Welcome sweet friends to our July garden on the last day of this month. Grab a glass of iced tea or lemonade and stroll with me in the comfort of your air conditioning!
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
Isaiah 40:8 (ESV)
July has been extremely hot with triple digit heat indexes which I don’t seem to handle as well as I once did! Rain had been scarce until this past Tuesday when we finally had significant rainfall.
This view is from the back of the garden where we have zinnias and marigolds planted. Hydrangea Paniculata are the stars of the July garden!
We have four varieties of Hydrangea “Paniculatas”, Limelights, Vanilla Strawberry, Little Lambs, and Pink Diamond. Their name comes from the fact that their blooms are cone-shaped rather than ball-shaped and grow on new wood. This is one of five Vanilla Strawberry hydrangeas planted in our garden!
Vanilla Strawberry produces large creamy white blooms. Because of our intense summer heat, the VS never turn the strawberry color. Most summers we see only a tinge of pink.
Giant marigolds have been a winner in the July garden! Last year was our first time to plant them and they performed beautifully! Large flower heads of 3 inches sit atop sturdy plants. Their plant height is between 32-42 inches.
Little Lambs are the shorter hydrangeas in front with Vanilla Strawberry being the taller variety! All of their blooms are large!
Limelights are still showing their lime green color, but are changing to a creamy white.
Pink Diamond is a vigorous, bushy, deciduous shrub boasting huge conical flower panicles. Opening in creamy white, the florets will turn pale pink, rather than deep pink, in our Zone 8a garden.
Giant orange marigolds and zinnias have grown so large that we can hardly walk between the two to deadhead spent blooms! The orange marigolds typically grow taller than the yellow ones. Both are great for cutting and are prolific producers. We ordered the seeds from Johnny’s Seeds.
We originally had three limelights in the rear of our garden. They had no problems until a couple of years ago when we lost one of them. We replaced it last summer with a healthy looking one and it didn’t survive. This is a mystery we hope to solve!
Five Vanilla Strawberry hydrangeas were planted when the garden was established. Ten years later, they continue to thrive!
I have always loved coleus! It reminds me of my maternal grandmother’s small cottage garden that she tended the last few years of her life. Placed underneath one of our Japanese maple trees, it has been happy!
Limelights are in the foreground, Vanilla Strawberry in the middle, and Crape Myrtle in the background!
Our only white Crape Myrtle stands at the corner of RM’s workshop!
Even though it is blistering hot, the white and green of the garden makes it appear cooler!
Our garden tuteur is barely visible by the middle of July!
I will be sharing a zinnia and sunflower update in August!
Thank you for your visit and gracious comments. Wishing you a joy-filled day!
Linking with: Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
Gorgeous July blooms, Pam! Do you run a drip system in your garden? I don’t, but I necessarily water my macrophylla hydrangea and all containers every day in July-August. Your coleus looks happy, indeed, and I know it demands good watering. Those marigolds! wow, you can see how they’re taller than the fence, impressive!
Thank you, Rita. We don’t run a drip system, just like you we do it all by hand. I was never a fan of marigolds, but these are different from all I have seen before!
Well, it may be super hot to you but it doesn’t seem to have affected the flowers too much – or maybe it did and that’s why they look so fabulous! Your water bills must be enormous but oh, that beauty is all worth it!
Thank you, Jeanie. Gardening is very demanding, but the end result is worth it!
Ahhhh just beautiful.
Thank you, Kris!
Oh, Pam, can you come plant my garden? Your flowers are just stunning.
Thank you, Carole. As you know, gardening is a lot of work!
Oh my goodness! I have been following you for years and for the first time today I saw you don’t post the email address. You have brought such joy, comfort and beauty over the years. I always look forward to your scripture. You have been such a glimmer of light, hope and generosity. Your grandbabies are all growing to be such beautiful humans. I remember when you were looking forward to their coming. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I pray abundance in all things that matter. Kathryn
Thank you, Kathryn for your heart warming comments and thank you for following all of these years!
It nourished my soul to take a stroll with you in your beautiful gardens this morning! Thank you for sharing it all with us here.
Thank you, dear one!
Good Morning, Pam. I enjoyed a stroll in your gardens this morning. Every step was so lovely. Your marigolds are a delight! They look like frilly lace pom poms.
I am so happy to see your zinnias. So pretty!
I, too, love coleus. I have many different plants around our place.
Thank you, my friend, and Happy Thursday.
Thank you, Nancy! Your description of the marigolds, frilly lace pom poms is a great one and accurate! Happy August!
Beautiful July blooms, Pam. I enjoyed learning about the different hydrangeas. You have such an amazing variety. I grow oak leaf hydrangeas with success, though they are never coverd as fully as your examples. I tried lime light, but little success. I think it is just too dry and hot here, and we are water rations. The zinnias and marigolds are summer stars. My mother always had a beautiulf garden of both. I need to try zinnias again. I love having them for cutting flowers to bring indoors. I recently read we can sow zinnia seeds through September, so I’m going to spread some in a sunny spot this weekend. Will let you know if I have blooms for fall. Thanks for the inspiration.
Thank you, Sarah! It seems gardening can be difficult wherever we live. Zinnias are a great cut flower so are the giant marigolds! Happy August!
Despite the heat, your garden looks lovely as always! This year has been the worst for me as far as gardening. Started out with horrible deer damage early on, then I was gone to Scotland for two weeks. While we were gone it rained nearly non-stop in KY with intense heat in between so we have a lot of root rot and fungal issues due to humidity. I am taking a chance and planting some zinnia seeds now in hopes of enjoying some fall blooms at least.
Your garden always inspires!
Thank you, Amber. Gardening is not for the faint of heart and can be extremely difficult at best. Critter damage and insect invasion is always problematic. Hopefully zinnias will bloom for your fall enjoyment!
Thank you Pam for a sweet time in your garden. I always learn so much from you! I too have some of the large orange marigolds planted in a large pot with lots of other colorful plants and I am enjoying the happy colors on our patio. I really liked seeing the beautiful dark colors of the Coleus in your garden and have put the idea in my pocket for next year!
We are experiencing hot weather, for us anyway, but nothing like you in the South…dare not complain though as our oh so cold winter isn’t that far away! Thank you Pam!
Thank you, Sue. I am happy to read you also are enjoying the giant marigolds. We are supposed to get a reprieve from the intense heat for a few days. Happy August!
I thank you for the scripture and beautiful photos of your garden. They make me so happy.
Thanks so much, Carol! Happy August!
beautiful flowers in your garden…and tall! I use to plant marigolds every year but I have turned my garden to boxwoods and white flowers with red drift roses. enjoyed the stroll thru your garden.
Thank you, Nancy. I love a green and white garden! Happy August!
Ou congregation responds to the scripture reading every Sunday with this verse from Isaiah. And I’ve recently come to love the name “Marigold” for a little girl. Wasn’t it used on Downton Abbey or some other show? I guess it’s an old fashioned name – but I do love the flower as well! Your giant orange version is stunning!
Thank you, Leslie Anne. Our congregation does the same! Happy August!
Pam I always enjoy visiting your beautiful gardens…I definitely have garden envy in a good way. Your zinnias and marigolds are spectacular. I wish we could grow hydrangeas of any kind as yours are always so pretty. Our weather just won’t permit the conditions they need. My crepe myrtle did a pause early this month but I noticed today a few blossoms struggling to pop out so maybe it will cool down a bit and allow them to flourish. They remind me of my fragrant lilacs in my home state of Kansas. Another favorite that will not grow here in Florida. Thank you for a sweet stroll today…I admire your energy which I know is a lot to bring such beauty to your gardens. Blessings always dear friend
Thank you, Kari. I am afraid with the intense heat and humidity my energy is waning! Wishing you a lovely August!
I just finished reading the 5 year anniversity of the sunshine cottage and then I found this post. It’s fascinating how our gardens are so dead during the Winter and how those seeds Wake up at just the exact moment to become the beauty you show today. Oh yes and all the hard work you put into it also, so much beauty for a short time.
Thank you, Alice. Gardening is a huge investment of time and energy and of course, we aren’t getting any younger! Happy August!
Pam, your garden is absolutely stunning! I would love for you to discuss your fertilizing, pruning, etc schedule sometime. All the white blooms with the green backdrop makes everything look so cool, even though I know how hot it actually has been. Those blooms are magnificent. We have finally had some rain the last few days thank goodness, and I am looking forward to the cold front coming through this weekend. Temps in the high 70s, yes please!
Thank you, Roxanne! The head gardener needs to answer those questions. Maybe y’all could chat sometime. We had a wonderful rain yesterday and it is supposed to cool down. Happy August!
Pam, your July garden is just stunning. I love love all the hydrangea varieties (my favorite flower) and oh my gosh, those marigolds are amazing! The zinnias as so pretty and I love the coleus too – it looks very happy where it is. You would never guess that the heat index is in the triple digits as the garden looks so cool and inviting. Just beautiful and so inspiring. Happy Thursday!
Thank you, Kim! Not only does the heat affect the garden, it has left me with little energy and needing lots of iced tea! Happy August!
Sorry I’m late to visit Pam but what a treat to see your gorgeous garden blooms! I’ve never been much of a marigold fan, but your giant marigolds have changed my mind. Have you noticed more ladybugs in your garden this year because of them? Your coleus looks so healthy and lush too! Our blooms in the declining stage with the triple digit temperatures and lack of rain. This is the first year I remember the limelight blooms turning brown so early…*sigh* Wishing you a wonderful weekend, stay cool! 🌸💗
Mary, you are never late. I was never a marigold fan, either! But this giant variety definitely changed my mind. Yes, more ladybugs. We had significant rain yesterday afternoon and into the evening. Our hydrangeas have turned brown the last couple of days. Happy August!
Oh Pam. I am always in awe of your stunning gardens. Your collection of hydrangeas is beautiful. Your marigolds are so pretty and quite a showstopper. You have inspired me to try planting them from seeds next year. I have enjoyed my virtual walk through your garden. It has been in the triple digits here for the past few days, but we have had a cool down this morning and it is raining cats and dogs. Sorry, I am late visiting this week. I have been away from my computer this week. I hope you have a wonderful day, my dear friend!
Thank you, Shannon. We had rain yesterday and promised cooler weather! Rain really helps the garden, more beneficial than hand watering! Happy August!
So gorgeous Pam! My paint brush is calling me… I love the hydrangeas, but the zinnia photographs are simply stunning!
Jenna
Thank you, Jenna! I hope the photos inspire your paint brush!
Definitely!
What a delightful pause to pass through your lush and much-loved garden. The
hydrangeas, zinnias, marigolds and coleus look so cool and content…. which suggests
a great effort was made to accomplish it. Thank you for the hard work to bring such
beauty to our world. This will be a banner year for extreme weather popping up all
over and testing our adaptability and fortitude. You have aced it in spades…..
Thank you, Mary. Yes the heat has really been a factor in gardening. Some days it is so oppressive, I just have to retreat indoors and drink iced tea! Happy August!
Pam, your colorful explosion of amazing July blooms gave me a boost this afternoon! I learn so much, too. I planted two Coleus’s (spelling is wrong I’m sure!) this year! I love the tall marigolds~ you have such a gift in growing all the varieties (and 10 years later on some…). I love you so much! Thank you for sharing such beauty with us! ♥️🙏💚 💐
Thank you, Karla for strolling through the garden with me! It is our pleasure to share. Love and hugs 🙏🏻❤️
Your gardens are gorgeous. I cannot even believe your HUGE marigolds – wow!
It finally cooled off here – that stifling humid heat was really getting unbearable. I hope you are cooling a bit these last few days, too.
Thank you, Michele. We had rain yesterday and it is supposed to cool down for a few days and we get a reprieve from the oppressive heat. Happy August!
I love hydrangeas and enjoyed mine when we lived in New England. They were lovely and I always made sure to dry some each year once they turned pink for our guest room. Unfortunately they will not grow in our part of Florida. Hope you get more rain and a cool down for your garden.
Thank you for your visit, Karen! Hydrangeas are beautiful and I love them in arrangements!
Yes, I must admit I got lost in your Southern flower garden and didn’t want to leave! It is a true masterpiece!
Such a delightful Summer garden Pam! We’re experiencing very wet conditions here, the wettest on record apparently, looking forward to sunny & warm days ahead. 😊
Blessings, Jennifer
Pam, your garden is so beautiful. I am admiring all of the pretty blooms. With this heat, we cannot have a lot of flowers. Also we are on a well, so no extra water for a big garden. I can always admire yours.
Thank you, Linda! By August our garden begins to show it is tired! Your garden always looks beautiful!