Garden Walk.....

........It's been a cloudy dark morning here so I thought it would be a good time to take a stroll through the garden.  Cloudy or not there are a few bright, sunny flowers to enjoy........

 

Out back in the low area that has had weeks of standing water the plants have not drowned as I expected but have flourished.  They have taken advantage of the time that I cannot walk there (without boots) to just go wild.

 

These Jerusalem artichokes are spindly and not as tall as the should be but they have still put on a show of cheerfulness!

 

The last hard rain caused these to bow and scatter.

 

 

 

This pagoda has finally grown big enough to bloom! It should have been about five feet tall long ago but stayed very small and then got frozen back three winters in a row. I think it has really liked the hard rains. I will have to remember to give it extra water when the rainy season stops.

 

 

 

 

 

Varigated schefflera has also done better this summer.

 

 

Skullcap in the front and I still don't know the name of the purple plant.  It will soon start loosing its leaves and develop many white seed balls up the stems - a different but interesting winter look.

 

 

The milkweed has grown tall.

 

 

And, look who found it.

 

I have seen lots of butterflies lately and by the looks of it there will be more to come soon.

 

 

 

On the west sunny side of the house where the red salvia didn't totally take over there is white guara (whirling butterflies), Mexican batchelor buttons.....  

 

   .....blue salvia and some other things that didn't make it into the picture.

 

 

 

Big Ears has found some good hiding places in the yard this summer.  He is going to feel totally exposed if I ever get the trimming all done.