I love all the surprise sunflowers that are planted by the birds. I only have one dahlia currently growing in the garden - this white variety. I definitely need to plant more next year - this is such a beautiful plant, and makes a gorgeous cut flower!
The dill didn't grow very well in the container this year, except for this one stalk and bloom. I'm planning to plant both dill and fennel in the ground next season to attract more caterpillars and butterflies.
The canna lilies are in full bloom, but are wilted in the hot, nearly-100 degree afternoons. The Black-Eyed Susans have seen better days, but I'll include them anyways, since they are pushing through the hot Texas summer heat.
The zinnias that were planted from seed in the veggie beds in early spring have been the best performers all year long. They are constantly blooming, creating great cut-flowers, as well as a constant source of delicious nectar for the hummingbirds, butterflies and bees.
Finally, the marigolds have been a great constant bloomer all summer long, needing no maintenance other than the sprinkling of water they get from the soaker hose from time to time.
I think your garden looks great! I love all the hot colors! My Zinnias aren't doing well yet this summer because it's been cool, and they've had a quadruple-whammy of mites, slugs, earwigs, and now Japanese beetles. But the Cosmos and Snapdragons look great as always. Love the Plumbago in your first photo!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I think I will always plant zinnias - I love the bright colors they bring to the garden...and the hummingbirds along, too. I do have to battle constant mildew on their leaves, though. But, they don't seem to be phased. Thanks for dropping by.
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ReplyDeleteYour plumbago is beautiful. I can't grow that plant to save my life. I get one (usually from a friend) and then realize it's not getting enough sun, move it, it dies. Poop. And your zinnias--so lovely and they're such excellent hot weather bloomers. Love those two over-the-top-of-the-zinnia photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tina. This is my first year growing the plumbago. I planted it, since most Texas gardeners seemed to have success with it, and I've thankfully been having the same. I have your amount of luck with coneflowers...they must hate my soil or something, I plant them over and over again, yet never grow.
DeleteYour Zinnias are spectacular. Mine are just getting started. Every year I mean to have plumbago and never have.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tour of your July garden, loved your white dahlia and your zinnias. I grow quite a few sunflowers every year, I mean, I plant them, not the birds :-) They are such great plants to plop in where you have an empty space, and being annuals you just pull them up at the end of the autumn and noting below ground will be disturbed. I often plant them where spring bulbs will come up only a few months later.
ReplyDeleteI love sunflowers. I definitely need to plant some of my own next season (and not just rely on the birds to do it for me). They are so cheerful, add a nice pop of color, and offer the birds a nice little snack. Thanks for stopping - I look forward to reading more of your blog in the future!
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