"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Friday, July 9, 2010

Fertilizer Friday morning light.

This is one of the first Fridays I've been able to take my pictures in the morning instead of trying to plan ahead the day before.  That's because the sun is still out and the skies are still blue.  It's been up in the 90's the last couple of days and today is supposed to hit at least 90 again.  Most of the plants don't seem to be phased by the heat.  A few Hydrangeas have looked a bit wilted by the afternoon, but with a little extra water they've bounced back by the morning.  I finally saw a Swallowtail Butterfly in our yard yesterday.  It flew right to me and I almost thought it would land on me.  The Dragonflies are also back with three swooping across our front yard all evening, all signs of Summer to me.

Peony Poppies are blooming.

 Geum is still blooming alongside the Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber).

 Hydangea 'Preziosa' has some damaged flowers from the sun, I'm trying to keep this watered because one thing I love so much about this Hydrangea are how the flowers change as they age.

 Rose 'Abraham Darby' is on it's second round of flowers.  The blackspot seems to be getting a little better.

 The Hummingbirds have discovered Monarda 'Jacob Cline' already.  As I went out to take a picture of one last night the battery on the camera died.  Guess we've all had that happen a few times.

 Spiderwort

 A very tiny Balloon Flower.  I don't have much luck with these growing very big, they bloom but the plant stays tiny.

Monarda 'Blue Stocking' has just started to bloom.  This was new last year and I haven't seen it bloom before.

 One of the new Daylilies 'Pandora's Box' started to bloom.  Now maybe that it's getting so hot the slugs won't be as bad and leave the rest of the flowers alone.

While out a few days ago we found a small puddle with tadpoles in it.  With all of the hot weather I was pretty sure that puddle would dry up in a day or two.  Sweet Pea rescued a few tadpoles and put them in our pond.  She wanted to keep one in her room for a few days to watch it develop into a frog.  On her own she did some research and figured out that it was a Pacific treefrog.  She made it a nice little home with pond water, and a stone and a small twig to climb on.  He kept crawling up the side  of the fish bowl and even though there was a lid on she found him in the middle of her bedroom this morning.  So we decided the pond was the best place for him to finish developing.  It immediately  swam to the Water Hyacinth and stayed there.

To see who else is "flaunting their flowers" this Fertilizer Friday visit Tootsie Time.

Pin It

37 comments:

  1. I adore your balloon flower and your peony poppy. My mom grew balloon flowers and I was allowed to "pop" one or two flowers.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mornin' Catherine, another gorgeous (NOT) day. ;-) Well it's gorgeous to look at but in answer to your question about how I'm doing in this weather? Not gorgeous for me to go out in. Just have to keep the place all closed up so it stays cool.
    Your Peony Poppy is beautiful. My seedlings disappeared again. They were finally getting bigger and I had one of yours and Di's and mine and yesterday they were gone but one in front of my name but hopefully it's yours or Di's. For some reason the Breadseed Poppy that Sweet Pea and The Littlest Gardener gave me are the first to disappear - are they more yummy? What gives? This is the 3rd or 4th time I've planted them.
    You said the one you got from me is a darker purple? Now I might have to get a seed back from you. ;-)
    I also have trouble with Balloon Flowers. I have one coming up now so we'll see.
    Your Monardas are so pretty, I have one getting ready to bloom, can't wait to see what it looks like.
    Your new Pandora's Box Daylily is gorgeous. Love that!
    I had a little frog hop in front of me the other day when I sat down to take a picture of a low flower. I love listening to frogs croak at night.
    Enjoy this weather, I know you guys like it. Did I save room for anyone else to comment? LOL

    ReplyDelete
  3. Too cute on the tree frog. Good thing Sweet Pea found it before it really got away and got into trouble. I'm glad I am not the only one watering hydrangeas. It almost makes me want to forget about them but like you I just love them. Maybe a breeder could come up with drought tolerant hydrangeas? Ha! That would be great. The red valerian I've been growing is doing so well. I transplanted the seeds into a nursery bed and those guys have grown. Now if I can just get the other seedlings planted.... You have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sweet Pea sounds like a little Catherine in Progress. I love little stories like that, flowers look beautiful, take care, Gina

    ReplyDelete
  5. So glad you are enjoying the warm temps. You have so much color and that frog is the cutest. I wish you all a grand weekend Catherine.

    ReplyDelete
  6. We have had rain today, yah!, the garden is having a lovely drink. I love your new daylily Pandora's Box, I will be on the look out for that one. Enjoy the sunshine:)

    ReplyDelete
  7. My Lord everything looks great. Still waiting for you to send some of that weather or way south.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Well you hit my soft spot with this post. I adore monardas. Haven't met one I don't love.

    Have a wonderful weekend and don't just slave in your garden.

    Love,

    Sharon Lovejoy WRites from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

    ReplyDelete
  9. It is so bhot today here in Holland well 34 degrees...to warm for the plants...for me......i am relaxing...........and stay calm..........now we are going to eat outside..........relaxed weekend darling.....hugs Ria......beautiful garden pictures today again !!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Catherine, It's so nice to see your beautiful flowers in sunlight. -Jean

    ReplyDelete
  11. It's way too hot here...your flowers are loving the heat, mine are complaining a bit. Lovely photos as usual Catherine.

    ReplyDelete
  12. That peony poppy is incredible! I am way jealous of all of your blooms so will now sulk. Great photos and glad I stumbled upon your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I bet you are glad to see the sunshine in the morning. Your photos and garden look beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow -- everything looks so amazing. I wish I was in your garden today. For some reason we have had an unusual amount of rain the past few weeks and dare I say am missing the brutal 100-degree+ days of the South? Gasp!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your poppy, hydrangea and rose blooms are fabulous! My balloon flowers are going into year 5 and are about 20" high and so loaded with flowers that they fall over. I'm going to try to collect seeds this year instead of deadheading all of the pods.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love the story about your daughter. She's going to love nature and gardening as much as you! My Monarda faded away last year and didn't come back. Sometimes I wish I had your climate. Such gorgeous flowers!
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love that frog! I have the opposite problem with my balloon flowers - they get tall and leggy and flop all over. I'm working on getting them some more sun, hoping that will make them sturdier if they don't have to stretch for the light so much.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love the spiderwort. Beautiful!
    Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
  19. Such beautiful flowers ~ and how sweet that some tadpoles were saved! Hooray! :)

    Have a Happy weekend Catherine!
    xo Catherine

    ReplyDelete
  20. I like your blooms, and also grow some of those. I'm enjoying the Jacob Cline monarda. I planted it last summer, and now it's full of blooms.

    Your daylily is pretty. I didn't know slugs would eat the buds. I have seen a couple on blooms this year, and was surprised they would get up that high on a plant. I threw them into the street for the birds to find. I'll have to look to see if any are on the buds.

    Are the tadpoles all frogs now?

    ReplyDelete
  21. Gorgeous! All of it. So many of my plants are crispy after two weeks of 100 degrees. We're having a heat breather and i'm now re-enthused. Multiple monardas...good thinking. The hummingbirds love those in my garden too! Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love the poppy and Sweat peas little adventure with the frog in her room...

    It's so wonderful that you all have a pretty little pond that the little frog can call home..

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow..that first photo of the peony..is breathtaking...awe-inspiring Catherine! yay! Lovely post of colorful blooms ! Such joy!
    Kiki~

    ReplyDelete
  24. I had three balloon flower plants planted in afternoon sun, and they did terribly. I moved them to my front garden where they get part shade, and they did awesome this year. They don't get as big as they say on the tag, but I had a ton of blooms on them. I love those flowers.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Isn't it nice to walk out into a sunny garden? The only downside is that we are having to water all of a sudden because of the heat - but you don't hear me complaining!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love that little frog, and miss hearing them at the nursery all spring, and summer.

    Everything looks great, and you are right, I think the flowers are unfazed by this heat.

    Oh a breeze through my window, that makes it so much better...


    Jen

    ReplyDelete
  27. Sounds like summer is coming in all at once for you now.The little frogs are so cute.Your Pandora's Box Lily is so pretty Catherine. I love the Peony Poppy. It doesn't even look like a poppy by the bloom.
    Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hi Catherine, It's been my experience that once the tree frogs develop, they spend very little time in the water. We've got one hiding out on our deck area. He came inside the other night when my daughter opened the door, then he jumped on my leg. I put him on my deck among the potted plants and this is where he's making his home, for now anyway, which is great because I'm sure there are plenty of bugs for him to gobble up.

    Your Preziosa looks great. I'm so happy with mine and it seems like daily the flowers are deepening. Such a fabulous plant, don't you think? Your Abe photo is just luscious and I love 'Pandora's Box' daylily. This is going on my wish list!

    Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Catherine ~ the morning light is so soft on your flowers and gives your pics a wonderful feel! I like your Pandora's box daylily, the color combination is very striking. It certainly is summer when the butterflies and dragonflies are visiting! I'm hoping you catch a pic of them this season as you're photo's are always wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Ooh, now I remember I wanted to get Pandora's Box for my garden too! I have a good friend who is my choir director, and her name is Pandora.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Oh, I hate when my battery dies on me. I try to look at how much charge I have left on it now ~ because it's happened too many times when I wanted it.
    Love your little frog ~ hope he sticks around after he's all grown up. I haven't seen my bullfrog tadpoles since I purchased them. I hope they didn't die or get eaten??
    Your blooms are beautiful ~ but nothing new about that!
    Hope you're having a good weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Such beautiful flowers and the Peony Poppy is gorgeous!
    Have a nice day!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Catherine, I always leave your blog smiling. You really do have such fabulous blooms in your garden. Your peony poppy bloom is amazing, both in form, and in color!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Your flowers look gorgeous. I love the geum and the delicate coloring of the Hydrangea!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I adore your garden!! We in zone 3 think gardening in zone 8 would be heaven. Surely there must be some trial there to make us all feel better about our area?

    ReplyDelete
  36. oh how gorgeous!!! I am waiting to see what my balloon flowers will look like...this is the first year for me! I am excited...the seeds are from a fellow blogger...so that makes them that much more special!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and leave a comment. I try my very best to answer any questions you may have, but usually don't have time to respond to each comment. Please leave a link to your blog so I can visit you in return.