Rain

We've received several thunderstorms in the past two weeks. The lawns are looking much better and we haven't had to water--thank heavens.

The garden is still producing with a few tomatoes ripening now.

The butterfly bush is still in bloom as are the black-eyed susans. I've dead-headed the balloon flowers. We had a storm come through that pounded the roses. I've pruned them and hopefully will get a few more blossoms this year. No signs of hydrangea flowers yet although the plants are healthy. The large hostas still have blossoms.

The althea is in bloom although not completely. There are still a lot of buds.

The campanulas are still in bloom but everything else has been dead headed. I want to really thin the daisies next year and put a row of chrysanthemums behind them. We are also digging up the veronicas and planting lillium next year in that area. The spirea have lots a new growth and maybe we'll get a get smaller blossoming.

That storm had 60 mph winds and blew over the dogwood tree. Wayne ran out in the rain and pushed it back in the ground and staked it out. So far it is surviving.

Weekly Report

Front: The yellow day lilies are still in bloom as are the campanulas.

South: The shrub althea is blooming but not in full bloom yet.

Back: The butterfly bush is in full bloom, but no butterflies that we've seen. The coreopsis is still blooming as are both the wild blue yonder and julia child roses. The black-eyed susans are in full bloom.

Garden: We have loads of cucumbers and we are freezing peppers. We've had many meals of beans. No rip tomatoes yet.

Thunder Storms

We had thunder storms yesterday, which was a welcome relief. The weather has been horribly hot and muggy. Some of the plants look pretty droopy from the heat.

The butterfly bush is in full bloom as well has the large hostas. The shrub althea is starting to bloom on the south side. In front the yellow lily is still blooming and the campanulas.

More Rain

We've had a little more rain in the past couple of days. It's been very hot and dry and rather muggy. We spent last Saturday out weeding the garden and picking produce. We've had several meals of beans as well as zuchini. The cucumbers are also producing really well.

Hosta

Name: Hosta
Variety: Regal Splender
Type: Perennial
Height: 2' x 3'
Light: Part Sun
Color: Lavender
Bloom Time: Mid-July

We purchased these at Home Depot. They are the big variety and fill up a large space. I enjoy the variegated leaves on them. They also seem to do better in the heat of the day and don't wilt like smaller ones.

Hot Weather

We started watering on Thursday and Friday. It is very hot and no rain in sight.

The garden is producing. We have pulled onions up several times and enjoyed them in our meals. We have harvested beans and today we will have cooked beans for dinner. A zucchini will be ready to eat next week--it's zubeafy time!!

Our front the daisies are in full bloom. The verionicas are spent and are going. The large day lily is blooming as well as the campanulas.

Out back the roses are still blooming and need tended. The clematis are at an end. The hostas are blooming. The butterfly bush is starting to bud. The balloon flowers are in bloom. There are still a few blossoms on the coreopsis and the lavender is in bloom.