Home of the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox and other native plants for pollinators

Friday, August 15, 2008

Pink, Lavender and Gold for Bloom Day




August is a tough month for Clay and Limestone flowers! It's hot, humid and very dry...Even in wet summers, August is stingy with bloom! So we are thrilled with the flowers we have; it's a celebration of pinks, lavenders and golds! I have plenty of all three...How lucky for me, since they are some of my favorite flower colors!

Thank you for stopping by; for more Bloom Day posts, visit May Dreams Gardens. Thank you Carol, for hosting Bloom Day on the 15th of each month!

Gail

Geranium sanguinium~Hardy Geranium
Rudbeckia hirta with Pink Zinnia~Black-Eyed Susan with Pink Zinnia
Celosia 'Dark Caracas',
Echinacea tennesseensis~Tennessee Coneflower
Monarda didyma x "Pink Supreme", Rudbeckia hirta and Alcea rosea x 'Queeny Purple'~Beebalm, Black-Eyed Susan and Hollyhock
Lathyrus latifolius...a volunteer invasive~Perenial Sweet Pea

Alpine Verbena and Ruellia hirta~Verbena and Wild Petunia
Rudbeckia hirta with a friend~Black-Eyed Susan with friend


Verbena canadensis "Homestead Purple"~Hardy Purple Verbena

Rudbeckia hirta and Zinnias~Black-Eyed Susan and Zinnias
Rosa "The Fairy" reblooming~The Fairy Rose

Phlox paniculata sps~Summer phlox
Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpurecens'~Bronze Fennel


So glad you stopped by!

Gail

81 comments:

  1. Hi Gail, I love that color combination, it really describes the late summer garden here also. I have tried to take a decent photo of the bronze fennel bloom and failed every time. Yours is great! No ID on the little butterfly? Looks like a skipper, LOL.

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  2. The Black-eyed Susan looks great. Every time I see it thriving in the heat, I ask myself why don't I have any.

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  3. It is all beautiful! I love that first shot with all those brown eyes.

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  4. Frances,

    You noticed I didn't id it! Nothing gets past you! Thanks for stopping by...you know soon I'll have more gold...golden rod and purple...false dragon head and pink...anemone! I did notice the cyclamen is blooming but she refused to have her picture taken, even in macro she turned out fuzzy. The bronze fennel is blooming but only the ants are visiting! Where are the caterpillars this year!

    gail

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  5. Tina,

    You are too much! You voted Brown-Eyed Susans in the poll didn't you! I love them what ever one calls them...even course and hairy!


    Gail

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  6. Les,

    They are so easy, really you might have to pull them out they are that happy to throw themselves about the yard! I am glad you stopped by!


    Gail

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  7. You bet I voted yes to brown eyes! You can't beat their long bloom and bright color. Mine are still going strong too. Last summer they were a washout and I am so happy they are back. You have TONS! Looks great. Guess what? I was walking in the woods yesterday when I came upon a whole stand of pink phlox. It looked just like garden phlox but a bit smaller. Is this PPPP? I am going back with my shovel soon! Tons of wildflowers are blooming now. Love my walks.

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  8. I agree,that first photo is a traffic stopper. Love the butterfly too. You have a nice selection of late blooming flowers. I know how hard it is to keep the color from May through October.
    Marnie

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  9. I loved picture filled with rudbeckias :) look so cheering up.
    /Ewa

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  10. I loved picture filled with rudbeckias :) look so cheering up.
    /Ewa

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  11. Tina,

    I have kept them hydrated; it has been so dry and with the high temps they would be toast by now! Take a phot before you dig them and send it to me! If the leaves are narrow and opposite it might be PPPP! Lucky you!


    Gail

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  12. A very nice show Gail! The rudbeckias are such faithful flowers this time of year. The Tennessee coneflower is a great one too. I need to add some of to our garden.

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  13. Marnie,

    Thanks, I love that photo, it's what you see as you pull into the driveway...then it's all green, everywhere! If I didn't water this garden bed there would be no bloom, which is why I am so interested in rain barrels!
    Bloom is hard to manage in our dry summers on this clay soil...am I whining? Sorry!

    Gail

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  14. Ewa,

    I like the Black-Eyed Susans, too...which is handy since it likes it here so much! I forgot to tell you when I visited your post..that I love all the hydrangeas that you grow, even the lacy flowered one!

    gail

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  15. I loved the sea of flowers in your first photo--how lovely to look at each morning! Enjoyed your blooms and meeting some of your friends:)

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  16. Gail - Love love love all that Rudbeckia you have in your garden. It's just so cheerful...kinda like having happy faces in your garden! And they go so nicely with their Zinnia neighbors!

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  17. Lot's in bloom in Tennessee! I forgot about bloom day! I am away on business so I will have to post late. Gone four days and the garden will look so very different when I finally get home tomorrow evening.

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  18. Pretty pretty stuff there...

    I almost planted celosia this year but didn’t. After seeing yours, I wish I had... sigh...

    I have tried Sweet Pea from seed twice with no luck. I guess we must have water to get the seed to pop up little peas! lol

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  19. Dave,

    I will bring some plants to the dinner get together before PPPP...if you want some! Thanks...for popping over!

    Gail

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  20. Rose,

    Isn't that a delightful description... friends! They are aren't they! I am glad you stopped by and got to see the Susans before they go to seed. Then they are the friends of finches! I did see a purple finch this morning hanging around the coneflower.

    Have a good day!

    Gail

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  21. Thank goodness for prairie forbs, where would we Midwest perennial gardeners be without them! I'm so glad your Phlox is blooming this year, it is such a lovely lavender. You Rose looks like it doesn't know it's August, humid & dry, what a treat.

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  22. diana,

    Cheerful is a good way to describe a flower
    like Susan! She is cheerful and she brings cheer! She fills in my garden and disguises the holes! I am so glad you stopped by...I wish Fling was happening sooner then fall 2009!

    Gail

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  23. layanee,

    I wondered where you were...I did like the ghost plant on wordless wednesday! It was a fascinating little guy. Do post on the changes you notice when you return! I told my husband that leaving the garden mid growing season was too hard and he looked at me very oddly! You know, the rolled eyes and small smile! He is not a gardener!

    Gail

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  24. skeeter,

    I thought the sweet pea was a volunteer but I see it came in a packet of wild flowers I sprinkled earlier in the season. It and cosmos city lights were the only ones that flowered! I did read that it is a rather thugish brute! I pulled off the seed pods!

    If I get to the seeds of the celosia before they are released and I forget to look! I will save some for you! It is supposed to produce thousands! Did you know that this celosia has very red leaves?

    So glad you like my friends, as Rose calls them!

    Gail

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  25. Lots blooming at your place Gail. Of course I love the pinks and lavenders. Seeing your sweet pea makes me wonder if that's not what I have growing out front. I can't remember planting one , but it is in a great spot and if it becomes too invasive-well, I can always pull. Still dry? That's too bad, but at least the flowers you have shown are doing well. It's great to know there are some who do well whatever the weather. Such lovely flowers, a real treat fr the eye.

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  26. MMd,

    Yes the forbs are happy here...they like clay! It is so true. I may be in the south but I am a midwest perennial gardener!

    I am happy about the phlox, too...it's a funny plant...and in several locations...each plant a different but slightly lavenderish pink with one almost white; it might have crossed with David...nature is so promiscuous!

    How involved is the planning for Fling? I would help but I am here and you guys are there! I love Chicago!
    Glad you stopped by for a visit!

    Gail

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  28. Beckie,

    I cheated and watered them! They would be toast otherwise! Especially the monarda which struggles here with wanting to mildew! But I love them all and they are a great deal of fun! Yes, pink and lavender are pretty special colors! So glad to visit with you...happy gardening!

    Gail

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  29. I love your first shot with the groupings of Rudbekia repeating, and then disappearing in the distance. I picture them going on forever. Your photo of the pink zinnia hanging with its golden friends made me smile. The lavender Phlox looks lovely, so willing to extend the viewing pleasure by blooming for so long .

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  30. Beautiful flowers all of them! I especially liked the Verbena canadensis - such a brilliant shade!
    /Katarina

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  31. Gail, great post! I particularly love the celosia... every time I see those plants in late summer, I think, "Hey, wasn't I planning to put in a few of those pretty things this spring? Darn it!" lol.

    The bronze fennel was a caterpillar MAGNET the first year I had it. In the past two years, I have seen no cats or monarchs on it at all. Not sure what the difference is, but it totally bums me out. :( Yes, it is a pretty voracious reseeder, but the seedlings are easy to pull out--and smell nice when you do it!

    I wouldn't worry too much about 'Ivory Price' as I think he's a pretty tough customer. He's not got the optimal site in my garden, and deals with my general abuse as well. This post has pictures of him from this spring, so you can see that he rewards my neglect with pretty flowers in spring all the same!

    Okay, now it's my turn to apologize for hijacking your comments... lol. (All this chatting on comments makes me think that we'd talk for hours if we were ever to meet somewhere and tour a garden, for example!)

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  32. Hi Gail - thanks for having a look at the new blog :)

    You're very welcome to come back for another visit!

    Have a great weeekend and greetings from a sunny England for once!

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  33. Northern Shade...if only it did go on forever...it does go onto to another bed and then shows up here and there as a repeater! It is a plant that takes care of itself, I mean that she spreads her progeny around!~~I feel lucky to have phlox this year...it is still under attack from Phlox bug but I go out on patrol and take a few out each day! They are quick little orange devils!~~~Zinnias are new this year but I will have them from now on!

    It's been a pleasure talking with you, thank you for visiting and hanging around for a while!

    Gail

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  34. I love the ants on the fennel!

    Thanks for sharing your lovely pictures - what a colorful garden you have!

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  35. Hi Gail, you have lovely meadow flowers blooming this month. I do also, and when it's not too hot, this is one of my favorite times of the year for it's when the butterflies come out to play. Happy Bloom Day!~~Dee

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  36. I love your sunny, golden Susans, Gail. Coneflowers are crowd pleasers for both people and butterflies, aren't they? The blooms on your 'The Fairy' are so much deeper a pink than mine, which are more pale pink.

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  37. What a beautiful layout of flowers. I love the colors. Good job Gail. I wonder if the Tn. coneflower would live down here. So Pretty.

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  38. Hi Gail, thank you for leaving a comment on my blog as it led me to your beautiful site which I had not previously seen until now.

    What beautiful photos you have today! I love the hardy geranium at the top. So sweet. We also have the perennial sweet pea blooming everywhere right now. I am with you, I love the purple, pink, and gold combinations. Oh,and I will have to remember the rudbeckia next to the zinnias as that combo is really pretty.

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  39. BSG,

    Yes we could have a lot of fun touring gardens and chatting away...that's the way it was when I went to Spring Fling...I met some more wonderful bloggers and we had a great time talking about everything! I checked out the link to the Prince and he is attractive..I think once he gets going and settles in he will add a lot to the shadier spot he lives in!

    Thanks for the great conversation!

    Gail

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  40. katarina,

    The Hardy Verbena is a beautiful color, what did you think of the little Alpine pinkie? They both might fit in your might fit in your garden! Thank you for visiting!

    Gail

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  41. Just beautiful, Gail. I especially love the black eyed susans mixed with the pinks.

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  42. icqb,

    Thank you for stopping by and visiting my Bloom Day
    Post! It's fun to share and my hope is that everyone who visits has a good time! Ants! Where are the caterpillars?

    Gail

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  43. Wow your Rudbeckia looks amazing! I wish mine looked half as good. love the picture with the butterfly

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  44. Hi Gail,
    Here I am late to the party again ... but it's been a really busy and stressful week of work that's finally winding down a bit ....

    I think things are looking pretty good despite the circumstances! I broke out into a big smile when I saw that you have 'Celosia Caracas,' which is something we just discovered this year! When we got our plants they were well over 2 ft tall and are now growing even bigger! We are really loving it because it branches so nicely ... and as for seeds, they produce them prodigiously, just keep your eye out for when they dry up to collect. What I do when I collect (you probably do this anyway) is put a grocery bag over the seedhead and just shake them off. And if you want them back next year (of course you do!), make sure plenty falls where you have it planted. They're a great self-seeder and volunteer ... love em to death.

    But one caveat: Celosias have a real tendency to cross pollinate and "sport" with abandon (I have a few posts on that at my place), so if you have any others nearby, what you get next year may not resemble the parent ... but they are generally cool!

    I'm envious you have such success with Lathyrus ... we've tried and failed several times to get that going in our garden (sweet peas hate us, I guess). Good for you!

    Of course, all the rest of these are lovely, but these two really popped for me. Great post (as always).

    IVG

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  45. Hi Gail, you have a lovely garden! The yellow and pink colour looks delihtful!!
    Thanks for identifying my mystery bloom- it is indeed Ruellia brittoniana also known as Mexican Petunia.
    Best Wishes

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  46. greenthumb,

    Glad I could help! It's quite a pretty plant and several gardenbloggers have written about it!...meems of Hoe and Shovel has it in her garden. I have a native to the US version, as does Mr. McGregor's Daughter! Thank you for letting me know I was helpful and for stopping by.

    Gail

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  47. lola,

    I am glad you like the garden and if you have a dry well draining spot with full sun you might be able to grow TN coneflower! There is one called Rocky Top that you might find that is probably better for gardens!

    Gail

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  48. gintoino, The Rudbeckia around our city in public places isn't at all happy...I have watered this one bed so it is looking happier then others! If I didn't it would be dismall here! That butterfly has been the source of some fun emailing with another friend as we have tried to identify it!

    Gail

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  49. Pam, Hello! I loved your Bloom Day Post! The Fairy rebloomed for me the first time this year! I am watering that part of the garden a bit more and that has helped. You never know with plants...roses can look different, daylilies do; it's got to be the quality and intensity of the light and soil conditions! So we have a few more flowers in common!

    Gail

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  50. cindy,

    I am so pleased you stopped by, I did enjoy your post on watering cans very much!...and wish you could see the one friends gave me constructed of recycled old olive oil cans. Not as wabi-sabi as the antique cans, but lots of fun! I do enjoy the tricolored garden bed out front and glad you do, too! I'm lucky they like it here, too!

    Gail

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  51. eve,

    I like that happy accident, too. Next year we will try for that mix! Thanks for visiting...hope your weekend is cool and that your garden has just what it needs!

    Gail

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  52. ivg,

    Do you have this particular celosia? It's a first here! I found it at a nursery and thought the leaves alone (a rich red/burgundy) are worth the outrageous price! I only have this one and unless my neighbors are growing another it might come true. Let's see if I can get out there to collect seed! Thanks for the hint on seed collection. More than likely they will self seed! Won't they look interesting in the middle of the rudbeckia!!

    I have no idea where the sweet pea came from! There are two kinds and the stems indicate which is which. Naturally, I have the perennial and undesirable one (flat stems) that seeds it self everywhere and sends a root that is impossible to get out of the crack it has thrown itself into! It is also, in the middle of the rudbeckia and impossible to get to without taking out the bed! BUT, it is pretty! Keep trying to grow it! I am thinking it likes my horrible clay soil!...it's possible they arrived here via a 6 pack several years ago or they were in a wildflower packet I seeded a section of the garden with last year!

    IVG, your visits are wonderfully fun and always inspiring!

    Gail

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  53. Gail, You have a beautiful rainbow happening in your gardens! :-)

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  54. Shady,

    See this is one of the reasons we all missed you while you were in Michigan!
    You are the best!

    Gail

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  55. Hi Gail, What beautiful flowers you have in your garden. I'm not seeing that many blooms lately in other flower gardens, it seems to be too dry for many places. But your color combination is soo pretty!

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  56. dp,

    It looks good out front but the rest of the yard is dry and parched! We desperately need rain but then you already know this! How did the watermelon taste?

    Gail

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  57. As I read all the bloom day posts, the theme seems to be that no one thinks their garden has much to offer in August, then they proceed to show picture after picture of blooms.

    I can imagine in your garden, the butterflies and birds are going nuts with all those blooms.

    Thanks for joining in for bloom day!

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  58. Carol,

    You are so right! But and you knew there would be one, for those of us with woodland wildflower gardens that are glorious in spring this looks pretty bare!

    gail

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  59. Gail ~ Your blooms are so nice. I really like the photo of the one pink zinnia in the sea of susans. But I also like the ants on the bronze fennel.

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  60. I'm so late on my comments. I love the first photo--what's the tall, blue-gray plant toward the back? It's really pretty. As always, I love the photographs--you're so talented.

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  61. Gail... hope you'll see this latest note! I've just nominated you for an award over at "my place." Check it out! ;-)

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  62. cosmo,

    It's a juniper..Burckii orLittle Bluestem 'The Blues' grass...thet are melding together in the photo! You're not too late, I am glad you game by. Bloom Day is a huge endeavor if you try to visit and comment on as many Gardenbloggers who post!

    Gail

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  63. cindy,

    I like the fennel ants, too and am trying to figure out where my caterpillars are hiding! The Zinnia does look nice among the susans! Thanks for stopping by and visiting!


    Gail

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  64. Wow! The top photo of the border is wonderful! You have some beautiful blooms there. Thank you for the comment on my blog,
    HM

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  65. Gail gorgeous pictures ! I love the colour combinations you do with the yellow and pinks/purples .. they all look wonderful : )
    I asked for help to ID a catapiller ? spelling (head done in today) and I was so happy to hear it is a gorgeous butterfly .. Black Swallowtail (again with the spelling .. BIG sigh) .. now I'm like a kid with a Xmas gift waiting to see when it will open .. yipppeeeee ! LOL

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  66. happy,

    Your welcome, I try to visit new to me gardenblogs but sometimes, it gets over whelmong. So many of you have fabulous blogs!~

    Gail

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  67. joy,

    Aren't the caterpillars and their butterfly beautiful! I wish I knew them all! Goodness, that would be a lot of info! How is everything way up and over there!

    Gail

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  68. Well...pretty much the same things are blooming in my garden..though your rudbeckia looks healthier than mine at this point. I too have the queeny purple hollyhocks..don't you just love the color? Everything looks so fresh and lovely..the weather doesn't seem to be affecting your garden a large amount. Thanks for sharing.

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  69. It looks like the time you've spent with your hose has been a good investment! I saw several types of the hardy geraniums at Denver Botanic Gardens and do so wish I could grow them, too. Since I can't, I enjoy pictures from those who can that much more .. thanks for sharing!

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  70. Gail,
    Very pretty flowers in your woodland meadows. I would SO love to see your susans in person... they are marvelous.

    I'm wondering if your little butterfly is one of the Duskys... either Juvenal or Horace's... really hard to tell but I've seen loads of them down here this year.

    thanks for all the pretty lavender, pinks and golds on display for GBBD... a very lovely showing as we seem to all bemoan the heat of August.
    Happy Sunday.
    Meems @Hoe&Shovel

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  71. Rhonda,

    Thank you, last year it was all dead by this time and without dragging a hose down there and setting up a soaker hose it would be now! We probably grow a few of the name plants but your mountain soil may be acid while mine is nearly neutral. How far away from Nashville are you? Near Knoxville or the Plateau?

    Gail

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  72. cindy,

    The hose is a like a troubling little sister...I love her but am tired of dragging her everywhere I go!

    The geranium bloom was a single surprise! I must have watered well and up it popped! Gives me hope for later when the rains show up...you know I am dreaming, right? We get rains in the winter or when a hurricane blows into the gulf.

    I love Colorado, too! I could live in Boulder!

    Gail

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  73. meems,

    If/when you visit Leiper's Fork you and Marmee must visit...Before you come I will warn you that this is a wild space and I am a messy gardener!

    Gail

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  74. This a very beatiful garden and blog that you have, freat colors and variety. I enjoyed the last hour looking at it will come back soon for more.

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  75. Gail,We are working on a visit to Marmee's but I'm not holding my breath... both of us have crazy schedules and the holidays are right around the corner. We are looking at February... who's garden looks good in February?
    Meems

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  76. andre'. welcome to my garden...I stopped by to see your photos for just a minute, and I think they are going to be very enjoyable when I have a bit more time! Thanks,
    Gail

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  77. meems,

    Unfair...yours will still look good;->

    gail

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  78. I would love some seeds Gail. Thanks. While in Germany, I took up floral crafting and my mother in law would send me dried flowers. I had celosia in one batch of goodies she had sent me and some seeds fell out of them. I put them into my patio planters and they came up and at the end of the season, I had more dried flowers to work into my floral goodies.... That was the one and only time I ever had celosia but I enjoyed its fun shapes and colors…

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  79. I will be trying harder to get 'Susan's' to take hold in my border after seeing yours. Your 'Black-Eyed-Susan with friend' photo should be entered in a contest.

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  80. this is the worst year for my coneflowers and mine are in full sun. they usually stand up right thru to fall when they kindly feed the goldfinches. but mine are all bowing over too. i am trying to leave them to see if they will still feed the birds.
    all of your other photos are great! and your blooms beautiful!

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  81. Gail, in spite of your dry conditions, your blooms are gorgeous. I do love the combination of the golds and pinks. Beautiful shot of the moth on the susan. How obliging that she color coordinated her outfit!

    We've been having some internet outages and I've been going through serious garden blog withdrawal! I'm happy I was finally able to make it down to Tennessee this evening for a stroll through your garden for bloom day!

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"Insects are the little things that run the world." Dr. E O Wilson