This spring and summer, the flowers haven't really been muc to brag about. With the cold, rainy spring, and a summer that can't make up its mind if it is going to be hot and sunny or cold and cloudy, even some of the trees have been messed up. Some things didn't bother to flower (only got a couple of iris), a lot have had anemic flowers, and most just had a blah season.
However, I have had two stand outs this year. One , a shrub, has been outstanding for the last month. The other, perennials, have really started popping in the last week or so. So, instead of roses being cut and vased, I have bouquets like these:
The Endles Summer shrubs have done really well and I've been bringing in the flowers for a couple of weeks. Limelight is just starting to bud, and it looks like it will do well also. These blooms areln't fragrent, but they are very pretty - almost convincing me that they are true blue flowers (which they aren't).
There are 3 different colors of phlox - I actually have white phlox also, but only one plant so I didn't cut it. The darker pink (on the left) are from volunteers from a path. I figured they needed to be moved anyway, so I would save teh flowers. The lighter pink (on the right) and lavander tinge (front) are from plant that have filled out in various flower gardens. They have done so well this year that I didn't hesitate to cut some, as plenty are still left to enjoy when outside, The phlox even smells great.
It may have been an off year for most plants, but these two flowers are trying to make up for it.
Wow! Those are eye-popping blossoms, Bogie. Beautiful! Our plants are just hanging on by their toenails. The only things in bloom are a couple of ice plants that I bought/planted in early June (It evidently likes triple-digit heat!) and two butterfly bushes that I bought/planted late last summer. One of our phlox bunches looks cooked; but, the other bunches are hanging in there, thank you.
We have had precious few butterflies this year. I planted lots & lots of dill weed for them; but, it has been too hot for the caterpillers to emerge. I think that we are up to about day 40 (nonconsecutively) of triple-digits - forecast to be so through next Saturday. Bleah! I'm trying to talk your dad into moving to Alaska. (Fat chance of getting him to leave Derby!)
Posted by: Cop Car | July 31, 2011 at 02:11 PM