Sum,sum,summertime!

Summer is in full swing with the hottest week of the year and record setting Fourth of July temps over 100 degrees. I've managed to keep things well hydrated with just a little help from a nice summer night rain storm.  We have also spent time in the pool keeping cool every day this week. It's so relaxing just floating on the water and watching all the birds flying around the yard. Mr and Mrs Robin are working hard to keep their second set of children this year well fed. It won't be long until they're empty nesters again.
Instead of a lot of individual flowers I thought I'd do a kind of tour of the yard this time. One surprise I found the other day was a beautiful lone magnolia blossom. The magnolias are forming their buds for next year right now but I was surprised to see a fully formed flower open. Enjoying it because the spring buds all froze just as they were opening this spring.
Hope everyone is keeping cool and enjoying the summer in the gardens.

Magnolia 'Ann'

front yard

coming from the driveway

view from the front step

what I'm missing most this year is many of my mature pink lilies that were eaten up by the underground critters over the mild winter. I lost five or six beautiful clumps in my gardens although some are coming back from tiny leaves.

east side of house- this has been here since 1980 when my husband and a landscaper friend of ours built this for me. a  lot of the plants have changed but the daylilies have been there since day one

backyard as you come in gate or out the backdoor

garden with 'William Baffin' rose-he's my favorite! (facing east here)

looking south towards pool from backdoor, stairs to deck

the deck

hosta garden next to pool-we did not plan on pool when we planted this tree many years ago, too bad it blocks the afternoon sun which keeps water on the cool side(okay when it's really hot) those darn critters also ate some of the hosta roots in this garden so some are rather small this year

back of house- magnolia trio

under the deck

hillside tumble garden

fenceline daylilies

southwest corner of yard

backside of pool with grasses

west side of backyard

pool side

veggie garden that needs weeding!(it's been too hot)  the vegetables aren't doing as well this year although the beans are full of flowers. the peppers and tomatoes just seem to be sitting there-not sure what they're waiting for

view from west side of fence

west side of garage

Our circle around the house is done. Hope you liked the tour.