All of your flowers are gorgeous! I agree with Debra, too hot and dry for astilbe. I will get my fix from photos, also. Your garden is a garden of dreams! One that here in Texas I dream of having until the sun comes up! The sun laughs and says you can not plant that here!
I am so very, very glad you share because it is inspirational to others!
May you have an overabundance of blessings come your way!

Jo Ann: I live in Iowa and I too wonder how you keep your Astilbe looking so beautiful!

Ginny. These are beautiful because they are blooming late.The varieties bloom late in july - August.
My June Astilbes budded but never bloomed. Dry heat and wind,no rain for 2 months just dehydrated them.
I will wait for next year.

A few more Before and Now collages


The east side border.



This area I call Shade-newpart. There was so little lawn between the deck and landscaped area we made a gshade garden out of it because the lawnmower couldnt turn around in the space.
This was lasagned with cardboard. I planted the following season. It is a perfect spot for ferns and astilbes,I even grow lilies because of morning and late afternoon sun.


This is the Tree Peony garden. My daughters gave me a TreePeony for mother's day the year after we moved in.
It is mostly sun to part shade and the area contains Chatham Hosta garden on the backside.

This mornings blooms. Phlox are scrappy looking ,deer activity.









I liked the Veronica and zinnia so much I am painting it, not finished yet.

Very nice! The creamy zinnia is gorgeous! Your coleus looks to be in fantastic shape! Do you have to pinch it often? I really like the coloring of the flowers directly below the coleus. May you be blessed with a wonderful safe day!

I pinch a few times but I wouldn'y say often. I remove the blooms.
The blue flowers in the pix below coleus are Phlox Blue Paradise.

All nice. I particularly like the two coleus varieties you put together.

Dipped in Wine and Gays Delight. I use Gays delight often,goes with lots of things.

Both are beautiful. Some years I am feeling ambitious and try to grow Coleus. Managed to keep them going through August of one year.

Why didn't they last ?
We get frost in mid September so that will end thae coleus season here.

Heat and dry--I rarely give supplemental water (except in that onnnnne year ).

I used Osmocote and crystals when I put plants in containers this spring. I believed it really helped keep things moist.
Todays garden pix are banners for my FB page. Its stormy and windy plus August doesn't give many good images except drying plants.

Nice. I love the textures in the third photo...the grass and sedum.

foraygardengirl said:Nice. I love the textures in the third photo...the grass and sedum.

That one really caught my eye. Great blooms JoAnn

I think your coleus is amazing. I am with Debra that I tried it once. The problem I had was that it grew too fast and too big. Here evening temperatures are well above 70 before spring ends and summer begins. Some plants just explode in growth when that happens. That is why I wondered if you had to do alot of pinching to keep it fitting in a container. You have inspired me to try them again next year. I really enjoy your color mixes. Fantastic job Jo Ann! May you and your family be blessed with joy and peace!

Been inside in the studio.
I just have the urge to paint and besides the weather isnt great.
I need to stay with "the flow " Lots of hits and misses.
Of course I wont photo the misses, My cat is the Art Guard on the drafting table.













Finished this small one 4 1/2 x3
Red sempervivums




Working on this one of Lily Pad Begonias. It has a long way to go.



My Art Guard, Max.


I am almost finished with the LilyPad Begonias. I will cut off the bottom.

Beautiful!!!!! You are so talented!

Jo Ann--Your pictures are exquisite! I really like the red flower. Many blessings for your continued success!