GBBD June 15

Another Garden Blogger's Bloom Day! (always a day late) Thank you to Carol @ May Dreams Gardens Come for hosting.  Check out her blog and the link to ALL the other Bloom Day Bloggers.  Always amazing and inspirational stuff!

I'm in a hurry to get this post out.  I'm driving up to spend 2 days with my mom and go on a Garden walk in Rockford Il.  I'm hoping to have lots of photos to share, so I kind of wanted this out of the way (and my camera SD card cleared!)

Here in Central Illinois, zone 5b, it's more humid than hot and it's been raining a bit everyday for a week.  Hubby is in Texas so the grass needs mowed but I'm feeling pretty good about the dirt I'm tending to.  We started some large beds this year so things are small and un mulched.  I wanted to photograph it all - from a distance to get good before and afters, but the rain forced me indoors before I could get to it.  I'm promising myself to do it later.
Always Later.  My favorite word.

My shade bed that I expanded (even past my own lot lines - but no one has complained).  I've started taking my guarding magazines out with me and copying some of the plant combinations.  There are blue pots that need to be planted (columbine I found discounted to $3.00 - I could not say no...)
The painter's pallet in the middle of the photo far left side was given to me by a client.  He told me to not let it touch the ground or I will be sorry.  I listed to him for 5 years.  Then I forgot.  And I was sorry.
It's now back in a pot and I'm pulling little leaves EVERY time I go out to the garden.  I may never get rid of it.  We call it the Batman Plant because the purple markings look like batman's signal.  In my house, I think we all agree the TRUE batman is Christian Bale.

Painters Pallet, Fern, Astilbe 'Fanal' Heuchera 'Cintronelli', hostas, white Astilbe, Japanese forest grass

 A view down the other side.  My Bleeding Heart is taking up a lot of room.  Never knew they could get so big.

Astible 'Fanal,' Bleeding Heart, Imaptiens

 Love my ferns.  They are finally spreading themselves around.

Hydrangea 'Annabelle'

 My Annabelle Hydrangea has happy globe like blooms.  I snagged these from another client last summer.  I now have 5 of them around the yard.  These are the happiest.  They brighten up the side of the house.

Hydrangea 'Annabelle'

 Bea Balm.  I would love to plant this closer to the outdoor furniture where I could smell it - but the bees would be a problem.  So I enjoy the blooms from afar, and can't help but rub the leaves between my fingers when I pass by to get the scent.

Bee Balm 

Not much a photo here, but this is Joe Pye Weed.  It's taller than me and a bit leggy.  Need to read more on these.  I want bushier.

Joe Pye Weed just before bloom

Verbena coming into bloom

Verbena

 A pot of annuals nestled into a tall clump of Siberian Iris

Coleus, Begonias, Creeping Thyme

Bushy Coreopsis and spiky Speedwell

Coreopsis 'Zagreb,' and Veronica Speedwell

Weigelia and Gayfeather growing up to my hips now

Hints of what is to come.  Another sweet smelling friend

Agastache 

 One bloom on each plant.  Coneflower season is about to begin.  I'm depending on these to take me through the summer

Echinacea 'Milkshake'

Echinacea 'Pow Wow punchberry'

Taken from my old house.  Endless summer Hydrangea is finally comfortable enough to show us some color....just a little bit.  They used to be bright pink.

Endless Summer Hydrangea

Endless Summer Hydrangea

I love to root!  I have a row of mason jars inside my screen in porch.  I keep adding to them.  Coleus and Sweet Potato Vine are the easiest for me.  I'm not sure where I will put them all, but I know they will find a home.  I'll try to over winter them again.

Coleus in water jars

Planted pot of annuals.  All these fellas like the heat, so they are just getting started.

Sweet potato vine, Purple Fountain grass, Lemon Grass and Coleus "the Flume'

I painted this pot black this Spring.  It was looking dull.

Coleus, Verbena, Sweet potato Vine

Hubby built brick columns to hold colorful pots this Spring.  I planted some Canna's in the back of the pots that I dug up last fall.  They did not make it.  I think they were too moist and rotted.  Now I can't find the same ones.  They were 'Raspberry Sparkler" I think.  They were gorgeous.  Now no other canna will do. (sigh)

Only 2 blooming flowers in the front bed right now.  The other is yellow Stella 'Dora.  I Need to do some better planning for next year.  Thank you larkspur for pulling towing the line.

Larkspur

Anxious to see what this will bring.  This Clethora Summer Sweet was planted early this Spring

Summersweet