Garden Bloggers Bloom Day July 15th

Coneflower - No idea where it came from.

I missed the ACTUAL Bloom Day.  I've been looking forward to it all month.  Last month was my first on the scene, so I've been watching my subjects waiting to see what will be ready by next Bloom Day.  I was really hopping my Tiger Liliies would burst out just in time.
My photos were ready, I was posting in my mind during my runs and long drives.  Then, the 15th comes and I am slammed with work.  Eager house buyers, possible sellers with lots of questions and negotiating radon mitigation….all the while I was thinking of Bloom Day and how I was missing it.
I was eager to get my deals done - after all - each home sold means more garden treats for me!!!  As well as food on the table and all the 'smaller" details of life.  I never see people as paychecks, but, to be honest, once the house goes under contract and is in escrow, I do see closing day as an Arbor, an Evergreen, maybe a birdbath…. I can't help it.
Buy. Sell. Grow.
It's what I do

Echinacea 'Merlot' purchased in 2013

Echinacea 'Merlot' 

I'm starting with the few blooms I have in front of the house.  Not much is there yet, which is a thorn in my side.  The open faced coneflowers surprised me this year.  I did not buy them, and I don't remember them being given to me.  I have one in front and one in back.  Where did they come from?

Another surprise was an Orange Echinacea!!  It's Beautiful!  Why don't I buy more Orange?  Pretty soon this beauty will be moved to my Hot garden.  I was considering creating one, and once this emerged and caught my fancy I knew I had to do it.

 Echinacea 'Tiki Torch'  I have no idea where it came from - but I'm keeping it!

I have more Liatris than most other plants (except Hostas).  Just because I got a great deal and grew 10  of them from a bulb.  This one was photographed July 1 in beautiful bloom.  The newer ones had not yet shown much color.  By July 15th, these were bloomed out.  Perhaps more water would extend them, so I can have them blooming at the same time.

Liatris spicata 'Kobold' (Gayfeather) 

A full view of my mailbox.  Let me say, these Black Eyed Susans are territorial!  They have snuffed out anything else I planted around them.  I'm ok with it in this space.  My driveway is bright and cheery, and they need little from me.

 Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' (Black-Eyed Susan)

Moving around to the Arbor bed

Canna 'Blueberry Sparkler'  between Emerald Green Arborvitae under panted with Coleus 

Cana 'Blueberry Sparkler'

Amsonia ciliata 'Halfway to Arkansas'

Echinacea 'Milkshake'

Shortly after posing for a photo, this beetle met his demise.  There was no trial - straight to execution.

A very VERY unwelcome guest

Digitalis - Foxglove

Digitalis - Foxglove

I know I've already shown off some Liatris, but these are different, and I just think they are so pretty upclose.

Liatris spicata 'Kobold' (Gayfeather)

Liatris spicata 'Kobold' (Gayfeather)

Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea

A recent addition who, by name alone, should do just fine

Obedient Plant 'Miss Manners'

Moving over to the next bed….Thinking of calling it the Rooster Bed instead of the boring 'Fence Bed'.   It is staked by a  nameless metal rooster my good friend bought for me for my birthday when I visited her in Vail, Colorado.  It was from one of the local shops at the resort.  I love that rooster, and it always makes me think of Colorado in the fall.  Seems a fitting name for the area I think.

Agastache 'Golden Jubilee'

Agastache with a very welcome visitor

I am so very happy with this cheery bunch!  Daisies really do make people happier!!

Shasta Daisy 'Becky'

A step back to look down the Rooster Bed…I'm liking the sound of it more and more

A look at the size of the Limelight in it's 2nd summer

Limelight Hydrangea with Liatris in front 

In last month's Bloom Day post, this Virginia Creeper had not even touched the top of the fence!  I really don't want it tumbling over to the neighbors side, so I am continually tying it to my side of the fence.  I hope it grows to the bird feeder before fall.

Virginia Creeper, Tiger Lillies, Echinacea, Liatris and Limelight Hydrangea

Totes crushin' on these…still

Echinacea 'Pow Wow Widlberry' Coneflower

Heuchera 'Blackberry Ice' and Pow Wow Coneflower

Just one more…..Can you possibly resist these?

Echinacea 'PowWow Wildberry'

 Bloomed a day later….figures

Tiger Lily about to burst out in spots

 I'm on the 2nd round of blooms for my Pink Champaign Clematis.  They are not nearly as nice as the Spring Blooms.  I read they might be smaller, but geesh!!!

Clematis 'Pink Champaign'

 Knockout Rose 'Radrazz'

Clematis 'Jackmani' declining in its zeal

I was worried, because we were surving but not thriving.  Until 1 week ago.  Now we have some healthy green shoots.  We are inching toward our 6 foot hopeful stature.

Blacklace Elderberry

Variegated Ornamental Grass

Coleus in a pot.  Love this combo

Turning the corner to the West facing bed.

Coreopsis 'Zagreb'

Pee Gee Hydrangea Tree 

Pee Gee Hydrangea Tree, Mr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae, Hameln Dwarf Fountain Grass, Weigelia, Liatris, Impatiens, Sedum

Sedum 'Frosty Morn'

Penstemon 'Husker Red', Clematis, Blackberry Iris, Sedum, Weigelia 'Rubies N' Gold' and a new rain barrel

Clematis yet to bloom

Purple Fountain Grass whispering with the sunlight

Meandering over into the shade…These Hostas have no name.  I planted them a few days ago to hide a white PVC pipe we have sticking up, very conspicuously, in the midst of the yard.  I had planted some young Hostas around it, but they were not up to the task of full coverage.  THEN, my sweet neighbor, Lisa, walked me into her back yard and showed me her overgrown Hostas. I dug out 2 - which was NO small task.  I divided this one up 8 times!  I only stopped at 8 because I was so tired.  The last clump is still huge!

The stalks on this hosts break very easy, so I lost a lot of them in the transfer.  A few weeks and they will be at home in the new place, with a new view AND a very important purpose - Cover the Pipe!!

The shade bed…

Hosta, sedum ground cover, ginger, hydrangea, astilbe, heuchera. ostrich fern,

Endless Summer Hydrangea

I find myself singing Madame Blueberry's theme song (Veggie Tale reference) whenever I'm around these blue globes

Hydrangea

Haconechloa, (HAKin -a-kloa)  Hosta 'Patriot' Hosta, ' Big Daddy', Solomon's Seal, Ginger

Ostrich Fern just beginning 

This was a bunch of leftovers thrown into a pot because I couldn't bear to throw them away

Coleus and Persian Shield in a shade garden

Hope everyone has a wonderful rest of July.  Happy BBD!  I always like to hear from any visitors.