Wednesday, July 15, 2009

July GBBD and One Year Blogiversary



Gosh, where do I start? As you probably know, it's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, started by Carol of May Dreams Gardens to celebrate all things blooming on the 15th of every month. It also happens to be my one year anniversary of garden blogging. I can't believe that something I started as a lark a year ago would offer me such long term satisfaction. Or that I would eventually meet some of the great garden bloggers out there (including the intrepid Carol) less than a year later at Chicago Spring Fling. Blogging about my garden has made me a better gardener and photographer; I've also "met" many wonderful people out there, and for all of that, I am most grateful.



So this is the month that my Susans shine. Black-eyed Susans, ‘Goldsturm’ Rudbeckia, that is. There are many more Susan blooms to come than are shown in these first two photos. In the background you can see my willow teepee.

This teepee has been a study in patience. In the spring I planted many Louisiana Purple Pod Beans, Hyacinth Bean Vines, and Moonflowers around it. Almost all of them succumbed to slugs since we had such a rainy spring (whatever happened to rain??). So I had to replant multiple times and what you see on the teepee now is mostly Moonflower (‘Giant White’) with some smattering of Hyacinth Bean Vine. The Moonflower is not blooming yet but I've had a few Hyacinth Bean blooms (see below). They look a little puny, don't they? I grew this vine many years ago and if I recall correctly, it should perk up with more blooms later on in the summer.



Blue Daze, Evolvulus glomeratus, is finally starting to beef up.



I love how long Purple Coneflower blooms. Or maybe I should say how long the blooms stay on the plant.



My Hansel eggplant is really a cute plant and is starting to put on some blooms and fruit. I was told this eggplant was like Ichiban, you know, long and slender. But after I bought it I researched it and found that the eggplants are finger-sized! Not exactly what I wanted but the plant's beauty makes up for the mistake.



Now here's a plant that I really, really, really want to bloom. It's in the pot, "Grosso Fat Spike" lavender. I planted it last year and it never bloomed. I didn't trust planting it in the ground for fear it might get too much water over the winter. Will my lavender ever bloom? Well if it doesn't bloom by the end of the year, it's outta here.



I have spent far too much time trying to take a picture of one of the many hummingbirds at my Flame Acanthus, Anisicanthus quadrifidus “wrightii” (also called Hummingbird Plant). Hopefully, with my helpful circle diagram, you can see one of the critters partaking of the nectar. This plant didn't do that much last year, the first year I had it. But it's exploded in growth and blooms this year. In fact, I had to cut it back a bit in order to give the pepper behind it more sun.



I couldn't resist one more shot. Although not directly about blooms (though you can see some of the Susans), it shows a Northern Flicker and Ringed Turtle-dove sharing a moment at the water cooler.



There are a few other things blooming in the garden right now: plumbago, a second set of blooms on one of my daylilies, Lizard Lips aloe, my mystery rose, Veteran's Honor rose, Marie Pavie rose, bouganvillia, my peppers, Verbena bonariensis, cleome "Sparkler White", nicotiana, ‘Ragin’ Cajun’ Ruellia, pink verbena, the Salvias, etc.

I have so much catching up to do on my favorite garden blogs yet now there's so many other gardens to see through GBBD! Carol posts links to all the GBBD posts, so be sure to check them out. And happy anniversary to me! :-)

16 comments:

  1. You can't beat the Susans for summer color. I love the second shot Jean...such nice layering. The last two years hyacinth bean and moonflower vines have been uncooperative! Maybe the seeds were too old or I didn't store them correctly...I will try them next year...the payoff is so good when they bloom. Love the encounter at the water cooler! gail

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  2. Happy blogiversary. Great quality on the pics. I'm also impressed you got a shot of the hummingbird. Ours hover near if I don't have my camera, but the moment I have a camera or try to take a picture it's gone.

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  3. I used to live in Monroe. Congrats on blogging for a year. It is a good thing you circled the little hummer. I so long to get a good shot of ours.
    Donna

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  4. Congratulations on your anniversary. I love the Susans....and the Northern Flicker. He's a beauty. Happy Bloom day~~Linda...

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  5. That bed of lavender is amazing - I hope it blooms for you! And the Flicker is gorgeous - I had a family of them nesting in a tree cavity this spring and the three babies just fledged last week.

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  6. Congratulations on your anniversary. I noticed that I had a few Rudbeckias blooming but I forgot to photograph them. I like the scene with the tepee. I'm so glad my hummingbird is back. I need to try and get a photo.

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  7. Congrats and happy anniversary. Your garden looks so neat and tidy with all those beautiful blooms.

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  8. I realized that I forgot to wish you a very happy blogaversary! it's pretty exciting to reach an anniversary date...gail

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  9. A very happy blogiversary, Jean! I'm so glad we got to meet and hang out together at Spring Fling! That Northern Flicker is a bloomin' beauty, flower or not!

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  10. Congrats on your blogiversary, Jean. I've enjoyed reading your blog, and it was fun to hang out with you in Chicago. It's amazing where blogging will take you, isn't it?

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  11. Wonderful to see your raised beds spilling over! Love the hummer capture!
    Many Happy Returns to your blog!

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  12. Hi Jean, Happy Blogaversary! Blogger ate my first comment but will try again. Your hummer shot is great, very crisp and I love that plant too. Might I plead for the sake of the lavender? Put it in a corner somewhere and forget about it. Sometimes plants don't like to bloom when in the spotlight. :-)
    Frances

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  13. Congratulations on your blogiversary! I second your feelings: I expected to get some ideas and helpful info from reading blogs, but had no idea about the social connections I would make here. It's been so much fun!
    I love all your Susans; can you believe I didn't have one in my garden until this year? Your photos are beautiful, even the hummingbird. They're such elusive little creatures; they seem to know when a camera is near:)

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  14. Happy blogiversary, Jean! Thanks for sharing your beautiful blooms and the birds. Aren't the hummers fun to watch? ~~Rhonda

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  15. Hi Jean, Happy Blogiversary! I haven't even kept track of my blogging, or how many posts I've done, etc...but I know it's been over a year and a half. I only joined Blotanical in Nov. and that's when I started to meet people. It has been fun! You have a lot blooming in your lovely garden...and the bird photos are wonderful! I have only seen a Northern Flicker once in my backyard-luckily I got a photo at the time)-and that hummingbird shot is perfect! With that flame Acanthus, there's no need for a hummingbird feeder!

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  16. The name of your lavendar made me smile....Grosso Fat Spike. It looks pretty even without flowers. Now that you've threatened to banish it from your garden, it's sure to bloom. Good thing you circled the hummingbird, I might have missed it otherwise. Congratulations on one very successful year of blogging.

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