Happy Thursday sweet friends. I hope you are having a lovely week. The heat and humidity returned on Tuesday to our Appalachian Foothills with a vengeance!
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
Psalm 119:11
With this oppressive heat and very little rain, I decided to share a garden post before everything becomes heat weary like me!
There is something old fashioned about gladiolas…they remind me of my grandmother’s garden!
We planted three corms in 2019 and they have bloomed without fail in late June each year. They are a member of the iris family and come in a rainbow of gorgeous colors. I am thinking I should plant a variety of colors next spring!
Gladiolus grow best in full sun in zones 7-10 and are incredibly easy to grow. They produce three foot flower spikes with orchid-like blooms.
Sunflowers are beginning to bloom. Expect a post soon on these happy flowers!
We decided to plant vinca in the basket of the Schwinn adult tricycle! RM placed it in the back corner of the garden under one of the bloodgood Japanese maples.
Little lamb hydrangeas flank the front entrance to the garden. They are a compact paniculata. When the blooms mature they are pure white.
We have two chaste trees (Vitex) as I mentioned in Tuesday’s post. This one is planted at the back of the cottage fence and the other is in our front landscape!
Bees love the blooms! Unfortunately, we have seen some Japanese beetles on both trees this year. They are a highly destructive plant pest that can be difficult to control. We are keeping a close watch on the beetles and hope they remain few in number so we can leave them alone.
Zinnias are blooming! They are one of my favorite annuals and are great cut flowers!
This is our first time to plant cosmos. It is planted in our cottage garden and behind the garden fence in a raised bed! There are a few blooms beginning to popup!
Crocosmia is a cousin of gladiolus and easy to grow! It produces trumpet shaped flowers in blazingly bright shades of red, orange, or yellow opening in succession from the bottom up. It is a perennial in zones 5-9. My sweet friend, Martha (hydrangea farm) gifted the crocosmia to me!
Limelight hydrangeas with their pretty lime color that will turn to a beautiful creamy white!
We hope the birds will allow us some blueberries!
This is a peep into the cottage garden. It has been a slow process, but almost finished. RM has put a lot of sweat into this project. I can’t wait for it to be completed so I can share!
Have you ever heard of “Kong” coleus? This was completely new to me. We bought two kong coleus to see if we would like them. This one is kong mosaic with extremely large leaves that are uniquely patterned. I have already had to cut it back!
And this is my little happy place, Sunshine Cottage! Thank you for your visit and gracious comments. I am so grateful for each of you that follow our “everyday living”!!
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Good Morning Pam, I love seeing how your garden is growing! The cosmos will be beautiful and a feast for the butterflies and bees when they bloom. I noticed that the Japanese Beetles seem to be worse than previous years and are defoliating the roses. I spied them on vitex and crape myrtles yesterday too. Love your shot of the zinnia! I planted some seeds this spring and have kept the bunnies out of a small bed so far, fingers crossed they’ll mature. Happy Thursday. ♥
Mary, last fall we returned to Gibbs Gardens to see the fields of cosmos and the monarchs. It was unbelievable! I hope the monarchs will visit my cosmos this fall. However, we found Japanese beetles on some blooms. Gardening is not for the weak of heart. We are watering everyday!
A beautiful , well tended garden. I miss the many gardens I had. We have downsized and now I enjoy other peoples gardens. Thanks for sharing
Thank you, Deborah. I am sure you miss your gardens!
Pam, what I originally thought was a bed of gladiola in my garden turned out to be a bed FULL of crocosmia! Imagine my surprise when I could finally google lens identify it this past week, and now see it in your garden! Your garden growth looks well cared for, and I know it must be disappointing to see the beetles. They can be so destructive. I’m looking forward to seeing more of your cottage garden. It already looks full! It’s all so beautiful.
Thanks, Rita. Butch finished raking in the pea gravel this morning in the cottage garden. We are getting there, slowly!
Your beautiful garden pictures make me happy this morning!!
Thank you sweet friend🥰
Beautiful post, Pam; such vibrant colors. You and Butch have done an amazing job with your garden. And congratulations again for the Sunshine Cottage being featured in the latest issue of Southern Lady magazine; what a testament to your talent.
You are so sweet and thank you dear friend!
Such beauty surrounds you. You are both so gifted and hard working. That doesn’t happen by itself! The hummingbirds love the crocosmeia.
Thank you, Ruthie. Yes it takes hard work!
Your garden is looking wonderful! I can just imaging wandering around there looking for new blooms everyday!
Thanks so much, Penny!
Pam, everything is thriving in your garden, and it looks so neat and tidy! That is a labor of love in this heat. You’ve identified a mystery plant for me with the crocosmia. A house done the road has it planted around their mailbox, and it is beautiful!! I can only enjoy the early morning on my porch while I have coffee, then it is back into the AC!
Thank you, Roxanne. It has been miserably hot and we desperately need
rain. Enjoy your weekend!
Oh Pam your garden is looking so pretty. Even with all your heat and little rain you have them growing beautifully. I feel so blessed to have AC this past week. We have been having your weather up here in Illinois. 100’s and humid. Stay cool and walk your garden in the coolness of the morning. What a beautiful place to surround yourselves. xoxo Kris
Thanks so much, Kris. I hope you will have cooler weather!
Beautiful Pam! You have a nice variety of flowering shrubs and plants. I’ve seen the Kong Coleus before but wasn’t sure it’s how big they get. Looks like they are a stand alone plant!
Thanks so much, Liz!
Everything looks beautiful! I can’t wait to see the final reveal of the cottage garden. You have a lot of pots to water. In this heat I have had to water my pots twice daily.
I am glad the forecast did not materialize yesterday. It was 101 but 97 was better.
Gladiolus remind me of my grandmother’s too. My aunt would make arrangements for church. I think I’ve told you before my aunt and grandmother each had a large fenced in cutting gardens. Oh, how I wish I had pictures. I remember weekly Sunday afternoon tours of the flowers.
I love the color of your gladiolus.
Stay cool.
Thanks, Bonnie. We are having to water everything daily which is a big chore! Stay cool!
You have a beautiful garden Pam.
Thanks so much, Della!
Oh, those awful Japanese Beetles! They will destroy anything in their path. I thought I spotted a few last week on my Calla Lillies. A few days later they were on my geraniums. We sprayed for them Sunday evening. Hopefully, it works. I hope yours stays away. All of your blooms are so pretty. It is always such a treat to visit your garden. I can’t wait to see what’s going on around Sunshine Cottage. Happy Thursday, dear friend!
Thanks so much, Shannon. Yes, the Japanese beetles are horrible! Hopefully you are rid of yours.
Oh those beautiful glads! I just love doing flower arrangements with them, you have me wanting to run out and buy flowers! I think I tell you this every week, but your garden is truly stunning at all times of the year, and I know it will be in all it’s glory this summer! The peek of your adorable Sunshine Cottage is wonderful, I can’t wait to see the finished garden!
Jenna
Thank you, Jenna. Glads are so pretty in arrangements! Butch finished the pea gravel this morning, cottage garden is almost finished!
Pam, Your flowers are thriving! I love your glads and all the beautiful colors. You truly have a gorgeous landscape full of happy colorful blooms! That’s a lot of hard work. I’m sorry to hear about the Japanese beetles; they’re eating the rose blooms around here. I try to pick them off and drop them in soapy water as that’s about the only way to get rid of them. I soak them with Dawn while they’re on the bushes and I think I can see them laughing at me! 🤣 They’re awful! Stay cool! Clara❤️
Thanks so much, Clara. I am so sorry the Japanese Beetles are eating the rose blooms. Stay cool ♥️
It’s a joy, isn’t it, to see the growth in our gardens. I’m sitting outside looking at mine this morning.
Thank you, Donna. I am so glad you can enjoy time in your garden!
What a beautiful array of colors, plants, and flowers. Thanks for sharing at #TFT. Nancy Andres @ Colors 4 Health
Thank you for your visit, Nancy!
Pam, your garden is gorgeous. We are not bothered by the Japanese Beetles here, maybe it is my reward for having dealt with them for years in VA. They are mean pests. Your gladiolus are beautiful and the pink is the most beautiful shade. You will love your cosmos, especially when they are in bloom and you have a little breeze. They are marvelous dancers. Have a wonderful weekend and stay cool!
Thanks so much, Sandra. Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Good Afternoon Pam! Your garden is looking absolutely beautiful!
The Japanese beetles were fierce last summer for us. I have not seen any yet… “yet” is the operative word.
Such a stunning Sunshine Cottage and Cottage Garden you all have. Thank you for sharing! Happy Thursday!
Thank you, Nancy. I hope you don’t have Japanese beetles this summer. Enjoy your weekend!
I learn so many beautiful plants and flowers when I read your blog. The cosmos and the last green plant (King something~brain fog!) are so neat. Just seeing the entire cottage garden makes my heart happy, Pam. My parents came and took me to lunch and that doubled my happiness! My heart is blooming like your garden! Love and hugs always! 💚💕🤗
Thank you sweet Karla for your encouraging comments. I am glad your parents took you out to enjoy lunch. You are always in my prayer, sweet friend ♥️🙏🏻♥️
You’re so welcome, Pam. I feel your prayers and support so much. 💛❤️🤗🥰🙏🏻
I think of my grandmother’s profuse array of glads when I see them. They’re so showy and we always had plenty in the house during the season! Your entire garden is a haven, Pam. It’s beautiful in every single way!
I think most grandmother’s had glads in their gardens! Thanks so much, Jeanie!
I have cosmos in every color, zinnias of all sorts, marigolds, cleome, and this year I again planted many dahlia bulbs. I also planted a few large white glads that were gifted from a friend from church. In my zone, glads and dahlias are planted and dug up every year which is worth the work. My garden is mostly perennials but I have a cutting garden and add a few annuals in my landscapes. Tons of work but I love gardening. In Michigan I am able to grow some things that you can’t grow and visa versa. I guess it all works out according to God’s plan. Love your blog.
Vicky, your garden sounds amazing. Zinnias offer so much as an annual. I gave up on dahlias. I still have one that is blooming after several years. Fortunately, I have a flower farm nearby that I can purchase dahlias. Gardening is tons of work, but has many rewards. Thanks so much for your comments. Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
What a joy-filled stroll through your gardens…the colors perk me up and I delight in how the petals on the inner zinnia curl up just before taking a final stretch in blooming. The Sunshine Cottage looks so welcoming and I know its garden will have us oohing and ahhing when it is premiered. I am still on the lookout for a perfectly sized Bloodgood Japanese
Maple; yours are so wonderful. You and Butch bless us with your creativity and toil in Paradiso.
loodgood Japanese Maple
Mary, thanks so much. RM has worked so hard on the cottage garden and has done a magnificent job. Hopefully, we may get rain today! Enjoy your Saturday!
I saw my first bumble bee in the delphiniums yesterday and today my first swallowtail butterfly while sitting on the porch. Your gardens are beautiful. I know how much work it takes to have that much beauty. Just wish I could do it as I sit and watch many things needing to be cut back, dead headed etc. Glads are a favorite. The colors you chose are beautiful.looking forward to the final reveal of the cottage garden.
Alice, I know how badly you want to be in the garden dead heading and cutting back, but take care of yourself. I am sure the delphiniums are beautiful. Thank you dear one!
The gladiolas are beautiful and I love the sunflower! What a peaceful garden!
Thanks so much, Michelle!
Beautiful post of blooms in your garden. Love that you already have zinnias and sunflowers. I too notice you probably have lots of watering to do. Thank you for this beauty.
Thanks so much, Dianne. Have a lovely weekend!
Pam, lovely as always. The adult tricycle as a planter is cute. I have one but I’m usually riding it around the neighborhood 🙂
Good exercise, Rachelle! Thank you and have a wonderful week!
Pam, the garden is absolutely beautiful – so many different flowers and I love reading your posts about them. The gladiolas are gorgeous! Sorry to hear about the Japanese beetles and I hope they can be contained. Loved the peek of the Sunshine Cottage garden and can’t wait to see it! Congratulations on the Sunshine Cottage being featured in Southern Lady – you and Butch totally deserve it! Hope you get some rain down there that will lighten your watering load! Happy Monday!
So insanely pretty! I sure hope you’re able to keep those beetles at bay. No good, rotten things! Unless their name is John, Paul, George, or Ringo, they have NO BUSINESS near our flowers!!!
Thanks so much, Alycia. Are you telling your age with John, Paul, George, and Ringo 😂😂