Backyard Garden Tour For July

I sure am glad I checked this post last night. I had only posted pictures but no description. Can't believe I forgot that but it happens. I've been busy cleaning the garage, downsizing things, and making other things for my garden so this post really wasn't on my mind. Nonetheless here I am. The above daylily is 'Fooled Me'. It is a wonderful bloomer with lots of flower buds even though it is a recent purchase by way of Walmart.

I normally don't fill these pots with anything but with the master gardener tour and meeting over here in June I thought I probably should pot up some flowers. I found a great way to keep water in the baskets--hidden in the pot and covered with Spanish moss are pots that hold the impatiens.

This is a long shot across the yard looking past the patio toward the 'Limelight' hydrangeas. I adore those hydrangeas so much.

The Sunny Perennial Garden looking toward the Rear Center Garden and the back of the yard are quite full of plants. Next year I vow not to plant marigolds. It's always a hard thing for me because I get in a garden mode and just start annuals and cuttings and all sorts of stuff. I plant the plants out in the spring when the perennials are small hoping for a quick fill in. Unfortunately I not only get a quick fill in but an overfill by this time every year. Marigolds in the forefront are the offending plants this year as they have overwhelmed this part of the perennial bed.

I took this picture from my deck. The water movement adds a great deal to my garden. Unfortunately my one and only goldfish who had lived in this pond for several years just went belly up. I am not sure why as the water is crystal clear and there have been no issues with this pond recently.

My summer mosaic is looking good behind a seating area. This mosaic is oriented so the summer sun (which is high in the sky) shines through. I also have a winter mosaic oriented toward the south when the sun is low in the sky in the winter.

Now to the lovely 'Limelights'. Remember this area used to have a swimming pool in the center of the path just two short years ago. If you'd like to see the changes click here for the making of these gardens.

A shot from the deck near the house. Can you notice the Joe Pye Weed behind the hydrangeas? There are also Tartarian asters and cup plants planted in this area. This is the look I sought for from my deck. The plants had to make a big impact and be tall because this area is in a low spot. I like to bring the plants up to me. Some other plants in this garden are: cannas, 'Adagio' miscanthus, peonies, skullcap, irises, agastache, daylilies, a Japanese maple, astilbes, hostas, Annabelles, lilies, coneflowers and probably more I can't think of.

'Diamond Frost' euphorbia is my absolute favorite annual! It blooms all summer long and goes with everything. I think I will for sure keep this one around even if I do get rid of marigolds. I use my 'Diamond Frost' as an overplanting for Pink Ladies which begin to bloom at this time. Unfortunately I just transplanted about 40 bulbs into this area under the 'Diamond Frost', and the bulbs just do not seem to have the strength to bloom this summer. No worries as next summer I am sure they'll bloom nicely.

My two iris beds were built specifically for bearded irises. You see irises like to be high and dry with no mulch on them. My gardens are full of mulch so while some bearded irises do well in my gardens most don't. Here I have made ideal beds for the 35 or so special cultivars my good friends have gifted me with. I am very excited to see the rainbow next spring. The only drawback to these two beds is that they are just too small. I see I will have to do lots of dividing and will have to divide often. Dividing is something I hate to do.

Cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia lacinata) is blooming but not as well as it usually does. The drought has probably affected these plants a bit but it also might be too much shade.

Another look at the Sunny Perennial Border and the marigolds. There are mainly daylilies in this bed and my vision was to edge the bed with short marigolds. Ha, that was funny because 'Pesche's Gold' marigolds are very tall and robust marigolds. The marigolds have overwhelmed the daylilies but that is okay. There is always next year right? The silver leaved plant is night blooming jimsonweed. It was a gift from Geri a few years ago in the form of seedlings that had self sown in her garden. Each year since then I have a couple of seedlings come up in the garden. I leave them alone as this plant is not hardy here so self sown seedlings are the best way to get jimsonweed. It is a night blooming fragrant flower and a lovely plant for a moon garden. 


That's it for the backyard. I have prepared a July tour for the frontyard that will be coming up soon too....


in the garden....

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden