Happy Thursday, sweet friends. I hope you are having a delightful week!
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:2
Grab your comfortable shoes and perhaps an umbrella as we take a walk in the garden.
Ageless Beauty daylilies have been stunning this year. Their thick, creamy white petals are decorated with a raspberry-red throat and frilly matching trim.
I wish I had kept up with how many blooms. Apparently they love where they are planted. I counted eleven blooms yesterday morning and that would be typical for each day. They were blooming when I posted my May garden journal, so that would be approximately three hundred blooms from three original bulbs!
The colors of coleus leaves have the appearance of blooms. They bring back memories of my maternal grandmother who always had coleus in her small garden.
Cape-jewels (new to me) were planted in terracotta pots and placed in front of the cottage porch. They grow six to twelves inches tall and have definitely exceeded twelve inches! As you can see, they have been staked.The planter on the porch containing superbells belonged to my Mother. A matching one is on the opposite side.
I bought the gladioli bulbs at Lowe’s in 2019. They were planted in spring and bloomed late the first year. This year has been a glorious show of blooms. The photo shows how their blooms open from the bottom to the top. They grew over five feet tall and RM cut cane to stake them.
Gladioli are an old-fashioned flower and in my opinion, their blooms are gorgeous!
Hibiscus Moscheutos ‘Luna Red’ (hardy hibiscus) is a compact and well branched perennial!
It is noted for its huge, deep burgundy red flowers, six to eight inches across. It blooms continuously until fall!
RM enjoys finding whimsical garden insects for the grands. They loved discovering this new one which was riding in the three-wheeler, also known as an adult tricycle.
Angelface Wedgwood blue summer snapdragon is a newer plant that has the old-fashioned appeal of snapdragons or foxgloves. This angelonia creates a bevy of charming spires of deep purple and white that packs the stems from top to bottom. It is great for cutting and has a long vase life! So far, it is performing well in a raised bed in the cottage garden.
Crocosmia is just beginning to bloom. It is a great cut flower and a magnet for hummingbirds and butterflies!
I gave up on dahlias a few years ago, but Dahlia Avignon hasn’t given up. It is a beauty with its snowy white petals and burgundy/purplish stripes and speckles!
I had a feeling that my Renaissance Man had plans for the bowling alley. This concrete bench was the first addition this season. The bench is very old and was salvaged from the old farm place that once made its home on our lower 40. Another bench like this one is located at the fire pit and was placed there last fall. I am not aware of current plans for more changes in the area that I named the bowling alley, but I would not be surprised to see something else pop up one day!
The Echoes of Mercy daylily bloom is a lavender/rose with a purple eye above a green throat. It hasn’t performed as well as in years past. It definitely needs dividing.
Little lamb hydrangeas are beginning to bloom. It is smaller in size than other panicled hydrangeas growing to about four feet. A pair flank the front entrance to the garden.
My friend, Mary (Home Is Where the Boat Is), gifted me a beautiful Lake Norman Sunset daylily a few years ago. It features stunning blooms…
…that are a rosy pink with white midribs and green throat!
I am sharing this photo of our hanging baskets thinking you may see at least three Japanese beetles on the blooms. They are a serious threat, highly destructive, and extremely hard to rid your garden of them. Gardening is not for the faint hearted. It seems we are always battling critters and insects. Armadillos, rabbits, squirrels, Japanese beetles, etc! It appears this may be a bad year for dealing with the beetles.
EM has been fascinated by the glads this year and has made them the subject of her art work. All three of the grands love to play in the garden, especially hide-and-seek!
A summer blooming favorite, the Chaste tree (Vitex) has flowers which bloom in upward growing panicles up to a foot long. It can have pink, blue, purple, or white flowers. Bees absolutely love a Chaste tree!
RM used this photo in last weeks Simple + Southern Sunday post. I was taking photos and heard the buzzing of a hummingbird, but did not see it. I was so excited when I uploaded my photos to see a ruby throated hummingbird in flight. Do you see him?
Thank you for joining me in the garden and for your gracious comments. Wishing you a most wonderful day!
Linking with: Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Good morning Pam, Beautiful photos of your garden! Love the capture of your Ruby-throat visiting your flowers! Don’t get me started on Japanese Beetles, they’re all over the roses and making their way to the few zinnias that survived the bunnies. So glad Lake Norman Sunset is blooming. Our daylilies have been blooming for several weeks now, but they’re not appreciating the 4 inches of rain we’ve had this week. Hope you’re drying out and enjoying some sunshine. ♥
Thanks so much, Mary. It seems that Japanese beetles are everywhere this year. I saw a baby bunny hop out of my garden this morning. I haven’t had as much rain as you have. Off and on sun and clouds today. Happy Weekend!
Just yesterday I started spotting zinnia leaves chewed to pieces, only because I was digging some up to put in pots (Igrown from seeds and they grew vigorously!). I picked off the ones I’ve seen and squished them, and sprayed neem oil today. So far just on my zinnias.I;ve used those bags in my past landscape but I think those basically just attract more. How annoying.
Rita, the beetles have multiplied. It makes me sick to see all the leaves they have chewed on.
Your garden is stunningly beautiful. My glads are not blooming yet, I have some peach color ones on the hill behind the house. The day lilies are blooming, but somehow I have orange ones that I know I didn’t plant! Love those tall snapdragons, I’m going to look for some of those.
Thanks so much, Carol. I remember you saying that orange was not a favorite color in the garden.
The bowling alley, hydrangeas, the “new” and old flowers that are blooming, the “I Spy” beetles and hummingbirds, to seeing 3 little grands hiding in the garden. I often dreamed of cabins, by the river and near mountains. Since knowing you and following you, and building relationship through Christ’s connection and love, I have this dream of gardens. When I was little I dreamed of cottages, just like cabins. But now, a desire to grow beauty! I’ve been harvesting marigolds to give to others in my hydroponics. Your daylilies made me think how my “cut” from a section of my Great-Grandmother’s surprise lily bloomed last week (it was given to me by my Aunt Jeanne, my Dad’s only living sibling). My paternal great-grandmother was named Lily Hale. Thank you for waking me through your garden. Your verses and pictures always remind me of God’s hope, promise, and truth! Much love and prayers to you and Butch and family! 💐💐💛💛💕🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🤗🤗🤗
Thank you dear one. What a surprise blessing to have a lily bloom that came from your Great Grandmother. I love pass along bulbs and cuttings. Much love and prayers, my friend ♥️🙏🏻🥰🌺💚💕🩵
You’re so welcome, Pam. My Mom and I visited about you yesterday again. I went in for a blood transfusion and two shots~one for red, one for white cell,…I had some flulike reactions after learning my counts had dropped again. Today I’m resting and know that I’ll keep finding strength in the Lord~just as you do. Much love and prayers, dear Pam.💛❤️💕
You have such a wonderful variety of blooms in your beautiful gardens Pam, do you ever cut them and enjoy them in arrangements inside or do you just enjoy them blooming in your garden? I know you sometimes use them in your outdoor tablescapes. The glads are stunning!
Jenna, I usually cut blooms to bring inside. The glads were so beautiful I couldn’t bear to cut them. Happy weekend!
Pam, Your garden is gorgeous! All the colors and variety reminds me of a visit to the botanical garden. You and Butch have a beautiful home place. Thanks for sharing. Clara ❤️
Thank you so much, Clara. You are a sweetheart ♥️
Your garden is absolutely breathtaking. I enjoy seeing all your blooms. My beautiful lilies have just begun to bloom and the rain has really stunted the blooms. My roses are so beautiful. My Bob loves our garden so he is a real help to me. My dahlias are going to be beautiful. This will be the fourth year I have replanted these tubers. Blessings dear friend. Thank you for all the beauty.
Thanks so much, Dianne. I love dahlias, haven’t had much success. Happy Gardening!
I am imagining how beautiful that smells! If it is half as good as the photos, it’s overwelmingly fabulous!
Thank you so much, Jeanie!
Oh my goodness, Pam, your garden is magnificent this year! I love the colors you have chosen…as I’m sure the hummingbirds do too! Where did you find the Ageless Beauty daylilies? We have 2 of those concrete garden benches and boy, are they heavy! We moved on down to our firepit too. We are literally floating away here in Upstate SC/western NC area…I think I’m getting webbed feet lol.
Hope your weekend is joyful and full of sunshine.
Thank you, Roxanne. I cannot remember where the Ageless Beauty came from, but possibly check Longfield Gardens website. We have had a wet week, not as much rain as you! Happy Weekend!
Beautiful. Love all the color you see each day and the gorgeous nature all around you. You are so blessed. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous pictures with all of us. Happy Thursday have a good day.
Thank you, Kris. Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
What a beautiful assortment of colorful blooms you have in your garden. Lots of hard work but what a joyful return for that labor. I did see the hummingbird and hope I’ll have some visit this year but only found two Japanese beetles. They are evil! I walk around with a can of kerosine oil to dispose them in, they love my roses almost more than I do. This year all my neighbors have Rolly polies that are destroying their gardens . So far I haven’t seen them in ours. It’s a year of diseases, mosquitoes and bugs. We’ve had too much rain and I suppose it brought on those. Have a blessed day my friend.
Alice, thank you. As a fellow gardener, we both fight the damaging insects and critter. But we persevere. I hope you see a hummingbird soon. Happy weekend, my friend!
I love flowers and your garden is amazing! Thanks for sharing
Thanks so much, Carol!
Be still my heart… what colorful impact one meets in your beautiful gardens. I
just glory in their hue and variety. We are being overtaken by our hydrangea, although we thinned out the Oak Leafs this year. I have not tried gladioli, but don’t know if I could match yours for vibrancy and verve. Be assured that all your
labors have paid off in spectacular visions and sheer glory. Indeed, a paradise.
Bless you for sharing the beauty and the nourishment for one’s spirit.
Thank you, my dear Mary. I can think of worse things to be overtaken by than hydrangeas😂 Only teasing!
We must chat soon!
I used to have a collection of day lilies at our home in New Hampshire but I’ve never seen Ageless Beauty day lilies before. Stunning is right!
Thanks so much, Karen. Ageless beauty is a winner!
Pam your flowers are gorgeous. The Gladioli ones are special to us. Growing up every year for our birthday( Marilyn and me) our dad would get up extra early and go to the florist and have a vase of Gladioli on the table when we woke up.
MarionMPC@aol.com
Thanks so much, Marion. What a sweet story and thank you for sharing!
My heart is uplifted every time I see your beautiful gardens. You two do such a wonderful job of showcasing and tending the Creator’s handiwork.
Thank you, Cindie. I have been weeding all morning. As you know, it is a lot of work!
Pam, I have so enjoyed my walk around your lovely garden. Your gladiolas are gorgeous! I am battling Japanese Beetles as well. Nothing seems to work this year. We have tried everything! I’m hoping they move out soon. I have also been challenged by another unwanted visitor…snails. They have eaten most of my zinnias. I guess it’s just part of gardening. Sweet friend, I hope you have a most joyous rest of your week!
Shannon, I am so sorry. Gardening is always a battle with critters and insects. Hopefully all will not be lost.
Pam, hi! those lilies up top are stunning! a few flowers are coming up here on the Cape and i’ve been snipping a sample of each for little blue jars on my mantle. purple, pink, red, and yellow blossoms are making me smile each time i glance that way. i’ve really enjoyed gardening this spring.
Thanks so much, Linda. Gardening is a lot of sweat equity, but quite rewarding!
What a delightful stroll through your gardens. Each turn has abundant beauty. Your lilies are outstanding! The hues of each petal bring a smile to my face.
The snapdragons are incredible. I’ve never seen those and wonder if they can grow this far north in Pennsylvania.
I saw your sweet hummingbird. In AZ, we have several that visit us each day. Here in Pennsylvania, I’m trying to attract them to our yard, but I have not seen them yet.
Thanks so much for your garden tour. I have truly enjoyed myself!
I am so glad you visited. I have been pulling weeds! Isn’t it fun? 😉
Your garden is so gorgeous! You have such a nice variety of blooms, and the daylilies are stunning!
Thank you, Ricki Jill. There is a lot of sweat equity involved but it does have its rewards! Happy Weekend!
Absolutely gorgeous! Balm to the soul and feast to the eyes! Blessings.
Thank you, my friend!
Such beautiful grounds you & Butch have, Pam, with a wonderful mix of casual and formal plantings. I really love your gardens, and enjoy your updates, as well as Butch’s Sunday observations. My crocosmia, coneflowers and zinnias (the ones I planted from seed) are just now beginning blooming. I look forward to my first spotting of hummers in the garden. Thank you for the June walk in yours.
Your garden is an exquisite sweep of richly layered plantings and blooms! What a splendid place for peace and quiet!
Pam, thank you for the tour of your lovely gardens – everything is just beautiful! And I know from just my small garden how much work it is to keep up. And yes, I did see the hummingbird. Day lilies will grow here and so does coleus (though as an annual) but I’m not sure about the gorgeous gladiolas. I’m sorry about the Japanese beetles and all the other pesky critters (I’ve never seen an armadillo and I’m pretty sure that it would freak me out!) Thank you for sharing and I’m wishing you a lovely week!
Thanks for sharing your beautiful garden with me. The grands are beautiful and blessed to have you both.
Thank you, dear friend!
Oh, that Echoes of Mercy daylily is just stunning! I have never heard of it and love the name! Now, I have “This is my story, this is my song, ” running through my head. Just lovely to visit with you this morning!
Thank you, Cheryl. I always enjoy your visits!
Pam