Boom Day - After The Deluge

We are interrupting our Colorado travelogue because it is the fifteenth of the month, which can only mean it is Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, a wonderful on-line institution founded by Carol at May Dreams Garden.

When we got back from our trip west, I could tell that we had recently had a good rain, but I could also tell that most of the time we were gone it was dry. There was a little browning around the edges on some of the plants and a general weak look to others. However, August has proven to be a very wet here in Norfolk with 8.3" of rain so far in a month where 4.5" is usually the total for the entire month. Last week we had close to 4" of rain, and Wednesday we had 3" with most of that falling in a little more than an hour. It came late in the afternoon, just before rush hour, closing interstates, flooding tunnels and swamping many cars. Unfortunately this flooding is not that unusual of an event here. When you have miles of flat land barely above sea level, fast falling rain goes nowhere fast. God help us if we ever have a real hurricane (and no, Hurricane Isabel was not a real one).

Anything remotely tropical, like my Siam Ruby Banana (Musa acuminata 'Siam Ruby') has enjoyed the rain.

Angelonia angustifolia (sorry I do not remember the cultivar)

Alabama Sunset Coleus (Solenostemon scutellariodes 'Alambama Sunset')

Lantana camara (another cultivar whose name escapes me, the nurseryman should get a small note book and write something in it from time to time)

New Gold Lantana (Lantana camara 'New Gold') - Neither this one nor the one above are supposed to be perennial here, but this will be their second summer.

Profusion Fire Zinnia (Zinnia angustifolia x elegans 'Profusion Fire') - If you are not growing Zinnias from this series, you should. The are quite prolific, mildew free and will go until a freeze.

Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii)

I know Liriope (Liriope muscari) is as common as dirt, but a coworker and I noticed this one among all the others as standing out for a bigger, more colorful flower. So we bought it and split it.

Sunrise Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora 'Sunrise') - I am not an advocate for regular pruning, but this plant needs it.

I gave up on trying to pull the Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora) out from under one of the Crape Myrtles and decided to just let it be. Anything that is willing to grow where this plant does can have at it.

Speaking of Crapes, this is their shedding season, and I even like this aspect of them. There outer layer of bark exfoliates in huge long strips as if they went to the beach and forgot the sun screen.

I am going to end with one of my garden visitors enjoying the Fennel. I believe this will turn into a Black Swallowtail.

Please give Carol a visit to see what other gardeners are enjoying this August.