Veronica, those are wonderful photos. Also reminds me that we, too, will be green again...someday. I got a couple of Blue Mouse Ears liners in May and they are about as tough as they come. Many of my other hostas are slug food, but not these. Not doing badly in our drought, either. Didn't get Cosmos in this year, but have it as priority come next Spring.

Here is my cottage garden as it appeared today. I love cosmos, but they don't love me so can't wait to see yours. Even in the drought all of this is so well established that it doesn't require much maintenance. I love the dahlia with the plum and white tips - it will be in full bloom tomorrow I imagine. The white dahlias are dinnerplate and have a spectacular showing.

indygardengal said:Ok I was partly right, The correct name is belamcanda chinensis. Commonly known as candy lily around here..Google also said it is called Chinese tiger lily...lol

Yes, that's the one I ordered. Yay!

I tossed out some Cosmos seed and they are just starting to bloom. Looks like they will do okay but time will tell.

That purple and white Dahlia is wonderful, Candee!

Dinnerplate Dahlia 'Akita' blooming in my garden right now. It is doing so well. :biggrin:


Love-In-A-Puff Vine is blooming and forming its seed "puffs".


The Banana Peppers like the weather.

Beautiful, Cinda! Those Blackberry Lilies spread well. I save the seeds, but find it easier to divide them each year.
Veronica, your idea using the plate is really wonderful! And oh, the Cardinal flowers---yum!
Candee , love your Elephant ears. The pic of the birdhouse and garden is fabulous!
Tee, what healthy peppers and the Dahlia is so pretty!
Loved browsing this morning!

Candee I noticed a post from you on another site I tink.You were considering Caladiums for next year but were affraid you had too much sun. There are suntollerant varieties. White Queen is one.



Here is an album of images from today
http://smilebox.com/playBlog/4...

A few more of yesterday's pics



I love the color of this calabrachoae


This is Colocasia "Coffee Cups" I hope to have more
bulbs for next year...


Just a random shot




A lover of hot dry weather

Love those deep throats on the petunias

Veronica, would you mind clicking the link below and posting the pictures of the clear glass Totem/Stack above in the random shot ... and also the plate/saucer you used as a plant marker? Luv both of those.

The thread "Totems, Stacks and Glass in the Garden" in Garden Art forum

Yes, please, do. The clear cut glass is beautiful with the Echinaceas.

JoAnne: where do you get your sedums. I only have 2 different ones.

Earlier question about plant names: they are really the same thing, names keep changing,

where do I start again..LOL
love the clear glass stacks..
purple /white Dahlia beautiful,I just cut mine off ,powdery mildew,too humid .My 1st time growing 1 dont know anything about them..Maybe I should read about them..LOL

We got some much needed rain last night,hoping for more. Yes things going into Fall mode..geez allready...

Spring didnt seem that early either.

Tamara, that is one gorgeous shot of the butterfly and garden! Love it!

Thanks for locking July Neal!!

100º here today with heat index of 108º. Ugh.

Gorgeous, Tam. But I know what you're saying ... so many things are already in decline. And our Spring was weird too, Jo Ann. The gal mowed my back yard awhile ago and dust and dry grass was flying everywhere ... thick in the air. We're crispy. However, the Bermuda, Crab, Quack, and Johnson grasses are growing just fine. So is the spurge. It's just not fair.

When I turned the leaves this morning to see what was eating on the horseradish, it's as if this little guy was looking at me and saying, Gee, can't a fella have any privacy??

Isn't he adorable, Tee! And the coolest seat in the place!

I'm loving everyone's pics! In spring American cottage gardens can really take on that traditional English cottage look, but I'm really enjoying these summer pics. They embrace the cottage garden aesthetic, but in a way I see as uniquely American.

I finally got to borrow a camera and get the first pics of the garden I've taken this year! While I'm sad that so much has gone un-captured on film, I'm glad to snag a few now.

BEautiful everyone! Everything is so lush in the photos. Thanks JoAnn for the info on the caladiums. Now I am going to give them a try next year. HAd a few last year and they did well, so will double up next year for more color in my shady areas and in the now slightly sunnier brick bed.

Nice, Neal. So glad you got some pictures. "American Cottage" gardens ... yes, that's it. Like that a lot.