Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - July '08

It seems to me that the warm summer days are going by very fast. There's so much to do in the gardens, and never enough hours in the day for me. Each morning, as I find myself wondering where to begin, the familiar motto runs through my mind..."One bed at a time".
Bloom Day is upon us once again and I'm happy to say there are too many blooms to show them all, so I'll just tell you about the most noticeable ones at the moment.

There's an abundance of Phlox taking over this garden that need to be thinned to give some other plants room to grow.

The Day Lilies have begun to bloom,

and the Gloriosa Daisies (Black-eyed Susans) are a riot of color.

They sew themselves wherever they like, and I try to leave them whenever possible as they don't really like to be moved. At the bottom of this garden they're surrounding Cleo, one of my favorite lilies.


Let's look a little closer.


Cerise Queen Achillea (yarrow) can be seen in the background of the photo with Cleo. She's another one that needs to be thinned. Posted by Picasa


I moved the 'Ruffled Apricot' Daylily from the bed in the background where she was being crowded and getting too much shade, and she's much happier now!

This lovely Asiatic lily is 'Centerfold'.

I don't remember the names of these 2 gorgeous red Asiatics. This one is tall....

......and this one is short. Posted by Picasa

A dear elderly gardening friend gave me this Liatris last summer. I'm hoping to see some hummingbird moths feeding on it.


In the 'Lilac Garden' the red Monarda (Bee Balm) pairs nicely with the Shasta Daisies. That very large lilac in the background gives this garden its name.

Aren't they pretty together?


Down in the Fence Garden you can see the tall red Asiatic blooming with Gloriosa Daisies....

....and Monarda in a pretty shade of lilac.

On the other end 'Atlanta Moonlight' has a gorgeous big bloom. Posted by Picasa

This was the first Daylily to bloom for us this year, not including the early 'Lemon Lilies'.


In the Lily Garden .......

....Larkspur is putting on a fine show, but there were very few lily blooms, except for....

....the lovely 'Persian Market'. There are several other lilies blooming elsewhere, but I'll save those for another post. Posted by Picasa

Clematis 'Sprinkles' is climbing on the corner of the fence. She still has a few small blooms.


I planted pretty blue Browallia in front of the hostas in the Front Porch garden.... Posted by Picasa

....and Torenia (Wishbone Flower).

Fuzzy Pink Astilbe is hiding some of the silver paint on the Hostas behind her.

And here's a different Astilbe growing at the other end of the porch with the bleeding hearts. I had to cut them back to give her some room.

Heuchera (Coral Bells) is tucked in here as well.

We're walking around to the back of the house now....

......past this cheery clump of Coreopsis.

The Jackmanii Clematis is definitely the star of this little garden, but Carnaby in the corner is beautiful too. Posted by Picasa

There's still some Foxglove blooming in other gardens, but I cut off the seed stalks in this bed today. The flowers lasted a long time.

The Hydrangea is just beginning to bloom.

Outside the back door Cosmos is starting to flower. The Gloriosas have sewn themselves here too. The lovely Ivy Geranium in the basket is 'Butterfly'. Posted by Picasa

Over in the 'Pink Garden' Snapdragons are blooming beside self-sown Alyssum. Posted by Picasa

There's a pretty view if we walk around the shed toward the barn, and turn to look back. That's Murphy waiting for his dinner :)

This shade of Monarda is my favorite. Posted by Picasa
Happy Bloom Day everyone!
To see what's blooming in other gardens visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens.
Thanks so much for your kind words of commiseration on my last post. They were very much appreciated. Only other gardeners can truly understand the anxiety that type of situation can create :) The painted leaves will probably stay with us all summer, but most of the plants are doing just fine.

41 comments:

Lisa at Greenbow said...[Reply]

Kerri, I always look forward to seeing your big sweeps of color. Your garden is really alive this time of year, just beautiful.

The Jackmanii clematis is such a work horse in my garden. It is such a tough clematis and blooms so reliably.

Happy bloom day to you too.

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Not sure how I got here to your blog ... but have loved looking at your flower garden .... Not to mention, the farm looks like my dream spot to live :) Beautiful!

Linda said...[Reply]

It looks like a little bit of my idea of Paradise Kerri. I love the country and I love flowers - and you have created a warm, welcoming place to call home. Absolutley lovely. I especially like the lilies. They are so delicately beautiful.
How I love visiting. I can almost smell the fragrance carried on a little bit of wind.

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Kerri, you must be working on all those beds all the time! Your yard looks just like a park, and with that lovely vista you have, it is just perfect. I am impressed. I can't even pick a favorite combination of flowers, they all look so good.

Pear tree cottage! said...[Reply]

Kerri, HOW WONDERFUL!! to be once again in your summer garden, visiting with you.......it is So! so! beautiful and I cannot believe that it has been so long since I was last here.......why I think snow was on your ground the last I visited (too long ago!)

As always I enjoy with envy how your green thumb creates such beauty in the garden, makes me want to take a deep breath of summer air into my lungs (I wish!)

I will see you again soon promise.

Love Lee-ann

Debbie said...[Reply]

Kerri, your gardens just blow me away, they are so wonderful. I love your freeflowing style. I especially loved the red bee balm and daisies...what a terrific combination.

Thanks so much for taking us on a tour.

Amy said...[Reply]

Oh my, you've really outdone yourself with this post Kerri. So many gorgeous flowers! I love the setting of your garden too, with all the green fields and trees surrounding you.

Robin's Nesting Place said...[Reply]

Everything looks so pretty! That clematis is stunning!

Mountain Mama said...[Reply]

Just beautiful! I kept trying to decide which flower I liked best but it's impossible. They are all just gorgeous.
DO you fertilize and what sort do you use? All your plants look so healthy!!
Thanks for sharing.

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...[Reply]

You have a wonderful summergarden, a huge variety of flowers and beautifully combined.It is a feast for the eyes.

Giddy said...[Reply]

Kerri, your gardens inspire me! I'm going to move my red monarda over to the daisy bed next year.

I've been so busy in the garden that I've not had time to get out the camera to do a July Bloom Day blog. Maybe I'll just do a belated one (if I have a spare moment).

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...[Reply]

I was cringing for you as I read your last post. I hate having any work done on the house. At least nothing larger than paint spatters got dropped on the plants. You truly do have too many show individually. I love all your Lilies & Daylilies, but I especially love the barn wall backing up that little border. It has such character.

Mother Nature said...[Reply]

I like your flowers with the wide open pasture land behind. Makes me want to get out there and take a walk to peruse the flowers.

Roses and Lilacs said...[Reply]

What a pretty, pretty place you have. The gardens and the fields and barns vistas beyond. I envy you your place.
Marnie

Carol Michel said...[Reply]

Your garden beds are beautiful, I can see why you have to keep telling yourself, "one bed at a time". You have a BIG and beautiful garden.

Thanks for joining in for bloom day.

Carol, May Dreams Gardens

Alice said...[Reply]

Has the kettle boiled yet, Kerri?

Richard and I were wandering around your garden, admiring every single flower, including the paddocks (fields) where we wanted to also go roaming. It was only the thought of a nice cuppa and a chat with you and Ross, that held us back.

But hopefully, we'll be there one day - just when you least expect it!

I wonder will Customs let me bring back a Daylily or two?

Sky said...[Reply]

just gorgeous! your gardens are so lovely and lush. so glad i stopped by to this treat!

John said...[Reply]

Kerri:

Just wanted to let you know I enjoy your Bloom Day Posts, with all the rich full colors.

em said...[Reply]

wowie! i'm impressed!

Barbee' said...[Reply]

Kerri, I listed you as one of my award winners. I know you don't have time to play it, but I do hope you find time to come over and read my post. You are appreciated :) For ME?!

Unknown said...[Reply]

Kerri, you always have such big, generous sweeps of lovely color to show during the season! I'm glad to see that lots of pretty blooming things escaped the painters... what a nightmare that must have been for you.

Charley "Apple" Grabowski said...[Reply]

I can see why that monarda is your favorite, it is such a lovely color. I have three new ones this year, a lovely rasberry color and two mysteries, I hope they show their color soon. The larkspur is wonderful! Does it come back on it's own? You have a wonderful variety of lilies and I look forward to seeing them all.

My husband beat me here again. I guess we know who's been out side weeding ;-) I'd be out there now but we're getting some much needed rain.

CountryGirl said...[Reply]

Everything is beautiful Kerri - don't you just love summer! I can't get over your clematis. I wish mine was that full. Do you do anything special to it?

Susie said...[Reply]

Hi Kerri,
Love all the beautiful colors in this post (as always) I'm trying to play catch up here (story of my life I guess) So sorry to read of the painting problems to your garden, but I'm sure it was wonderful to have a kind blogging ear in Alice to chat with and vent a bit too!
xo

Robin's Nesting Place said...[Reply]

Just wanted to pop in and say that Blotanical is sendding messages letting everyone know that today is your special day! Be sure to log in today and read your messages. Happy Birthday!

Merle said...[Reply]

Dear Kerri ~~Your garden is beautiful. Thank you for always being
so kind to share it all with us. We can only gaze at your flowers with
envy, but it is a real treat.

Kerri ~~ I would like to wish you a very happy birthday for the 21st July. I hope you have a wonderful
day and a lovely celebration.
Take care, my friend, Love, Merle.

Curmudgeon said...[Reply]

Everything looks so wonderful Kerri. I just love that pale lemony yellow daylily. I've become totally smitten with that color of daylily.
I haven't had a chance to visit much of late. Summer is definitely in full swing at your place. Your previous post about painting the roofs sounded like such a nightmare and the poor plants looked so bedraggled smeared in silver paint! But in the GBBD post everything looks fabulous.
--Curmudgeon

Pam said...[Reply]

Oh, lovely lovely lovely! Not only the flowers but also the view. Despite the paint (aarrgghh).

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...[Reply]

Kerri I have tagged you. Please go to my blog, if you feel like playing along. Cheers.

Christy Woolum said...[Reply]

It does always seem like our gardens are close to the same blooming times. I am so thankful for lilies this year because other things of ours aren't doing so well. It is very hot and dry. I agree with the bright color of the bee balm. Happy Gardening!

linda may said...[Reply]

G'Day Kerri,
I found your page via Merle's blog. Happy Birthday.
I WANT THAT GARDEN!

clairesgarden said...[Reply]

the lilies are stunning, such a beautiful garden!!

Jeanette said...[Reply]

Happy Birthday Kerri.OHH your Garden is beautiful with all those colourful blooms, And I just love the Red lilies,, In two words "simply gorgeous"

kylieps said...[Reply]

Good God, Woman! What an enormous number of blooms! Really beautiful photos. It must be a veritable paradise there now!

Merle said...[Reply]

Dear Kerri ~~ Thank you for your comments and I am glad you had a nice birthday. The news of Olive's death was on the news in the US and UK as
well as here. Her blob was so full of her feisty character. I think Mike intends to write more of her stories.
Take care, Kerrie, enjoy that beautiful garden of yours, You must spend a lot of time working in it.
Love, Merle.

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Those are some beautiful blooms. I only hope my liriope plants come out so nice! I just planted at the beginning of the summer.

Beth said...[Reply]

Your photos are wonderful - I just found your blog. I really enjoyed all of the beautiful blooms.

Midlife Mom said...[Reply]

I always enjoy visiting with you and seeing all of your beautiful flowers! I am never disappointed! Just lovely!!!!!

Barbara said...[Reply]

Your garden looks beautiful, beautiful, beautiful....there is nothing else to add.

Needled Mom said...[Reply]

The flowers are just gorgeous. I wish that I could see and smell them in person. I know that the neighbors must love the display of colors.

Judypatooote said...[Reply]

It's almost August, where did the summer go....it's been so hot here, and the mosquito's are everywhere, so it's pretty hard to weed....oh well just more wildflowers.... LOL.....Your garden looks beautiful....you must spend alot of time in your garden... that's how mine looked when hubby was around....for it was his passion to weed...no kidding.....have a great rest of the summer.... judy