Flowers in July

For July garden parties, I opted to go to Miss J's place. She is an hour north of us in the mountains and experiences somewhat cooler temperatures.

She has a small area in the front and back of her townhouse where she and I have planted several perennials. She took this photo of her Siberian irises before heading off to class on a May morning. They bloomed a week or two later for her than for us.

Iris sibirica 'Caesar's Brother'

I visited her two weeks ago and managed to snag a few photos in bright sunlight. Although they're in the mountains and periodically receive warnings that black bears have been spotted in the vicinity, her flowers don't seem to be bothered by resident deer or other animals. 

Behind her townhouse is a lovely common area filled with open spaces and large trees. The previous owner had planted this butterfly bush. Last fall I had pruned it down to 12 inches or so and now it's about 5 foot high.

Although beautiful, I wouldn't plant these because they're considered invasive in many states.

Buddleja davidii

I had transplanted these daylilies from our front yard when the shade encroached on them. So far they've been spreading nicely for her.

Hemerocallis spp.

All my daylily buds at home have been nipped by deer! Sigh.....

These lilies hadn't yet bloomed when I visited. Also planted by the previous owner, they're taller than I am! See those round blackish things along the stems? These small growths, called bulbils, form between the leaf and stem on several hardy lilies. They will drop to the ground and may eventually grow into a flowering bulb. We plan to move them to a better location.

Lilium spp.

Back at our house, Shasta daisies have begun their summer-long show, relatively unscathed by critters (cross your fingers!).

Leucanthemum superbum 'Becky'

'Becky' does better than other Shasta daisies in my zone 7 garden.

Discovered in among my irises, these spiderwort volunteers have been a pretty surprise.

Tradescantia ohiensis

A camera-shy beetle hides among the petals.

Thanks for visiting us today!