Summer might not officially start until the 20th, but here at the Red House the summer gardening season started several weeks ago.
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| A closeup of the little Coral Lily (Lilium pumilum) |
I admit, the garden has worn me down this month. I feel like I haven't played in the garden this month so much as wrestled with it.
Deer, rabbits, raccoons and voles have all been working against me this year.
I suspect a conspiracy.
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| Most of the front garden has remained intact, thankfully. |
And we won't even talk about the weeds, which have taken every opportunity that the early spring has afforded.
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| Scabiosa blooms |
But, let's focus on the positive! Even though I've been too busy to plant hardly any annuals, my garden has still had a fair amount of color thanks to some hard working perennials and bulbs.
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| Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue', which is a perennial here in zone 7b |
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| Some 'Cancun' lily blooms that have survived the deer |
Two of my favorite flowering shrubs have also been faithfully blooming - the beautiful variegated
'Santana' Butterfly Bush
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| 'Santana' Butterfly Bush with an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail |
and the
Hydrangea arborescens 'Incrediball'.
To my amazement, my little vegetable garden has turned into a jungle and has started to produce peppers, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, and green beans.
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| Note to self: buy bigger tomato cages next year... |
Here's hoping that the wildlife won't nibble away the rest of my garden!
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| Shoo! |
To see what is blooming in other gardens around the world, visit
Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day over at
May Dreams Garden.
Indie, how many veges you grow! It's nice to eat your own veges and salad. I love your Coral lily!
ReplyDeleteThanks! The kids have especially had fun eating stuff out of the veggie garden - they'll try pretty much anything if they get to pick it!
DeleteThat looks like a very healthy rabbit and no wonder with all those beautiful plants to nibble away at. The cancun lily is gorgeous. Glad your little veggy garden is doing well.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good sized rabbit! Plump from feasting on the all the most expensive plants in the neighborhood, no doubt.
DeleteLovin' it! You have some great June blooms. So, did saying 'shoo' work? LOL
ReplyDeleteDavid/:0)
I saw the rabbit come into my backyard through a gap in the fence. Then I kind of chased him around for awhile, as he couldn't figure out how to get out! At least I caught the rascal before he started his morning breakfast.
DeleteHello Indie
ReplyDeleteYou have my sympathy re: the number of uninvited "guests" in your garden. That rabbit sure would make a lovely "Hasenpfeffer" (ooops! did I just say that out loud???) Your blooms are beautiful - the dainty coral lily, Black and Blue salvia and the Butterfly bush. And I'm thrilled about your veggie garden. I remember the post showing how you'd created it. And here it is producing food already - yay! Nothing beats homegrown veggies.
Ha, I think it just slipped out! I don't think I've actually eaten rabbit before but I always love trying new foods - that bunny might want to watch out in case I get tempted..
DeleteI've never seen a Cancun lily before. It's gorgeous. Every time I see a photo of the black and blue salvia, I think, "Wow." I wonder if it's hardy in Zone 6?
ReplyDeleteThe Cancun lilies also quickly multiply, which is a big boon since they are located in the deer danger zone. They also get taller than me!
DeleteI think the salvia is only hardy up to zone 7b, according to Dave's Garden, unfortunately. Maybe if you had a warmer spot in your yard next to the house? My Mother-in-law grows them as annuals, which I think is fairly common further north.
We had some of the same visitors this year. Your rabbit and Swallowtail images are really nice. The coral lily is a beautiful plant. I love the form of it.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I love the coral lily. It's rather small, but dainty and bright. I only have a couple of them and would like to get more at some point.
Deleteawwwww...cute 'wabbit'! x
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what rabbit you're seeing, Jane - it doesn't look cute at all to me standing there in my backyard!
DeleteIt's looking lovely despite the animals, Indie!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I think the mild winter we've had has really brought out all the critters.
DeleteMy favourite is the coral lily.
ReplyDeleteBeing a townie, it still sounds strange when I read about deer in people's gardens. We have urban foxes, I'm not sure which are more damaging.
It's funny, since I don't feel like I live in the woods at all, just a normal subdivision, but we get a lot of critters since there is a natural area not too far from us.
DeleteI didn't know that urban areas got foxes! We have some foxes in the area, but they tend to stay away from houses, thank goodness (at least as far as I know!)
The rabbits have been busy in my garden too. They keep eating all the blooms from my hosta and the asters. Your veggies are looking great! Love the black and blue salvia. I have this one in my garden too and it just keeps on growing. I even dug up some of it and moved it to another part of my garden. It does seem to spread.
ReplyDeleteI've also heard that the salvia spreads. I'm hoping it and the lantana I planted recently will fill in the area by my mailbox. I have it boxed in by my driveway, the sidewalk, and the pure clay of the empty lot next door. I would be impressed if it escapes!
DeleteI love having wildlife visit. I feel they are acknowledging my efforts to live as one with nature. On the other hand they could see me as an easy mark.
ReplyDeleteHa, I try to garden for wildlife - however, I was thinking birds and butterflies, not bunnies and deer!
DeleteDealing with all the critters . . . no wonder you've been having a terrible time. Hang in there. I love Salvia 'Black and Blue.' Mine isn't blooming yet, but any day now, it will. Such exquisite color. Happy Bloom Day.~~Dee
ReplyDeleteI love the color too! One doesn't often see such a shade of blue!
DeleteLovely blooms in your summer garden. That swallowtail must really love that beautiful variegated butterfly bush. It's quite a beauty!
ReplyDeleteThe butterfly bush attracts swallowtails in droves in the summer. I quite enjoy it!
DeleteI love the cascading Nasturtiums, too! Shoo, rabbit, shoo!
ReplyDeleteThat bunny left, but last night I saw his little brother. Ack, it's a whole family!
DeleteYour garden is filled with such beauty and wonder. Butterflies, wildlife, and gorgeous blooms.That Cancun lily has the most beautiful colors.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Trying to focus on the beauty and wonder, as opposed to the destruction and chaos!
Delete