Pop, Pop, Pop…

Now that a week has passed since the 4th we're not hearing fireworks anymore (they're legal here), but the gardens are popping out with lots of new blooms…

First, there are the Phloxy Ladies… (Phlox plants)...

Bee Balm…

Honeysuckle…

Red Currant… (fruit not blooms)…

Lantana… (a.k.a. Landmark)…

Obedient Plant "Miss Manners"...

Daisy "Real Dream"...

Rocket...

Hosta...

Veronica...

In other garden news…

Not everything in the yard is beautiful or worthy of pictures at this time...

The bunnies have been attacking my Asters (I have 3) again… so once again I'm having to cage up the Asters… Grrr!!  The bunnies have also decided they enjoy nibbling on my Balloon Flowers, especially the blooms, so I'm going to have to cage that plant as well.  I've been using Deer Scram, but with all the rain it keeps washing away…

I have a Phlox that is "ill"…. not sure what to do with her, may have to send her into the woods… if so there's a Campanula I've been wanting to acquire… we will see…   My Veronica, though starting to bloom (see pic above) is having its usual issues, her place in the garden might be too waterlogged at times, I'm thinking she just might not be worth all the trouble… haven't made a final decision on her yet.

One of my honeysuckles got beat up badly during the storms, it will recover but it will probably not look very nice for the remainder of the season… bummer!  There is a Jacob's Ladder (one of 3 that I have) that also got beat up by storms & may need to be moved to another area of the garden… to be determined.

My hardy Hibiscus is coming up nicely, still not all that pretty to look at - she's always the last up in the gardens…

The early birds, my Tulips & Daffodils, have already had their foliage die off, I need to move the Tulips if I can find them among the quite-overgrown Iris.  I need to get to this soon or it will be too late to get to them, I already know where their new home will be.

My deck plants are doing fine, the herbs (except my Dill) are going crazy & are overgrown.  My tomatoes are doing ok, I'm still fussing with fixing issues with a couple of pots that need to be modified… hoping to actually get some tomatoes without having to fight the squirrels off.  My lone Tomatillo plant is covered in blooms & should produce like crazy once it gets going.

I don't have many bees this year, this is disturbing… I've heard that this has been a problem in other areas but hadn't seen it here before.  I hope they recover, not only because they're critical to the ecosystem, but also because I enjoy having their company in the garden.

I still haven't gotten to my brick edging this year, I need to get more of it done… I'm always amazed at how busy my life is, I can never get done everything I want to… but life is Very Good!!