Liquid Relief

Yesterday, very early in the morning, we finally got some rain, around an inch. It was accompanied with loud claps and bright bolts and had Loretta (the weather dog) on high alert for hours. Although the gardeners and farmers breathed a sigh of relief, we are still 3" below normal in this area and near 11" below in parts of North Carolina. Unfortunately the fires still burn on, and the forecast for today is sunny skies, low to mid 80's with afternoon smoke.

A Smoky Bloom Day

This particular bloom day finds Tidewater in the choke of smoke from two separate fires. The first fire has burned 40,000 acres in North Carolina, mostly in Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. We have had smoke from that fire off and on for two weeks, even though it is about 100 miles away. A much smaller fire, yet much closer to home, was started this week in the Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. In the type of irony I am getting tired of, the Dismal Swamp fire was a result of efforts aimed at trying to restore a threatened species - Atlantic Whitecedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides). Because of over-logging and loss of habitat, the tree is threatened in an area where it once thrived. The plan was to re-log an area of other species so that Atlantic Whitecedar could be replanted and restored to the swamp. The logging company contracted to remove the undesirable species accidentally started the fire, and now we have the combined smoke from two different fires in which to garden. It is nauseating just going outside when the wind is coming from the south.


Anyway, on to June bloom day, and once again thank you to May Dreams Gardens for hosting this on-line monthly event. The first shot is of my Summer Chocolate Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin 'Summer Chocolate'). I think this is a Hines Nursery exclusive and I paid way more money than I would normally spend on a plant, but I had to have it.
Candy Corn Cuphea (Cuphea micropetala) was lost last summer because someone had sticky fingers. So I put it behind the fence this year and I love it next to this Sun Coleus.
I planted three tiny Bronze Fennels (Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpurescens') about 8 years ago in the front yard and they have seeded all over the place, but they always seem to come up where I want them. The flowers are here because of bloom day, but it is the foliage that I love.
If you are already tired of Daylily pictures this year then skip the next four pictures. The first is 'Santiago Heat' doing its best to make this cable cover look good.
And two unknown varieties (I don't keep track of all of them).


'Web of Intrigue'
Some of you may also be sick of Hydrangeas, but they are my showiest blooms right now. I counted how many Hydrangeas were in my tiny garden, and was surprised to come up to fifteen. Here is 'Ayesha', and I love its waxy cupped shaped petals.
Vigorous 'Bluebird'
My $1.00 'Glory Blue'
'Pia' is a dwarf, also known as 'Pink Elf'. Never has it been pink.

'Pia' lives next door to 'Ayesha'.
'Sun Goddess' finally became purple this year.
Pikerel Weed (Pontederia cordata)
One of my favorite perennials, Salvia gauranitica 'Black and Blue'
Now I would like exchange some of this smoke, for some much needed rain.