July GBBD and One Year Blogiversary

Gosh, where do I start? As you probably know, it's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, started by Carol of May Dreams Gardens to celebrate all things blooming on the 15th of every month. It also happens to be my one year anniversary of garden blogging. I can't believe that something I started as a lark a year ago would offer me such long term satisfaction. Or that I would eventually meet some of the great garden bloggers out there (including the intrepid Carol) less than a year later at Chicago Spring Fling. Blogging about my garden has made me a better gardener and photographer; I've also "met" many wonderful people out there, and for all of that, I am most grateful.



So this is the month that my Susans shine. Black-eyed Susans, ‘Goldsturm’ Rudbeckia, that is. There are many more Susan blooms to come than are shown in these first two photos. In the background you can see my willow teepee.

This teepee has been a study in patience. In the spring I planted many Louisiana Purple Pod Beans, Hyacinth Bean Vines, and Moonflowers around it. Almost all of them succumbed to slugs since we had such a rainy spring (whatever happened to rain??). So I had to replant multiple times and what you see on the teepee now is mostly Moonflower (‘Giant White’) with some smattering of Hyacinth Bean Vine. The Moonflower is not blooming yet but I've had a few Hyacinth Bean blooms (see below). They look a little puny, don't they? I grew this vine many years ago and if I recall correctly, it should perk up with more blooms later on in the summer.



Blue Daze, Evolvulus glomeratus, is finally starting to beef up.



I love how long Purple Coneflower blooms. Or maybe I should say how long the blooms stay on the plant.



My Hansel eggplant is really a cute plant and is starting to put on some blooms and fruit. I was told this eggplant was like Ichiban, you know, long and slender. But after I bought it I researched it and found that the eggplants are finger-sized! Not exactly what I wanted but the plant's beauty makes up for the mistake.



Now here's a plant that I really, really, really want to bloom. It's in the pot, "Grosso Fat Spike" lavender. I planted it last year and it never bloomed. I didn't trust planting it in the ground for fear it might get too much water over the winter. Will my lavender ever bloom? Well if it doesn't bloom by the end of the year, it's outta here.



I have spent far too much time trying to take a picture of one of the many hummingbirds at my Flame Acanthus, Anisicanthus quadrifidus “wrightii” (also called Hummingbird Plant). Hopefully, with my helpful circle diagram, you can see one of the critters partaking of the nectar. This plant didn't do that much last year, the first year I had it. But it's exploded in growth and blooms this year. In fact, I had to cut it back a bit in order to give the pepper behind it more sun.



I couldn't resist one more shot. Although not directly about blooms (though you can see some of the Susans), it shows a Northern Flicker and Ringed Turtle-dove sharing a moment at the water cooler.



There are a few other things blooming in the garden right now: plumbago, a second set of blooms on one of my daylilies, Lizard Lips aloe, my mystery rose, Veteran's Honor rose, Marie Pavie rose, bouganvillia, my peppers, Verbena bonariensis, cleome "Sparkler White", nicotiana, ‘Ragin’ Cajun’ Ruellia, pink verbena, the Salvias, etc.

I have so much catching up to do on my favorite garden blogs yet now there's so many other gardens to see through GBBD! Carol posts links to all the GBBD posts, so be sure to check them out. And happy anniversary to me! :-)