Unlike the past 2 or 3 tears, we have had rain this summer. yay! My garden is looking happy for the first time in a long while so I thought I’d share.
![IMG_8362 IMG_8362](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xYyC1VplPVLksqQoLADiv3XxsNWqBi0EVBohQYuCBFSvufKER0Wl32VzXbrV-dRWaNiJqp6L9XREtNs47iKk3zXIP-XzHdy025P08NV-VjtvnmbdXjWLhG1xxK9swZ8LQmo1wDLYLAr5/?imgmax=800)
The tipsy pots! Love these.
![IMG_8309 IMG_8309](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxK2kZPX1pJn-dCPPeZcdj9AzcKZBBj5JVDCEGNhAtIL4sDWOK422P6n-cvXUGSRfvLRtI-RF-LFAvm7200Djhyphenhypheneg_5cqHgagk6yTRIfqZNAprrt2qf4FWhyjiOG49vud04VZzUplHs7F/?imgmax=800)
Daisies and blanket flowers flanking a barrel full of celosia and purple sweet potato vine. The yellow coreopsis behind the daisies started blooming after I took the picture.
![IMG_8341 IMG_8341](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrn6-QOfNKbur_LMzfhAeq0ROyNcZmVPK178tk0ZnrHJmHhLpOUOcAleh9-mDJ90YJicNlwyEGg6Jx3aNfZLnEH5LDwluVC85vlxGneIg0c5Cck7yjd9j1hYCil9TVnRLvwBbhov2DOBm_/?imgmax=800)
![IMG_8345 IMG_8345](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKSZZu56FYLwQ1_7nEj9vP64DHX2dfLaZLel1ZnH6xDSvhTBPW17H_GqpUjHl55Cv7rkpxWAO8p878plIHQ0PSP-_mRDkPskkE1Im13EJkNXFvcivuiH5HsaDNNqWu1BjGwslh70kuCJu/?imgmax=800)
![IMG_8441 IMG_8441](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKlzGn09SckL63kGhi01VT0nCLQtfnysrXtFZgIEadBWYQKMbOBG-VZTx8jzdH0ZTu5RvwGxMI5Y5EekyjxmW-d53OKMXWlmJHgiankfA_ezTaPwSGobnCCba9jxd5Qmo8GP_yoKjgSpU/?imgmax=800)
Daylilies. Their bloom time is almost over now, but they have been splashing their color around for the last month or so.
![IMG_8412 IMG_8412](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1Hh4RqlhqZRlq63-bAMEG2Hf54Yc9KjTCjLadnip7DTkzj29dKCCjc-EzKYGyDaR7yt-VFLe6naYBDNCU9Zy0OXZexBSFaErYw2QgVcg8HJuwGLEdGIklHLiEgM8-6zInwheoF6dfZ3P/?imgmax=800)
![IMG_8418 IMG_8418](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBEIvOLCou5_o1oVHZ54jW3Kp3E3rmfUQ0XNf9IVynrJ2RIApFZy0bj2rvqXWrn1JMbrVNGFOrZxHbDq2ojXlahbSSOCYiRJwIn854GxFzXVJx8hNhxBuYxxh183_q6WYeesa9P83ci07/?imgmax=800)
![IMG_8423 IMG_8423](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YofcVWxo-VHVVm7yzp8VHxtz7abud8ZzaNqY0cwznm06xnqreFATyFxu4bBeyQCpJ4A6yKsj9IFaqZQ0gEdWhs-FrxiIpKNCnuEo3CfdMeJkCWebht0atffaIw9uUGRYbrvWj4uAbjpT/?imgmax=800)
Purple fountain grass, coreopsis, coneflower. Sweet potato vine, lilies and daisies. Black-eyed Susan (very late to bloom this year, just starting).
![IMG_8421 IMG_8421](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZEtMMyWuyBoD0OpUXtBZYIDhfeC1_-G9giQXyOzJpi0zZ_3slkwk5vg3ONL7IcJ-32Pg9RkMyej6zn4_7Lgyepv4oo2n5_Eak-mMXo0Cr1cAaWBeL0ChMdDaFrul9NhBrhCWHQy7rYjSK/?imgmax=800)
![IMG_8435 IMG_8435](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgVWMfGEPSmZE3PlYKexfvBAbyTuRPbUDD9r5-upZWdnbv2Un550dOJXvtHVoN2YBrz69GF4qma6r1UoJqiynoVWl-7fSRv9wWufKIGsl5IFqdp3NzWa7bQwcTKYBSGBLWw3lLRGK3TLi/?imgmax=800)
Phlox. Sunflower.
![IMG_8262 IMG_8262](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEire0iJrgI7IivkAsE_OHdj3Ly84daN2AvzpycIlSiEv0sPafitP0E4jFQZ6c_VTAUIuCleW8DcAxNr-rqvs5cTS_ff-alUAT1EQWFLJVqxs2V9Dt3iR0s9TTNlDKPL1aKvjuYCzEcqZx8t/?imgmax=800)
![IMG_8358 IMG_8358](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1iA7_0m1MNrxeo5CLwZdxp5J_AMXdS_DjAd5DGp6PQXppA-nTdF9g2k9rf2gOZFiz-XKwl7fn6dpFajSI8bKQQmU5ni_eFu3yw1mLs53RNR4n70ZmI8nPQb4gV7e751MPOGh7dNq6xWDd/?imgmax=800)
![IMG_8353 IMG_8353](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pcjxpsDM2xwXd43p2Hv5L3k1MSY8InNAxIMc6fjQyZNbiOTwnHh0X04wnWIF6VppElhJMe8Bblv8ba35EWHqpHQVKAXE2zj6rWjEmFRjLAI8crwrX-6qSBd3cVtnRbkNFdR9wxdVCxwM/?imgmax=800)
Asiatic lilies. One of these years we’ll manage to keep the rabbits from stripping all the leaves off the stems so these beauties might have a chance to multiply and come up in gorgeous bunches instead of single blooms.
![IMG_8383 IMG_8383](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWUgKabl30FbqsRlFXx2Fv0y3_sb3P9IYx7emqJ-LMQE6cpcJln3KRKw3O02ZJxdkED8tZZ8PO4R_ynxN4S9yM_w1AfSIAA3IQdoyBup9dJetwVVLYlAly7yANVlt8_zVd637yHBRVSpH/?imgmax=800)
![IMG_8384 IMG_8384](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCX2nZjHt1exgdxOiddsOalVJQmMp67-PxAcGCsfL-FU5_SmtS7oo9mF0rGRtR0T9SSKlBPVdDhlMczH148HS3KsREff0aOnhNrItYqIxW9myQwd5Kjlqny3vfQ_b_e_Exa9XJeWiouhH/?imgmax=800)
The swing set birdfeeder. My son built the storage bench in the background with guidance from my dad last month. The sunflowers are volunteers planted by the birds. We pulled a lot of sprouts but left a few to fill in blank spots and bloom and make the birds happy. They like to pluck the seeds out of the flower centers.
![IMG_8238 IMG_8238](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQrYuRPMbj-q_7Aw7thmCDHsTGNRNeVOiI088OtATYoiXKvgEJIuZ4UNw_PPwQz_ygr13MSuaAdoiVgrfda3_mvQ44GEe4uv585bKhLhg7_8-d-CPWInktobLgOpz5aa1Ju0Rx4NUAl1y/?imgmax=800)
![IMG_8240 IMG_8240](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihL3jv3XXAs1DWJfcFcNEkuqu6vYnmgLAD0RHZ3eUWzFkiZhZectK-4z9EzfbNab2UzfrDP0wqFLFdRO4laKUMbZFE_8-Zcza0olyE5K7fluS80pYcw8Mr2oPXeDczCpI9zDHY4i06FMJ/?imgmax=800)
Coreopsis, daisies and feather reed grass. The daisy clumps are all blooming heavily now, even prettier, which I suppose begs the question why I didn’t go out and take another picture…but it’s dark now, so these pictures will have to do for now.
![IMG_8391 IMG_8391](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNQ_RXPM2vUZ_eAdXgGBE40WB41I2Prf54P7E4365LD61A5qSuMtuH0bYIhpmXpnE_SBmvjYppfyC8BIeh9_vnx7deMybg2M30NHzxRSOLKwyaPtmDfiK7BAkdx0XW_lDfmdcnltSMdCK/?imgmax=800)
![IMG_8387 IMG_8387](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfvqH2lUNioihF-ZddqH7u3_nCQrTwoi6n9A8IplSsm_OusylP0ygWpJrXjJM7ZTMB1O4jypOk59p6SaRS2yrXj9dQnYYBDQV5QRymGwDFysKktIwwf7nxLBERWpZO5t19Df9sM8MTG0O/?imgmax=800)
The castle, now a glorified planter. By the end of summer the German ivy in the tower will be spilling halfway down the tower.
![IMG_8457 IMG_8457](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9fDjQ_IzdRk8V7BT8rxAYzdBbscnR6doW5fJ_eGAvrnD5cvyKv1YziKU9fx8kzQrCEKL4FpUAqcyqYrKDZ3GMUVnKpNWTvMYWs5LSoLCsPWKykArMyP6ZFGkpa1x1u93OiB40aBIcMIn/?imgmax=800)
Behind this volunteer sunflower is half the veggie garden. Honestly, the volunteer sunflowers look better and sturdier than the ones we planted on purpose. Next year I think we’ll skip the seed packets and take our chances with the birdseed!
![IMG_8450 IMG_8450](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJHzhS7mZFQDKmIYk2M-ZTvadpjYT8Ksm9vP9qAj4kkOik41Bk4AUStLOz-5F9DyM5OiR5pV5G3whng9jnwiJyhIJFW3ieR5Ub90IqnM32jsTQx2mysQF4MqRzLrYoizKScBhRf9lKV77/?imgmax=800)
![IMG_8455 IMG_8455](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_pafogTqrfgqnGcIzf3iDBQoC3HpltEx-UJZWqMVSjyexJ6lohojjmGPaBWLo_h2GBXerhBxMpamjfzorDvZRUItE1wbPiDNeRTFHdXTP284fe8T3QXJ-dC5lC0yl6OPjpE8r-1Jr3lm/?imgmax=800)
You can see we have a bit of a gnome problem. There must be at least half a dozen out there plotting to infiltrate the house.
![IMG_8453 IMG_8453](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxSdxu4bjzTTY9tEakc3E1zWUkHaa0b6Tgo9Vd2Zb13O1NBxLi93laHskYWCoKacffw4IknC1nIsehUifkDt6UH9sryvVRIPhWZceFVl0Gxz4-nfLQVXd8yY3GPF4OOuKZ1TYbl_IdGwD/?imgmax=800)
In past years the impatiens I planted around these hostas completely covered the ground with mounds of color. I think the past years’ flowers have used up the nutrients in the soil and I didn’t add enough compost this spring to replenish it. Note for next spring…
![IMG_8095 IMG_8095](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rE60ItyvnqlJGWtV98BnvpvOLBTBbTj5s-MBddqkOWbQkTxNVMLXWCUf5fVE2frYZCGmODF2T00sJDvCpIr-s092ekRHQ6sEiZvX8dLtAkjETMZ5GUDB6TJXeTXBguMHWOMFtNlV_VaQ/?imgmax=800)
![IMG_8219 IMG_8219](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK56BFDEls_p2vxMmmztHp6tIlOrmQ4aHSiWxi89G4mRZtu-dKbEKGSGdehpW3sdUaZvftx1Po8EvD2W9wPmAwR5TR39paI0MlEu3ft3NbyN3HSsHWRcMACodqO_sCS4mrRQFedLbl3rPB/?imgmax=800)
Herbs and marigolds in early June, then late June. And another gnome.
![IMG_8448 IMG_8448](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWr0vZoShjDwERfUV1pOWKWo31-DEAPF8BHCyOJU2691dv-fZPbAlz8Lttg1u8jr0g33y14RLi8iQdvfyCQUGC1BWXaTZwPa1sWcbZQsqxXtfyGA7Ot0ULRsNwG_wDGt672xgFpolME71h/?imgmax=800)
![IMG_8347 IMG_8347](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1bdMaZHpn87LFOAa4_Ee7o_tirrFbRXMMBx55DXliI3_lEZMcsxFjgp-PBCb6enl92sV1oDsvzKNIJ_Fh4J40fzizEifJMcF9ha6dg5Alef9J832RP46g3aF_e6luKDCZDVs1mmA4WQg/?imgmax=800)
Lilies and switch grass below the deck. Sweet potato vine, red salvia, annual vinca and marigolds in the boxes. The sweet potato is finally spilling over like I wanted it to, unlike the sorry (or perhaps just thirsty) specimens from the last couple of years.
That’s about it. There’s also a lovely little shaded corner with a small patio and Adirondack chairs, but the rabbits, and possibly some deer, have wreaked havoc there this year so it looks a little sorry. I haven’t been inspired to pull out the camera to document the nibbling (well, more like feasting than nibbling).
How is your garden growing this summer?