Welcome to Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day for August 2017.
Here in my USDA Hardiness Zone 6a garden in central Indiana, summer is humming along to the tune of bees buzzing and birds singing.
We have received more than our fair share of rain this summer until about 10 days ago, when we didn’t get any rain for a week or so. I left town for the GWA: Association of Garden Communicators conference in Buffalo, New York, and it didn’t rain the entire time I was gone—six days.
But don’t weep for me. It isn’t that dry out in the garden.
The August Dreams Garden border, featured in this first picture above, is looking good as it begins to bloom with late summer and early fall flowers.
Currently it features Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta, and Joe-Pye Weed, Eutrochium dubium ‘Little Joe’. In the back of the border you can see the yellow flowers of cup plant, Silphium perfoliatum, which has been blooming for quite awhile now. You can’t really see it in this picture because the flowers are tiny and white, but around the sculpture, Boltonia, Boltonia asteroides var. latisquama ‘Snowbank’, is also blooming.
Also blooming in this border is Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Henry Eilers’
It’s a nice variation from the other Black-eyed Susans.
When I go out into the garden in late summer, I am drawn to this border first because it is just beginning to bloom. It is my “spring in late summer” garden, as I plant for a perpetual spring here at May Dreams Gardens. Ver perpetuum is what Sir Francis Bacon called the idea that we should have a succession of flowers blooming throughout the year.
But the rest of the garden isn’t lacking for bloom. Here’s a quick tour around for other bloom highlights in August.
If you tried to get plants to spill over the sidewalk, they wouldn’t cooperate, so it is nice when they do soften the edges, like this Coreposis rosea does.
I got the bulbs for these Pineapple Lilies, Eucomis sp. in late June at a Regional GWA meeting. Thanks to Brent and Becky’s Bulbs for giving them to us.
I wouldn’t want to face an August in my garden without the blooms of the old-fashioned hostas. I just call them “August Lilies”. They have a great scent and remind me of the hostas my grandmother grew on the northside of her house.
I love how this Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ peaks out over the fence so from the street people can see it and wonder “what else has she got in that garden back there?” This is the view from the back garden
And finally, I have to show off my zinnias in August. They are looking good and will bloom all the way until frost.
Did someone say frost? Not me. I’m counting the days of summer, not the days until fall!
What’s blooming in your garden as we hit mid-August? We would love to have you join in for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day and show us.
It’s easy to participate. Just post on your blog about what’s blooming in your garden and then come back here and put your link in the Mr. Linky widget and then leave a comment to tell us what you have waiting for us.
And always remember…
“We can have flowers nearly every month of the year.” ~ Elizabeth Lawrence
Hi Carol,
I always enjoy seeing pics of your zinnia garden..such a cheery display. You're lucky to have rain so frequently this summer. We just finished a 57 day dry streak. Boy that rain felt wonderful for a day!
Your August garden is wonderful Carol, and you have some of my favorite late blooming cultivars, such as Limelight Hydrangea and Black Eyed Susan. I especially enjoyed the narrow petals of your Rudbeckia subtomentosa 'Henry Eilers', which are very interesting and your Zinnias are gorgeous! I cannot believe the summer has gone by so quickly and hope that we have an extended time until the cooler temperatures arrive. Thanks for hosting and for the wonderful visit!
Hi Carol, I love the colors of your zinnias. I haven't seen here yet in the tropics those variegated flowers, i wish to have them here too.
I'm certainly glad that you didn't breathe the 'F' word (frost) as, like an annual, I prefer to pretend that summer will go on indefinitely. Your August blooms are looking grand and your Zinnias are especially nice. Must plant some next year. Happy GBBD and thanks again for hosting the fun!
I love your 'whirly' sculptures Carol! We have Rudbeckia hirta in common, though mine looks like it's going to be a short-lived perennial in my garden. This month I'm looking at a plant which is going from strength to strength in my garden and looking forward to combining it with a find from a garden visit last week.
Happy Blooms Day everyone!
Hi Carol,
thanks for hosting Garden Bloggers´Bloom day! Your plants look healthy and happy! Here in Vienna it is also very dry at the moment and my plants have been suffering a bit from the heat. Nevertheless, my cosmos plants are doing very well at the moment and there are also some roses in flower.
Happy Garden Bloggers´Bloom Day!
Best wishes,
Lisa
Thanks for hosting! I fully agree regarding old-fashioned hostas and their scent!
Carol, thank you for all these years of Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. Always something to look forward to. Love your zinnias! Our hostas are done blooming – I need to get a late variety like you have. I love black eyed Susans but have never grown, for some reason. Happy GBBD!
All is looking well in your garden this August. I love the zinnia border. I bet the butterflies line up along that border too. Happy GBBD.
Carol – I'm so excited to join you today as a new garden blogger. I've been a follower of May Dreams Gardens for many years and always loved the 15th of the month for the bloom day party. And now today I can participate. Thanks so much for hosting.
My husband and I have moved to a new home, so I have a blank slate to fill. I have not been able to do much, but I just transplanted my Plantagenia hostas yesterday. Sweet aroma from the blooms. I love them!
You have so much blooming as always. But the sculpture in the midst of the flowers is wonderful.
You've done a great job of creating a perpetual spring, Carol–so much in bloom in your garden! Your zinnias look terrific. Mine are so short this year–I planted the same varieties I always do and in the same flowerbed, so I'm mystified about what is going on. Right now, though, I'm praying for rain–it's bone dry here.
It is so nice to see gardens from across the country. We are more alike than not!
Your garden is beautiful and bountiful but what struck me most strongly was your lament about 6 days without rain. I never realized that rain was as plentiful as it apparently is during the summer months in your part of the country. In coastal SoCal, a true Mediterranean climate, we don't get much, if any, rain between the end of April and October (or later). Rain once a week would be incredible. C'est la vie!
Lots of summer left to enjoy! So many people confuse August with Autumn…
Your zinnias are beautiful and now I have zinnia envy because my hot, humid weather is causing black spots. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.
Jeannie @ GetMeToTheCountry.Blogspot.com
The zinnias against your fence looked just like the zinnias against my fence last year. For a minute that was confusing, but this year I never got zinnias planted – but you reminded me that is something I should never forget again. Thank you so much for Bloom Day.
Hi Carol and all plant admirers,
Your garden is beautiful as always. In South Dakota, we challenge the hardy genetics of plants here some summers like this one with lots of change "opportunities," as they say. Blooms are certainly appreciated! Thanks again for encouraging all to take part in Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. Great idea! Regards, Brenda in South Dakota
Thanks for arranging Carol – I really love participating. Your zinnias look great – fancy trying to grow some next year.
Oh my gosh, I'm so happy to have found your blog! I plan to start participating in this linkup. (recovering from surgery, so probably not this month).
Good seeing you at GWA Buffalo – never enough time to sit down and really talk, hope to catch up with you at another event soon.
Thanks for hosting, Carol! It was great to meet you in Buffalo. Enjoy the rest of the beautiful summer!
No rain for 6 days!!! Lucky you having all that rain. It has certainly given you some gorgeous blooms. Love the coreopsis and I am with you in liking plants that soften the edge of pathways sometimes to their total exclusion.
Gosh, your garden is gorgeous–so much going on! That Hydrangea paniculata is quite something! Thanks for hosting.
That 'Limelight' hydrangea is stunning. I just planted a 'Vanilla Strawberry' – I hope it is this pretty. Happy Bloom Day!
I don't have a Bloom Day post to share, but still wanted to comment on your dedication to enjoying August blooms. Perhaps this would be a good solution to the late summer doldrums that plague my garden. Luckily the zinnias shine this time of year, but I could use some perennial color too.
I made it, happy summer!
Happy BloomDay Carol, and congrats on the great reception for your book !
I'm so glad you have your August Dreams bed. It makes the summer winding down so much nicer don't you think? Love all your photos.~~Dee
Your garden is looking wonderful, Carol. I wouldn't mind some of your rain. It is dry, dry, dry here. This evening, I've been sitting at my desk listening to the rumble of distant thunder as storms skirt by to my north and to my south, but not a drop of rain has fallen here. Thanks again for hosting. -Jean
Hi Carol, thanks for hosting. It's been a wonderful August for us thus far. Can't remember getting this kind of rainfall and mild temperatures in August before.
I do love your cooperative coreopsis! Your late summer bloom still speaks of lush summer to me – but then autumn is a long way off here in Arizona!
I'm late (as happens too often!) but glad to enjoy your Bloom Day post and add mine. Every time I see your Rudbeckia I wonder why I don't have more. They look so good everywhere I go this time of year!
Love that Limelight Hydrangea – it is fantastic! Glad Mother Nature granted you free irrigation this summer. I'm dreading our next water bill… Yikes!
Things are looking good at May Dreams Gardens. We have been getting consistent rainfall, too, and the garden sure appreciates it.