd even said hello or thought to unpack, my poor plants looked so in need! I managed to save a few, but some were too far gone.  At least the vegetables were in good shape, except the artichokes, which are refusing to grow, despite liberal watering.

The Blue Nile Lilies (Agapanthus) in Herb's bed are looking lovely, though puny in size compared to the potted ones I saw in Cusco in a Museum's garden-- a wonderful garden! I plan to do some Peru postings later on, but for now, I need to catch up with myself and my own garden.

 

Agapanthus

Agapanthus in Herb's bed

Agastaches 'Blue Boa' and 'Pink Pearl'

The Agastaches in Herb's bed are making a nice display. Most of the Liatris (ligulistylis and 'Kobold)' have finished blooming but a couple of stems, eaten back by the deer, re-sprouted, and the Monarchs can't leave the flowers alone. I've had two Monarchs hovering over them for days, but haven't managed to get any shots of them.

 

Liatris ligulistylis with Yucca 'Color Guard', gladiolus and Anise Hyssop

 

The bush Clematis'True Love'  is also blooming, along with the Black-eyed Susans and Chinese iris.

 

Clematis 'True Love'

Chinese iris with Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) and Clematis

 

The patch of Anise Hyssop is looking good! I hate to deprive the bees of its nutritious pollen but I'll be gathering some flowers and leaves for tea for this gardener--their scent is delicious!

 

Anise Hyssop

 

 The one lone Daylily the deer left me is beautiful! Wish I could remember the name of the variety.

 

 

A hanging basket full of Petunias and Nasturtiums survived my absence with flying colors.

Petunia 'Supercal Red Maple'

 

That's the state of my garden at the end of July. Another round of flowers will be coming along in August. I'm hoping the rains will become more plentiful too. A few tomatoes, Asian eggplants and Blue Lake green beans from the garden would be welcome, and of course, more hummingbirds!

July Sizzle

Bench on the back deck

 

The temperature is sizzling on these first days of July, and we've had some 100 degree days this week. Despite the continuing drought, I'm surprised my garden has such a nice display at this time of the year. I attribute it to the new deer repellents placed all over the yard--I haven't seen this many flowers  in several years.

Starting with the front walk, the pink gladiolus and potted Salvias are putting on a good show.

 

Gladiolus in front

Potted plants along the front walk

My climbing rose 'New Dawn'  didn't put on as great a display as in other years--it badly needs pruning and re-training, but still, it's something. My Clematis 'Etoile Violette' seems to have disappeared, probably smothered out by the rose and a black walnut the squirrels planted there that I haven't been able to dig out yet. I've dug out at least a dozen walnut seedlings from my beds this past month!

 

Rose 'New Dawn'

The wintergreen 'Fiesta' in the woodland garden to the east has put out some of their charming little flowers, despite the drought and alkaline soil. I hope eventually they'll make a good ground cover there. 

Gaultheria 'Fiesta'

The Hydrangea 'Incrediball'  is blooming as usual, and the Oak-leaf Hydrangea 'Gatsby Pink'. 'Endless Summer' may yet bloom later on if we get some decent rain, but the lace-cap Hydrangea to its right, which died down to the ground, is not likely to bloom.

 

Hydrangea 'Invincibelle' wih holly 'Nellie Stevens'

 

I've hardly had any blooms on my Daylilies for several years--the deer eat the buds before they have a chance to open, but this year 'Purple de Oro' are looking very nice. Another Daylily on one of the beds west of the house has blooms too.

 

 

 

'Purple de Oro' Daylily

No ID Daylily

The California Lilac (Ceanothus 'Gloire de Versailles') near the orange Daylily has also escaped the usual browsing. My Crocosmia 'Lucifer' in the back yard beds also seems to have escaped and is stunning this year.

 

Crocosmia 'Lucifer' 

Ceanothus 'Gloire de Versailles'

 

I hadn't seen this many Coneflowers in my back beds in years! Those deer repellents must be working! I hope the goldfinches, which are starting to check out my yard will enjoy the seeds when they're ready.

 

Back bed with Coneflowers

 

Coneflowers under Honeylocust tree

Herb's bed has a lovely display of flowers, mostly wild fleabane that seeded itself, but my Texas Yucca is blooming, one spike of Clary Sage and some Liatris 'Kobold' too. Towards the rear the Agastaches and more Liatris are looking good. The Yellow butterfly weed in the Little Indians bed put out a bit of bloom too, now that the orange ones are past it. Why won't the butterfly weeds all bloom at the same time?

Herb's bed with Texas Yucca, Clary Sage, Liatris 'Kobold' and wild fleabane.

Liatris, Agastache 'Blue Boa' and Coscosmia 'Lucifer'

'Hello Yellow' Butterfly Weed

The Queen Anne's Lace 'Dara' mix I planted in the Little Indians bed has produced some pink and purplish flowers for the first time--the white ones had predominated before.

Queen Anne's Lace 'Dara' Mix

 

Here's hoping we get some rain soon--it's been a very dry and hot spell, and the predicted thunderstorms have brought only fractions of an inch thus far. I've been spending a fortune watering my garden this year.

I'll be traveling for ten days leaving on the 10th, so I'll miss July's Bloom Day --this posting will have to do until I get back. When I get back I'll be looking into installing an irrigation system. In the meantime, happy Bloom Day!

June 2026 Bloom Day

Gaillardia 'Arizona Sunset'

It's the 15th of June 2026, Bloom Day for garden bloggers hosted by Carol Michel's May Dreams blog. Not to be confused with the literary Bloomsday celebration in Ireland, commemorating James Joyce's novel Ulysses, which takes place on a June 16th of the early 1900's, whose protagonist is Leopold Bloom. The Bloomsday literary festival in Dublin now extends over the entire week.

This post is being written a few days earlier, since today I have to help hang our Botanical Art Society of the National Capital Region's (BASNCR) Botanica 2026 exhibition at Brookside Gardens in Maryland. Our theme is a celebration of this year's 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, titled "Enduring Plants from Colonial Times" and I'm proud to say one of my paintings was chosen for the exhibition poster.

 

"Red White and Blue Lobelias" watercolor, 

 

The models for my painting were plants from my garden, Cardinal Flowers (Lobelia cardinalis) for the red, and Blue Lobelias (Lobelia syphilitica) for the blue and white. Thomas Jefferson grew the Cardinal Flower in his gardens at Monticello, and George Washington grew the Blue Lobelias in Mount Vernon's gardens. Of course, these are not blooming right now, but they'll put on a show later in summer.

Here's what is blooming right now in my garden--butterfly weed bushes, and the Fritillary butterflies love them! There were several flirting about when I took this shot, but only one posed.

 

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) with Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly

 

The Little Indians bed in the east

The red-hot pokers are also putting on a show--two colors in the long island bed by the veggie pagoda, and orange ones on the west side of the house. This spring my 'Color Guard' Yucca regenerated some bi-color growth, so I cut back the ordinary green ones that were overtaking the plant, hoping the golden foliage will predominate once again. But, no flowers are likely this year. 

 

Red-hot pokers (Knifophia uvaria) with Yucca "Color Guard'

 

Red-hot Pokers with creeping and English thyme.

Salvia 'Pink Nebula' with rosemary and English thyme

Red-hot pokers and red yarrow on west side of the house.

The Texas Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) in the Herb bed is sporting a flower spike this year, though not yet open. The Clary sage, which usually is ready to bloom about now, doesn't look like it will have much in the way of flowers this year--it's a biennial, after all. The poppy mallow planted two years ago is making a nice display next to some lavender.

 

Sedum in flower with Texas Yucca spike.

Poppy mallow and lavender 'Hidcote'

The coneflowers in the back bed are starting to open--we'll see how many the deer leave for me to enjoy this year. The new deer repellents seem to be dissuading them somewhat, but some plants are still way too appetizing for them to pass up.

 

Coneflowers in the back bed.

 

A little Cranesbill geranium in the back bed survives only because of a protective wire cloche--it was decimated a few years ago, and is only now recovering enough to flower. It's a constant struggle!

 

Geranium 'Biokovo'

 My shrub roses have escaped the munching thus far, but the 'Simplicity' rose behind them had all its buds eaten, despite the repellent placed right next to it. Ditto for my red 'Double Knockout' rose right along the front walk. 

 

'Petal Pushers' roses along the west front yard.

 

The deer even munched on the leaves of a Rhododendron in the blue pot that I'd been nursing, and my flame azalea (this shot was taken before they ate them back). But they didn't touch the exotic Florida Coonties (Zamia integrifolia) that I grew from seed collected during a trip a few years ago. Those are growing well, but need to come indoors every winter, as they're not hardy.

 

Potted plants in the front yard, Florida Coonties on the right

My  porch baskets are themed red white a blue this year, with 'Pretty Grand mix' petunias, which I love--the blue ones have a wonderful scent! That's it for June, thanks for visiting!

 

Porch baskets