June Blooms

These are some of the blooms in my gardent this morning. From top to bottom -- the Monarda never disappoints and I have so many of them now that I have been able to share new plants with friends this year; the Rose Campion is new in my garden - a gift from a friend and neighbor; the Prunella 'Summer Daze' has settled in nicely, after a fairly poor start last year; the Hollyhock has been there 'forever' -- it's a biennial, but don't tell this plant that - this is its fourth year; the Butterfly Weed is another new plant for me - I have about two dezen of them, in 3 different locations and they all look good; last but not least, this Echinacea is from the 'Big Sky' series -- third year in my garden and it is finally coming into its own, with lots of blooms. I may have to move it again, though, as the Sweetshrub behind it has doubled in size since last year and the Japanese Aster next to it is growing rapidly as well. Oh, well - that's gardening, isn't it?

Monarda

The Monarda looks better this year than ever before. attributable to . . . . lots of rain in early spring? Hot, hot days in late spring? The right location (afternoon sun) in my garden? Who knows; I'm simply gratified that it's so very showy in June 2009.

More Blooms Today

The first Foxglove (a 'volunteer' in this particular spot) is also in bloom today. It is surrounded by Lavender, which will soon bloom, and Monarda, which will take a little longer still. For one reason, I am assiduously pinching it, to keep it branching and relatively short; last year, I was not quite so diligent, and as a result the Monarda was prone to flopping over in a good rain. Upright they are prettier than half laying on the ground!