Welcome to Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day for August 2021.
Here in my USDA Hardiness Zone 6a garden in central Indiana, USA, we were enjoying rain when we needed it… until a few weeks ago.
Now, we could use a bit of rain, and that’s what we’ve gotten. An early morning rain shower brought .15 inches to my garden, prior to that any rain has been just enough to wet the ground.
Anyway, let’s move on from the Surprise Lilies, Lycoris squamigera, pictured above, which have been blooming for a while and are rapidly fading in the heat.
How about some Joe Pye Weed?
It’s a native and attracts pollinators. Plus this variety, ‘Little Joe’ doesn’t get too tall. And it won’t get too tall also because it is starting to be in a bit of shade from a tree I planted 24 years ago.
Nearby are Black-eyed Susans, probably Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’.
Honestly, I could have taken pictures of several different patches of Black-eyed Susans, which liberally plant themselves in various parts of the garden. I wish I could say that I designed the backyard plantings so that you could just let your eye go from one patch of Black-eyed Susans to the next and see the whole garden. But, I cannot. They did it all on their own. (Fortunately, they are shallow-rooted and easy to pull out where you don’t want them.)
Moving on… the Japanese jacinth, Barnardia japonica, are beginning to bloom.
I got my plants from the garden of Elizabeth Lawrence, part of Wing Haven in Charlotte, North Carolina. Passalongs!
What else is blooming in August? The usual flower show is going on in the vegetable garden with zinnias, marigolds, and a long row of nasturtiums. I direct sowed them all and they are doing great. Oh, and one sunflower that survived the rabbits or birds or whoever decided the seedlings were “good eats.”
I should wrap this up with images of hostas, phlox, roses, Allium ‘Millenium’ and other perennials, but instead, I’ll close out with some little Johnny-jump-up violas—yes, I’m still loving violas— hanging in there in spite of the heat (with some alyssum too).
What’s blooming in your gardening on this Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day of August 2021? It’s easy to participate in this meme and show us! Just post on your blog about the flowers in your garden on or around the 15th of the month, then come back here and leave a link to your bloom day blog post in the Mr. Linky widget below and post a comment to tell us what you have for us to see.
And always remember…We can have flowers nearly every month of the year. ~ Elizabeth Lawrence
Love those Surprise Lilies! Mine have bloomed and are now fading away. Happy Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day!
Your blooms are looking wonderful despite the lack of rain and I love the Lycoris squamigera, plus the sunflower that randomly planted itself.! It has been hot and humid here on Long Island and some of the blooms include Crape Myrtle, Platycodon and dwarf Rudbeckia ‘Little Gold Star’ among others, As always, thank you for hosting and allowing us to see blooms every time of the year!
Your blooms are looking wonderful despite the lack of rain and I love the Lycoris squamigera, dwarf Joe Pye Weed plus the sunflower that made it! It has been hot and humid here on Long Island and some of the blooms include Crape Myrtle, Platycodon and dwarf Rudbeckia ‘Little Gold Star’ among others, As always, thank you for hosting Carol and allowing us to enjoy blooms every time of the year!
My Little Joe pye weed is also blooming. I have Black Eyed Susans in three areas. I planted some Queen Anne’s Lace seeds in the Spring. They are in full bloom. I also have a volunteer or bird deposited Sunflower ready to bloom. the rest of my perennials look tired. We need rain!
I need to look into cultivated Joe Pye weed. Our area wild plants are in bloom now. Enjoyed your Surprise Lilies and black eyed Susans. For some reason, I’ve never been successful with black eyed Susans but they are such a pretty flower. I’ve never heard of Japanese jacinth and looked them up. Not sure I’ve seen them for sale locally but there is always mail order.
Those surprise lilies are gorgeous, even if it’s become too hot for them. I have a red form that will show up in the next month or so. That bumble bee is enjoying the Joe Pye Weed–good catch. Thanks for hosting, it’s always fun to see what grows in far-flung places.
I always have a soft spot for violas. Enjoyed your surprise lily photo. I used to grow Belladonna lily’s which look somewhat the same with a blueish hue, but my yard is too shady now. Beautiful August flowers.
I love the new-to-me Barnardia japonica and will check it out, although my guess is that it’s on the long list of plants that don’t like SoCal. I had a few Lycoris bloom here this year but the naked ladies (Amaryllis belladonna) significantly outnumber them – they actually seem to appreciate our very dry conditions. Thanks, as always, for hosting GBBD, Carol!
Enough rain or not, your garden is beautiful! Thanks for sharing with us!
Happy Bloom Day!
Working on a story about Lycoris now – mine are fading fast in the heat too!
I had never seen that Japanase jacinth flower – interesting and something to look for next time I am in Charlotte, NC.
– KJ
I’m doing fine produce for this Bloom Day.
Every time someone posts a picture of Lycoris I wonder why I don’t have any. Happy Bloomday !
What a pretty flower the Barnardia japonica, has. It reminds me of a wild orchid. I have a massive plant of Heterotheca villosa delighting pollinators in my garden this month. Thank you for faithfully sponsoring Bloom Day, Carol!
Rain!? We’re so dry out here in the West….
I love that sunflower shot, the green bits as shown in the photo is one of my favorite stages.
Never heard of Surprise lilies and now I want some!
I have the Lycoris showing off as well. It’s a well-timed summer surprise.
I’m enjoying the bigger photos on your blog!
Fantastic garden! I am still planning mine for the spring.