Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day August 2016

Yesterday was Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

I’m a day late – today is the 16^th instead of the 15^th. I’m still new to this. In a nutshell, I forgot. But, I decided to at least get in the spirit and show you two flowers that amuse me this time of year.

Here is my Fall Anemone. It is Anemone hupehensis; probably ‘Robustissima’, but I neglected to keep an accurate note. It opened just a few days ago.

And here is my Spring Anemone - Anemone sylvestris ‘Snowdrops’. Yes, still sending up the occasional bloom. I love this plant! It puts on an awesome show in spring, and then keeps sending up a flower all summer and fall to say “I’m still here!!” I even forgive its invasive habit.

Lush vs. Out of Control

I remarked earlier about how I’ve had some success with the Cosmos and Balsam self seeding. This has been wonderful because I have spread some of the sprouts to areas that did not have anything going on. However, I have to admit that perhaps things have crossed the line in the areas where most of the seeds sprouted.

The poor mail carrier can hardly get through without being swiped by some pollen! Somewhere in there are some other flowers! I think I see a Mum.

Oh look, some Threadleaf Coreopsis and some Iris.

The Zinnias are being towered over by the Cosmos.

Somewhere in here are some Snapdragons and some annual Salvia.

I know what I should (must!) do - cut some back. But, I don't wanna!

On a different note, my Grama Grass ('Blond Ambition') looks pretty perky.

That's Russian Sage behind the little flags on the Grass. They are quite cute and lasted all winter last year.

Hello Gorgeous!

So I might have said out loud that there is not a lot of change going on in my garden this time of year. I see that my ‘Midnight Marvel’ Hibiscus heard me and said “I’ll show her!” Unfurled today.

August Slowdown

I think of this time of year as a lull in my garden. There is plenty that is blooming, however, for about 2-3 weeks already, and continuing for another 1-2 weeks, there isn’t much *change* in what is blooming.

The Coneflowers, Blue Thistles, Brown-Eyed Susans, Coreopsis, early Goldenrod, Pincushion Flower, and Balloon Flower have been blooming and will continue to bloom. The annuals including Cosmos, Balsam, Snapdragons, and Salvia are going strong. It’s not like spring where stuff pops up and fades away sometimes inside a week.

Here’s some Phlox, with Pincushion Flower in front and Goldenrod behind.

But, the things that are blooming are sure pretty and I love the riot of color. The bees and butterflies like the blooms also.

I’ve been seeing a number of Tiger Swallowtail butterflies such as this one above. This pic is through my front window.

The Monarchs have showed up, here enjoying my Butterfly Bush.

The bees are getting nipped up on everything! And, quite a lot of different types of bees. I don’t know what they all are, but they are fun to watch.

The big disappointment right now is how awful my Honeysuckle Vine looks! It is so mildewed that almost every leaf has fallen off. But, it is still sending out flowers! You can see one on the top of this pic. There is also one on the side (unshown). So, I know it is still alive, but it sure looks bad. What's going on in your garden?