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

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day June 2013

June is the easiest month for taking Garden Blogger Bloom Day pictures! So much is in bloom - just walk and shoot!
Here's what's blooming in my garden today:

I grew Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) from seed last summer. They formed good sized clumps and this summer they are in full bloom.

Feverfew (Tanacetum parnitheum) have seeded themselves ALL over the place this spring.

Even though I added lots of manure, my Siberian Iris were stunning but minimal in numbers.

I neglected to prune back this shrub rose in April and it's grown as big as a tree! Very pretty single pale pink blooms all over it.

I thought I had lost this little Darling. Thank goodness it's back! It's a Himalayan Cinquefoil (Potentilla argyrophylla var. atrosanguinea), a wonderful small clump with silvery leaves and a bright scarlet-red flower.

Here is my Explorer Rose - John Cabot - shining bright red in the midst of Red Twig Dogwood

The Rugosa Rose is blooming in deep pink glory

The Gas Plant (Dictamnus alba) and Yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia punctata) look lovely as we head down the path through the arbour.

My David Austin Rose 'Mary' reaches for the sun but still blooms amazingly well in fairly deep shade.

3 Weigela bushes are blooming deep pink. I was trying to catch a bee poking its nose into the bloom but it was too quick for me to photograph.

Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis odorata) has a delicious vanilla scent

And due to cool temperatures and plenty of rain, the peonies are still going strong (Look Helene - I DID tie them up. I felt sorry for them and decided to take better care of one of my favourite flowers).

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 Pork and Apricot Salad.

From This to That

Early springtime in the garden starts showing us how nature renews itself every year. I love going out when the weather finally warms up. I always do a full tour of the property, looking for new growth. And today there was lots!! Let's see how the first sprouts look now and how they will look later.

Dicentra spectabilis - Bleeding Heart

Eremurus elwesii - Foxtail Lilies

Poppy

Double daylily

Tanacetum parthenium - Feverfew

Matteuccia struthopteris - Ostrich Fern

Dianthus barbatus - Sweet William

Aconitum - Monkshood

So, have faith, Impatient Gardeners! (that includes me!!) from small beginnings grow gorgeous flowers and plants :)

Please check out my food blog  - the latest recipes are for Beef Wellington and Jamie Oliver's Cajun Chicken with sweet potato mash and charred corn salsa.