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Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - July 2016

Hot. Dry. July. 

 It takes a tough plant to withstand our brutal summer heat and still manage to send out blooms. Here are a few of the survivors in my garden this July.
Crape myrtles, of course.

Crinums of all kinds continue blooming.

These are called spider lilies for obvious reasons.

These are milk and wine lilies which I've showed you before. 

And these are 'Ellen Bosanquet.'

Justicia 'Orange Flame.'

Hamelia patens, or hummingbird bush, with a visitor who definitely isn't a hummingbird.

Blue plumbago, probably my most dependable summer bloomer. Nothing seems to discourage it.

Clerodendrum 'Cashmere Bouquet.'

'Coral Nymph' salvia.

'Mystic Spires' salvia.

Old-fashioned 4 o'clock.

Sunflowers are made for July, of course.

The white cat's whiskers appears to be thriving.

The crocosmia has not bloomed as plentifully as it has in the past, which probably means it is time for me to divide and move some of it.  

Dwarf 'Katie' blue ruellia, also known as Mexican petunia.

Summer phlox.

Abelia.

The flames of Anisacanthus wrightii, a hummingbird, bee, and butterfly favorite.

Old species cannas.

Yellow cestrum.

Tropical jatropha.
Tithonia, Mexican sunflower.
My poor garden is showing the signs of its neglect as I have been suffering from a leg injury since mid-May and have not been able to care for it as it needs. Still some plants are tough enough to make it virtually on their own and thank goodness for that.

 I hope you and your garden are thriving this July. Happy Bloom Day and thank you Carol at May Dreams Gardens for this monthly meme.

 ~~~
Vive la France!
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Comments

  1. AlanaJuly 15, 2016 at 2:51 PM

    It is always a pleasure to see your garden. The winter, when we in upstate New York garden with ice and snow. The summer, when you grow so many things we can't. Crepe myrtles! My second most loved plant of the South next to camillas. I lived in Wichita Falls, TX for about eight months and remember the majestic cannas we saw. (and yes, all that heat!)

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    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersJuly 15, 2016 at 3:57 PM

      The old cannas, which originally came to me as a passalong from a wonderful next-door neighbor, are a backbone of my garden. I think I'm suffering from the heat more than usual this year simply because I haven't been able to get out in it regularly and get acclimated. When I go out now, it is stifling.

      Delete
  2. LeaJuly 15, 2016 at 4:21 PM

    Lovely blooms!
    I miss my Phlox - deer came up very near to my house and ate all the tops!
    Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersJuly 15, 2016 at 4:37 PM

      Those deer can be a serious problem for gardeners. There are plenty of them around here. Our backyard is fenced and I don't think they ever get in there, but I do sometimes see their hoofprints in the front yard. Apparently, I don't have any plants there that they are interested in munching on.

      Delete
  3. SallyJuly 15, 2016 at 7:41 PM

    You have wonderful blooms in spite of the heat. I love your lilies! My Plumbago isn't any where near blooming yet and I have a first year Crocosmia that isn't in bloom either.....something to look forward to! Happy GBBDQ

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    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersJuly 15, 2016 at 10:09 PM

      Thanks for stopping by, Sally. I look forward to visiting your garden.

      Delete
  4. Judy KruegerJuly 16, 2016 at 11:43 AM

    Happy Bloom Day to you! Hopefully all the care you have given your gardens will understand and keep going for you for one season. And don't forget that Sunday is National Ice Cream Day!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersJuly 16, 2016 at 1:37 PM

      Oh, wow! Thank you for that reminder. I will definitely celebrate that day!

      Delete
  5. CarmenJuly 16, 2016 at 12:50 PM

    Thank Nature for sturdy plants. If the heat here is becoming unbearable, I wouldn't like to know how hot Texas is.

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    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersJuly 16, 2016 at 1:38 PM

      It's not as bad as I have seen it in some years, but it is plenty bad enough. Thank goodness for ice cream!

      Delete
  6. AnonymousJuly 16, 2016 at 3:56 PM

    Stunning. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lee@A Guide to Northeastern GardeningJuly 16, 2016 at 8:17 PM

    Your blooms are gorgeous despite the heat and you have such a wonderful variety of plants. I especially like the milk and wine lilies and Crinums...all so beautiful!

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    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersJuly 16, 2016 at 10:07 PM

      As I said, they are tough plants. The heat doesn't seem to faze them.

      Delete
  8. HELENEJuly 18, 2016 at 8:51 PM

    Beautiful summer flowers – and many of them are new to me, but that just shows how different our summers are :-)

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    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersJuly 18, 2016 at 10:31 PM

      That's one of the reasons I enjoy Bloom Day - getting to see what blooms in other gardens around the world, such as your English garden.

      Delete
  9. RoseJuly 19, 2016 at 5:16 PM

    Just got back from D.C. a few days ago where there were crape myrtles blooming everywhere. For these Northern eyes, it was such a beautiful sight! I envy your plumbago, too. I grew it once--as an annual--and so enjoyed those blue blooms. One bloom I do share with you is the Tithonia. This is the first time I've grown it, and it isn't blooming yet, but I can't wait. Another Illinois blogger swears it's the best plant for drawing butterflies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersJuly 19, 2016 at 5:32 PM

      Butterflies adore tithonia! I'm sure you'll have a bumper crop of them once yours starts blooming.

      Delete

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