Late for Bloom Day

For the past two days I have tried to write a post for September Garden Bloggers Bloom Day but I had strange technical issues with blogger. Thought I'd check it tonight to see if it would work yet and it is, so here's a belated overview of what's blooming in my gardens. With being back at work again I have not spent a lot of time in the gardens these days but did take a little time last week to snap some photos.

'Quickfire' and 'Pink Diamond' Hydrangeas  Quickfire is the pinker one since it begins blooming earlier in the season. Pink Diamond was later blooming than usual due to the delay in Spring's arrival this year.

Turtlehead 'Hot Lips'

Not sure which Phlox this might be.

A fall favorite, Toadlily, looking rather orchid like.

Phlox 'David'

Galardia

Love the fall Sedum blooms

Phlox 'Fancy Feelings'

'Little Lamb' Hydrangea

Hydrangea 'Pinky Winky'

Rosa 'Lady Elsie May' still blooming

One variety of Rudbeckia 'Cherokee Sunset'

Variegated Obedient Plant growing on the hill-difficult to get a good closeup shot of this but it's blooming very well this fall

The hill in fall

Fall colors of 'Invincibelle Spirit' Hydrangea-a fantastic bloomer all summer

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!

     This has been an odd year in the garden with snow in May and very few days above average in temperature. These conditions seemed to cause some things to resist growing and others to grow with huge gains from previous years.
    First let's look at the good.

Daylily 'Blackberry Candy'

'Potosi'

'Hyperion'

'El Desperado'

Hydrangea 'Invicibelle Spirit"

Hydrangea 'Little Lamb'

'William Baffin" Rose has bursts of blooms all summer

One of the magic lilies made an appearance this year

Lots of phlox! Various colors spring up wherever

Daylily 'Summer Wind'

Hydrangea 'Quickfire' the hydrangeas seem to love my yard

Mini hostas, 'Fusion' impatiens, Hellebores

Happy coneflowers!

    Now for the not so good or the bad.

My beloved magnolias 'Jane' and 'Ann' not doing well at all after looking normal and great in early spring. Not sure what happened here. Star magnolia was and is fine.

This planter has not grown hardly at all since planting, even with new liner and fresh potting soil.

Sad squash in back and cucumbers with some flowers but no produce.

Pepper failure. Does anyone else have a veggie garden that is not growing this summer? Not enough heat for these I guess.

A pool hardly used because of the below average temps.

    And the ugly. Last week we received some hail, not huge in size but still enough to do a lot of damage. I was not home to see it and upon first look the next day it didn't look like much happened except the pool was full of sticks and leaves. Upon closer inspection most large leaved plants like the hostas and hydrangeas had holes and tears. Now leaves are starting to yellow and brown so the damage is more obvious.

the beans not looking so good either

These 'Cherokee Sunset' Rudbeckia beaten by storm also.

    One thing about gardening is that during a difficult growing season, there's always the hope that the next year will be better and maybe an opportunity to try new and improved varieties. I can't believe school is upon us again and the carefree days of summer will soon be passed. Hope everyone is enjoying the time spent in the garden on this August Bloom Day. Thanks to Carol for hosting.

Containers of Color

    I love the ease of all my perennials that come every summer and put on their show but I also like the variety of colorful annuals, especially in containers. Every year there seems to be new and improved color combinations to choose from. Calibrachoa and petunias of varying colors are still some of my favorites. Every year my mom and I hunt for interesting colors and variations. 

Tuberous begonia I've had for several years. I leave them in the pots and they go dormant for part of the winter but then start growing again in the spring.

Another begonia.

Can you see the variegation in some of these flowers?

container by backdoor

planter on deck

Society Garlic blooming in background-winters over in the basement. A unique variegated petunia-Glamoflauge and some assorted calibrachoas.(wasn't sure what colors they would be since they weren't blooming when I planted them.)

Pretty Much Picasso petunia

deck planter

dish garden by back door-winters over in plastic deck box under deck

Fusion impatiens, hellebore and mini hostas- all winter over in garage(except impatiens)

Sedum on gate

Peppermint and Chocolate mint on deck railing

Calibrachoa hanging basket-I always get at least one basket every year.

The best bloomer all summer(as long as you keep it watered) is Scaveola- fan flower. I bought this huge basket earlier this year and love how it always has blooms.