African Garden + work

July 2010 End of the Month Views

Goodbye, July, and not a moment too soon. I think I like July about as much as January. There have been way too many 90s and not enough rain at regular intervals. At least the view from the street looks okay.

The floral fireworks continue in the nanoprairie with the just opened Lycoris squamigera in there somewhere underneath the coneflowers.

I took this photo of the fountain bed just before I deadheaded and deadleafed the Heuchera. I have one Zinnia that sprouted. It has a bud. I can barely curb my enthusiasm.

The north side of the house has assumed its boring summer green, while the adjacent bed in front of the fence staggers on.

The Caryopterises have buds, but probably won't bloom for another month. Note the fallen Cottonwood leaves littering the ground. I'll have to start raking soon.

While the first glimpse of the woodland garden doesn't look too bad, a turn to the left is less pleasing.

Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum) just don't die gracefully.

The blah continues at the back of the garden.

What you can't see from the above photo is the Hibiscus syricacus, in full bloom, as seen below. Towards the front, things get more interesting.

It's hard to tell from this shot, but the front of the woodland garden is full of color with the Geranium 'Gerwat' (Rozanne), Phlox 'Laura,' and Lobelia 'Monet Moment.' Not visible, on the arch Clematis 'Madame Julia Correvon' is having a good flush of new blooms.

The long border is also full of interest now.

Lobelia 'Sparkle De Vine' is in full bloom under those towering 'Black Beauty' lilies.

The trusty triumverate of Phlox 'Nicky,' Geranium 'Blogold' (Blue Sunrise) and yellow violas just keeps plugging along with Geranium 'Bob's Blunder' starting to climb as well as crawl on the far side of the Iris.

It's a day late, and a few views short, but I've been very busy pulling crabgrass out of the front lawn before it goes to seed. But more on that later. Thanks to Helen, the Patient Gardener, for suggesting the end of the month views post.