A true highlight in July is our Harlequin glorybower in bloom! The tree practically quivers with butterflies and hummingbirds lighting on the sweet jasmine-smelling flowers. We were given this tree as an unidentified pass-along plant, supposedly attractive to butterflies. The first year we planted it, I told Bill that if it didn’t look better by the following year, we should dig it up. With the first blooms, we decided the tree was a keeper. On the downside, or upside depending on how you look at it, it produces lots of babies. If anyone wants one of these beauties, come on by!
“Low-Cost Charm: Creeping Fig“: An article in Southern Living magazine was the inspiration for planting creeping fig on the brick wall of our shop. Only $6 was spent and a couple of years later this once bare wall has been transformed into a cool green backdrop.
Purple coneflowers putting on a show!
To fill this expanse of wall with new plants would have been quite an expense. Over the years, I have dug up volunteer Purple coneflowers, divided Shasta daisies and enjoyed the generosity of friend’s pass-along plants to add color and fill in empty spaces.
I’m having fun planting bulbs in the garden using my handy dandy 5-IN-1 Planting Tool! This gorgeous dahlia is from a bulb planted this spring.
Dahlia with Purple coneflowers.
Phlox with Shasta daisies.
Oriental lily ‘Stargazer’ with Purple coneflowers.
As July draws to a close, many of the beautiful blooming flowers have faded and need to be deadheaded and trimmed back to allow a new flush of flowers in August and September. The job can be a bit tedious, but the reward is there!
‘Royal Candles’ speedwell looking oh so much tidier, with fresh new blooms revealed!
Thank you for stopping by our July garden!
“This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Jeannie Carney is a wife, mother and grandmother. When she’s not working at ProPlugger or enjoying family and friends, she’s most likely in the garden.