this lil critter landed just as I was snapping a picture. Not sure what it is but I thought it was most appropriate considering the holiday weekend. Happy 4th
🎆🌺

If only Crepe Myrtles had a fragrance to match those beautiful blooms!

Alright a little color in my garden this month.
A somewhat tattered Milkshake echinacea.

My unknown phlox, it's actually pink. Early in the am photo is purplish.

Violet Queen zinnia, volunteer seeds from last yr.

Echinacea Magnus to the left and the gorgeous bee balm I got from Larry last yr.

Canna Rob Roy first yr blooming.

I think this is Orienpet lily Scherezade. Seven ft tall, taking the photo from below.

The Big Jerry bed. Colocasia Big Dipper to the left, Gigunda canna back right, root beer plant extreme right, and castor plant right front. The knockout rose and root beer plants are outside the bed.

Love this tiger lily



Roosters comb starting to show color


Under the grapevines

me too

Kabby, I love that last picture....the Big Jerry Bed?? Take more pictures!!! Love all those different foliages. I want to try a Castor, too.

Missy, Big Jerry is my husband, he is big and he tends to like big trucks, big boats, even our aluminum shed is big enough to stable a horse.
He bought railroads ties last year and made me a flower bed, that I had to put in, well what else big plants!
This photo is from May 3.

His bed has really taken off, some of the plants in the middle are being dwarfed by the surrounding foliage. It's my first yr with the castor bean, this is only July what will October bring?!

Wow that bed is really filling in! I love big plants with big leaves...kinda tropical looking. Kudos to you and Big Jerry!

Kabby...is that tetrapax? Last picture?

Raso I guess since I don't know what tetrapax is, I don't believe I have it. If it's the very last photo tell me which side of the picture and what it looks like.

Maybe he meant:
Rice Paper Plant (Tetrapanax papyrifer)

Ah thank you Larry that must be it. No Raso I don't own a rice paper tree, looks interesting though.

This lily came from a mixed bag of types and colors. The bloom is actually facing down but I can't get down on the ground anymore to take pics so my husband used a stick to prop the bloom up.

Supposed to be Crimson Pirate but not totally sure that it is. But I still love it and it is a terrific rebloomer even in drought conditions. This pic doesn't do the color justice.

Well, there are almost no blooms in this post but the plants are still nice in the hot heat of July.
Many people don't think you can grow Hostas in the heat of the south, and I know they don't do nearly as well as in places with cooler winters, still they do add a lot to the garden I think.




That last one is Virginia Reel, I planted it back in the spring. When I was taking the photo I noticed a critter had dug all the soil from around the root ball and the plant was practically just sitting on top of the soil. It looked like it had been like that for a long time, I am surprised it still looks so good. I will look for more of these, it has taken the heat extremely well. It has had very little supplemental watering all year, I do have the sprinkler going on some of the Hostas now.
That third photo is of a hosta called Sun Hosta, I have four of them and they do take the sun pretty well. It is not a registered hosta, I think it is sport of 'So Sweet' they look very close to the same to me. The second hosta pictured is 'Dream Queen' it has been here several years, never seems to get much larger, but does return in the spring.The first hosta is 'Francee' another good hosta for the hot south.
Also I noticed that with very little supplemental watering my Coleus plants have withstood the heat very well.







The Hydrangeas have about faded away now in my garden, but I do still get a few decent looking blooms.

The ferns get more water because they are right next to my big fountain.

Never had this iris bloom this time of year.

Looking forward to seeing it when it opens. That's a pretty color on your morning glory.

Some plumeria in bloom, and several of them are first-time bloomers. Each photo represents a different plant.

They are beautiful, Ken. You've got just the right touch.

Don't know about "touch", Deebie. I just seem to have a knack for growing tropicals and plumeria are about the easiest to grow tropical I have. Well, not as easy as bromeliads, but easy nonetheless.

Canna



Grapes turning purple


Love rooster combs