Hello sweet friends! Can you believe that tomorrow is the last day of July? I think I say this concerning each and every month. Is that a sign of age?
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
Isaiah 40:8 (ESV)
Hydrangea Paniculata are the stars of the July garden! Their name comes from the fact that their blooms are cone-shaped rather than ball-shaped and grow on new wood. Vanilla strawberry hydrangeas have been our best performers of all of our panicled hydrangeas.
Vanilla Strawberry produces large creamy white blooms. Because of our intense summer heat, they never turn the strawberry color. Most summers we see only a tinge of pink.
Their blooms are heavy but I was able to corral them up and around the garden tuteur. The white crape myrtle is in the background beside RM’s workshop. I love the white against the white in this image!
I have never been a fan of marigolds. But, these giant marigolds made me change my mind. This is our third season of planting marigolds from seed. Their flower heads of 3 inches sit atop sturdy plants. This image looks like autumn (I can’t wait) with the Japanese maple in the background!
There is a lot of blush-pink showing up early this year! We have had very little rain and high temperatures. Daily watering for Butch is very time consuming.
Even though I am a huge fan of color, a green and white garden appeals to me!
In the foreground is Hydrangea Paniculata “Pink Diamond” that grows six to eight feet. It is a vigorous, bushy, deciduous shrub with conical flower panicles. Opening in creamy white, the florets will turn pale pink in our Zone 8a garden.
“I was certain it was a dreamer’s dream. Colors from across the spectrum flashed across my eyes, sweet fragrances floating on a gentle breeze awakened my senses, and harmonious melodies drifted through the space surrounding me. Such a peaceful and restful experience was mine, yet I realized dreams do come to an end…but then I discovered I was in the garden.”
~Butch Richardson
We had to replace our three limelights in the rear of the garden. The Bloodgood Japanese Maples that were planted when the garden was first installed, grew until their roots began interfering with the limelights. We tried to replace a couple, but they died. This spring we decided to buy a couple of larger planters that matched an existing one to be placed where the limelights were. We purchased three ‘Tiny Quick Fire’ hydrangeas that are one of the smallest panicle hydrangeas. It is an ultra-compact dwarf hydrangea that is between 1.5 to 3 feet tall at maturity and 2 to 3 feet wide. It opens creamy white and ages to rosy pink and red. We will probably only see a pinkish color in our heat.
We have a pair of ‘Little Lamb’ hydrangeas at the front entrance to the garden. They are the first to bloom every year. Unfortunately, the wind and a couple of hard rains beat their heavy blooms down. I failed to get pictures when they were beautiful.
Butch and I both prefer the yellow marigolds to the orange. This spot is in the left rear corner of the fence and provides a burst of color against the trees.
A peek into the cottage garden where there is an explosion of color!
We have four varieties of panicle hydrangeas…2 Little Lamb (one of which is pictured here) 5 Vanilla Strawberry, 1 Pink Diamond, and 3 Tiny Quick Fire.
The basket of flowers on the 3-wheel bike adds a little more brilliant color to the Cottage Garden!
I did manage to find a photo taken in early July to show how pretty the Little Lambs were.
A view from the garden looking toward the patio!
The bronze statute in the center of the garden is about to be overtaken with the soft touch hollies!
Two Sioux crape myrtles that are celebrated for their bright pink summer flowers flank the entrance to the side garden!
The front view of the garden from our patio!
After eleven seasons of gardening, we are convinced that you have to love it or you will quit. Ever since Butch retired at the end of 2022, he has worked tirelessly. We both know at our ages, we will not be able to continue at this rate. He says, “we will until we can’t!”
Thank you for your visit and gracious comments. Wishing you a lovely finish to the month of July and a delightful start to August.
Linking with: Between Naps on the Porch,Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
I was of the option that “I would until I couldn’t” also. Well I’ve reached that red line and crossed over it but I’ve been blessed with a fantastic yard man. His name is Rudy and he tells me what needs doing then he does it.
Your hydrangeas are so beautiful. I’ve never been able to grow them here. It interesting that your hot weather doesn’t turn them brown. My lawn is so weary of the triple digits and no rain even when the sprinklers go on three times a week, that every weed know to man is growing there. I walk the lawn every day looking for the next intruder. Additional water from the hose doesn’t seem to help. I might even be looking forward to Fall. Did I say that? Ice and snow doesn’t interest me.
Absolutely gorgeous Pam! You both have worked together to make a beautiful landscape! I love all the varieties and the colors are wonderful! I have always loved marigolds because they keep pests away. The giant ones are my favorite as well. We’ll soon be working with pumpkins and mums! After such a hot and humid summer, I’m ready for it! I say that every year it seems. Take care. We’re still in triple digit temps with the humidity. I’m sure y’all are too! I do believe we’ve been blessed with more rain than you have, which has helped us not have to water quite as much. I know you must be weary of watering the plants. I will weed again when it gets cooler, because the ran has them growing like crazy. I simply can’t take this heat! I’m beginning to love those weeds filling in the blank spots!😂 Clara❤️
Your garden flowers are gorgeous as always. I am sure it is a lot of work in the south to keep everything looking so good in the heat. All the hard work is really showing in your garden.
Happy New Week. Hugs. Kris