Independence Day

I'm inside blogging because I awoke to thunderstorms that have settled into much-needed showers. So far I've had at least an inch of rain, possible closer to two. We really needed it. The past two weeks have featured baking heat and no rain. The containers needed watering twice a day on days that were 90 degrees or so.

Last week I weeded and mulched the front of the house. Before and after photos below:

Before

There! That's a lot better!

Pictures of one of the tree frogs hiding out in a planter taken June 30th:

Look closely at lower corner of the planter in the middle of the photo

Too cute! (Click on photo for close-up enlargement)

The rest of these photos show the garden and containers on July 6th.

Angel's trumpet blooming

Bamboo supports for the morning glories (Star of Yelta--deep purple with magenta eye)

Sunken garden with bird bath

Perennial border with shed and raised beds in background. Daylilies and Echinaceas are starting to bloom now.

Deck has been washed clean of mouse detritus and table and chairs moved down from upper deck. Hummingbird feeder hangs from pergola behind table.

Border had been edged and mulched. Shasta daisy is in bloom. Muscadet lily in foreground has lots of buds. It is so fragrant when it blooms!

Can't ever have too much basil

Container herb garden is doing well

Succulent dish garden. One of the hen'n'chicks has sent up a flower spike.

View of lower deck from above. I'm really liking this arrangement now that the hot tub is gone.

St. Francis Garden. The annuals (sweet alyssum, white salvias, nicotiana in back) have doubled in size.

Project this week has been weeding and mulching the front perennial border which features some weeds that are bigger than the perennials!