All your gardens look wonderful!! It's raining here again. *sigh* Someday I'll be able to go out and find mine in the weeds.

JoAnn, I think you're really good with color harmony in your gardens! You may not realize it, but you do plant with an artist's eye.

I need to get a pic of a bold, bright combo that is making me so happy right now- Yelloween Lilies, Double Knockout Rose, and rich purple Japanese Irises. I'm so into combining flowers in the garden with ideas that come from being a floral designer- having these JIs combined with so many early summer flowers has been so exciting!

OHHHH yes.
I just have to learn how to carry over blooms.There is a month with nothing until the lilies start.

Well, what blooms good here before the lilies? We will have to put our heads together about that, as I have a period with little blooming also between the irises and the lilies.

What about daffodils and peonies?

My daffodils end before the irises, and peonies bloom with the iris. I have a very short season here for peonies, as it seems to get hot so quickly. But I have a lot of peonies and love them.


Tracey, or anyone, would you recommend either B and D or The Lily Nook one over the other? They seem to carry a lot of the same.

Generally speaking, if I can get it in this country I do, just because it saves me a lot in shipping. If I have a number of selections from Canada or share shipping with another person or two, it makes it worthwhile. Years ago, when the US Dollar was stronger, ordering from Canada was a better deal. I think right now the order is at par (same) at least that's what the Lily Nook website states. Though I think the dollar has gained some ground.

Overall, I'd say B &D sends larger bulbs, but both companies are quite good.

Now that I've thoroughly confused you.....

Hmmm....seems the show has been pretty continuous here this year, with Lilies starting when Sibs and a few late straggling beardeds were blooming. The JIs started along with Sibs and the Lilies have just gotten better. Seems the Roses where rounding out that time too, and a lot of annual Poppies and Larkspur.

My motto is to just keep on planting...at some point the whole season is bound to be covered!

No, you haven't confused me.

Last year I asked where you got your lovely selection of lilies from, and I've been slowly working my way trhough those companies.

Luckily I got in just under the wire with Buggy Crazy. I would have been heartbroken had I not. And then I joined the PNWLS on your advice, and got those beautiful lilies. So, no you haven't confused me. maybe my checkbook, but not me.

Has anyone heard how Lisa is doing?

Great advice, Neal, LOL. I will carry on, then.

My Buggycrazies are just opening.Some really nice ones too.
I only buy lilies at LilyNook that I cant find here or am putting in a big order. B&D Lilies are my main source. They will come out with a new catalogue in August usually. I havnt found much there lately.Looks like a lot of varieties are either sold out or they had a bad season and lost a lot.

B&D Lilies fall catalog is online now.

I should also mention Faraway Flowers has their fall selections up too, many Hartle-Gilman selections. Lovely, lovely!

Holikrap.Thanks

I just pulled the B&D fall catalog out of my mailbox...

Lilyville

Speckled Lilies

Great groups of lilies! Now everyone, sing that to the tune of "Great Balls of Fire". I love the joy of finding new things in bloom each day too. Being a night worker, I go home and make a quick round before I even go inside and change clothing. My poor pets are usually looking out the windows saying "Hey, don't forget about us in here waiting!" Some people don't like perennials because most only bloom for a few weeks each year. That's why I appreciate them so much. Always looking forward to the next thing to bloom or the next year of blooms.

I find that late blooming Iris and EE daylilies overlap a little. Columbine, Lupines, Heuchera and Valerain all bloom in that in between time too. August for me gets a little low on color sometimes. I've trying adding Helenium and Phlos, but sometimes resort to sticking pots of annuals around and about to add color. Any other ideas?

Pots of annuals is a good idea. I am easing away from the coleus planted containers and have a few movable planters I will do that with.

Susan, that's why I wintersow annuals. I mix them around in the beds. I like the pot idea, but it would be difficult for me to water them enough in this heat to keep them from frying. It's going to be a scorching week here and the humidity is stifling.

Too much rain here! I'm worring about my Iris rotting. Here's the front bed by the street this morning.