Garden Blogger's Bloom Day August 2013

Summer 2013 has certainly had every type of weather! Environment Canada promised that there would be no drought like last summer but we have gone a number of times without rain for 2 1/2 weeks. Every day a promise of thundershowers but very rarely did they happen. There was severe flooding in one thunderstorm (especially in Toronto) but not here in Burlington. Now we have had a really chilly snap (overnight temps of 13C) but a promise of high heat and humidity for the weekend. Maybe this is the "new normal".

Regardless, some flowers are still blooming in my garden. Many are at their peak and quite beautiful. Please take a look.

The Oakleaf hydrangea bush at the front door is full of pink blooms

The Lisianthus are blooming strong

The white phlox are open and very fragrant

The blackcurrant bushes are full of berries

The Sweet Williams are re-blooming 

Agastache foeniculum, commonly called anise hyssop, is a species of perennial plant in the mint family. Very Bee-friendly.

My balloon flower has had more blossoms than ever this year. 3 weeks and still blooming. 

Achillea 'Coronation Gold' is always bent over, reaching for the sun

Most of the hosta flowers are gone but the smaller blue hostas are still in flower

I'm not sure if this is Coreopsis 'Moonbeam' or 'Zagreb' but it's a dainty little pop of yellow

A few blossoms are left on the Rose of Sharon

The Explorer Rose 'John Cabot' rarely re-blooms but it's doing it now :)

Here's the star of the show: Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm')

And at the side of the house, the self-seeding Sweet Peas are all over the fence

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day is a Meme created by May Dreams Garden

Gardeners post images of what's blooming in their garden on the 15th day of every month. All are welcome to participate.

Also, please check out my recipe blog Astrid's Home - the latest post is Zucchini and Summer Squash Gratin with Parmesan and fresh Thyme

My Dad's Garden - Sept 2012

My dad is an excellent gardener. We have always had gorgeous gardens in all the houses we lived in because of his interest and his skill. Our favourite joke is how he was in the driveway washing the car as I came home from a friend's (I was probably about 16 yrs. old).
"How do you like my Tropicana roses?" he asked, referring to a long long stretch of brilliant coral/orange hybrid teas.
"Nice" I said, hardly glancing at them.
I'm sure he sighed then but is happy now because I am as obsessed with gardening as he is.

I asked him this past Monday if I could come over and photograph his front and backyard.
Oh, he said, you are a few weeks too late. There's really nothing left to see.

Well - I beg to differ! Sure there was probably more in June and July (and I promise I will get my act together faster next year!) but take a look at how beautiful his garden still is now.

At the curb, his bright red celosia and white lisianthus are still holding steady.

Every year, dahlias are the anchors of his front garden. He told me that he bought them all as tubers from a local horticultural plant sale so he has no tags and no names :(
But I think we can just enjoy their beauty and you could track down something similar if they prove to be favourites you are interested in.

I love how dahlias vary in texture, size and colour. He loves them and they obviously love him back, blooming like crazy so late in the season.

He patiently grows the fussy, difficult Lisianthus (Prairie Rose) from seed every year. The white ones he gave me are doing very well in my front garden. He grew some deep purple ones as well for himself.

His yellow and red Rex Begonias are still a lovely shot of colour near the front door.

A short, quiet ornamental grass (could be quaking grass - "Brizia") is happy under the living room window among the evergreens.

Years ago, my Dad picked up this flowering maple at our local horticultural society meeting. Here is what he says:

"...About the flowering maple. It has to be protected from frost. So I took it down to the basement last fall and put it under a grow light. Early spring I started to add a little liquid fertilizer to the water and it started to bloom.  More and more ! It's been blooming like crazy all summer now. So in the same pot it will go down to the basement again, I will trim it a bit and repeat my cycle…."

Here is a little yellow rose that my mother received from a friend on Mother's Day. It was planted near the back basement window and is now in bloom.

Here is an interesting type of verbena.

The yellow rex begonias are still very lush and lovely in their hanging baskets.

And his Rose of Sharon is still in bloom.

And he said there was nothing left to see - hah!!! Glad I went over to check for myself. (A big thanks for letting me share your garden with my readers, Opa).