with no rainfall for weeks the garden seems a smaller ,lesser version of itself, but that is par for the course I guess. I had an Open Day already scheduled and am pretty fearless about them at this point , so the invite remains.

Blooming now are daylilys, liatris,, cosmos, rudbeckias and coneflowers ,gallardias , agastaches, dahlias and bee balms. Most of the clematis and remontant roses are on their mid-season break, although a few are flowering and some  of the annual vines have started doing their things. Native plants like  mountain mint and eryngium rattlesnake, summersweet and joe pye weed are in flower and my new collection of eucomis is just starting to throw out flowers .

A note about the back: After battling the bunnies and the lack of ample waterand poor soil  out behind the fence  I have started what will be a major overhaul in that garden . Moving plants right now is a terrible idea, so I have been doing it  anyway ( reallyit is for the greater good) .

Things like tall sedums just cannot withtand the constant rabbit assault,there used to be about 30 out there but now  the few that remain are caged and wll be relocated.

The siberian iris which is superb during draught and rabbit proof got completely mowed down by a family of voles trying to set up shop in the little raised bed back there. I sort  of like the bed visible so may move the iris toward the front.

The rock area toward the back had 5 peonies that have  been moved already and  I am working on a planting plan  and not yet ready to commit to anything. The soil all on that side needs some serious augmentation so in the fall all the plants will be lifted , compost added then whatever new desgn /planting will be installed. What will remain are the roses , the baptisia , and the hollies . The ferns, will be moved and a new small tree will be added.

Under the hydrangea on the juniper side I had geranium samobor , which was ignoredby varmints  for a long time, but earlier this spring was completely devoured, of 10 plants, one remains. It’s replacement will be a dwarf ladies mantle of which little seedlings have been installed that will take some time to mature.The white lillies  that once were a massive stand are down to two week stalks after red lily beetle invasion( I keep up with the ones near the house but often missed those out back) I am gong to try to save the two by moving them after they bloom and will let that area be taken over by the coreopsis  ( weed) that seems affected by nothing. After a sprinkler system glitch was discovered and fixed ,the area behind it is recovering and fingers crossed will bounce back to full steam once we get some real rain.

Anyway , you can check that all out and offer your kind and well intentioned  opinions if you like….or you can just enjoy the rest of the gardens while sipping a cold refreshing drink poolside under the gazebo.if all else fails there is always this…….