African Garden + water

Drought Chronicles: What Looks Good Now
Phlox paniculata 'Nicky', Geranium 'Blogold' (Blue Sunrise™), Calycanthus floridus 'Athens', and Hemerocallis 'Woodside Amethyst'

Hello, July. Normally, I dread July as the weather is usually the worst of the gardening season. I didn't dread the start of July this year because July weather crashed my June garden party and stubbornly refuses the hint that it is not at all welcome. At least there are bright spots to the garden yet. The southeast border is surprisingly at its best now. All of the above-listed plants are blooming well; even the unmowed lawn is blooming. There's really no point to mowing as the grass is not growing and the bees are enjoying the clover. The only casualties of the drought in this border are noticeable by their absence. All the peony-flowered poppies (Papaver somniferum) dried up. Ah, well, that's life in the garden, or, to quote Cubs' fans, wait 'til next year.
While the southeast border has benefited from some additional watering, the southwest bed against the house has not. It does get afternoon shade.

Coreopsis 'Star Cluster', with Phlox paniculata 'Goldmine', Hemerocallis 'Little Grapette', and Hemerocallis 'Pink Lavender Appeal'

The Hosta plantaginea in the background of the above photo is showing signs of distress and the Hemerocallis foliage is browning and getting ratty. But the Coreopsis is ignoring the drought. I must admit that this is a free trial plant I got last summer. I think it's a keeper. It bloomed into October last year, but did develop a bit of mildew near the end.

Coreopsis 'Star Cluster' October 2011

In the heat of summer, the flowers are almost solid white, but in autumn, they sport reddish/purplish centers. Coreopsis are tough native plants from the prairie. I think I'll be planting more of them this fall. It'll probably be raining again by then.