July 4th On The Mountain Top

It's been unbearably hot on the mountain top for the past 5 days. We are not used to this heat and humidity, especially not for extended periods like this. 

The drapes in my living room, dining room, and bedroom have been drawn all week, with the windows shut tight against the heat of the day. 

My air conditioner is back in the dining room window, and I'm so glad I opted for the version with WiFi, as I can turn it on from the app on my phone about an hour before I go home from work. 

The flowers in the garden are loving all the sunshine, although I do have to water the pots quite frequently in this heat. 

My red, white, and blue color scheme is most appropriate on this Independence Day. 

It contrasts beautifully with the yellow of the Evening Primrose, which is in full bloom all over my property now. 

What a hardy, easy plant Evening Primrose is! My mom has some in her garden, and I remember her giving me pieces of it years ago to put in my garden at my previous house. 

At this house, it was already here and I have taken pieces and stuck them in other areas of the garden, to fill in and hopefully someday crowd out most of the weeds. 

It's a work in progress, as most gardens are. 

On the arch by the veggie garden gate the roses are in bloom, and I'm so happy to see them. This is climbing New Dawn, with a heavenly scent. It's a repeat bloomer, although the first bloom is always the best. Last spring I tied all the wayward branches to the top of the arch and it did not bloom at all - I think I stressed it too much. This season I left it alone and it's quite happy!

The Super Dorothy rambling rose I added along the fence line last year is covered in buds, and just starting to bloom. These are tiny roses, very different from New Dawn, but it is supposed to flower continuously from Spring to Fall. 

Yes, please - I'll take it!

 

The wild lilies are everywhere on the mountain top right now. They grow along the road sides, in ditches, in the creek banks, and are also growing in more than one spot in my garden. 

The happy orange blooms never fail to delight me, and they sure add a spot of sunshine to any garden bed. 

The Shasta Daisies are just starting to put on a show....

...as is this beauty! It's some version of Rudbeckia, but I don't know which one. I bought a start at the farmer's market last year for the huge price of $1.00. I bought a few other starts from the same vendor - they are all hearty plants that will fill in and crowd out the weeds....fingers crossed. 

It's easy to see why Delphiniums are known as the Queen of the Garden - this blue color pops from all the way across the property, and beckons me over for a closer look. 

The yellow lilies are just starting their display as well - my garden goes through 'stages' of colors through the seasons. In spring we have the yellow of the daffodils, then the blues, purples, and whites of Carpet Phlox, Snow in Summer, Iris, and Catmint. Next comes the explosion of yellow and orange, with the Evening Primrose, Lilies, and Rudbeckias all clamoring for attention. The yellows and oranges are joined by red and hot pink when the Bee Balm blooms. Next we get more yellow and orange with the addition of the wildflowers Goldenrod and Tansy. Then the trees start changing, adding more red, orange, and yellow into the mix. 

It's a glorious thing, being a gardener and living in such a beautiful area. 

It never gets old for me. 

Of course, the various shades of green all around and the red of the Japanese Maple compliment each season perfectly. 

The whole time I was out taking photos this morning, this yellow butterfly was my constant companion. 

Good morning, Papa!

My other constant companions? The Monkey and Little Miss Molly. 

Molly was admiring the path that Sweetie's been working hard on. The pavers were so far apart and had giant weeds growing in the cracks. He power washed the path to get rid of the weeds, pulled all the pavers up, relaid them closer together, and filled in the cracks with fine sand. 

He's a keeper, that man of mine!

 

Back up on the deck, I am loving this container grouping, paired with the flag bunting. Again, I kept with the red, white, and blue color scheme and of course it compliments the flags perfectly on this July 4th celebration of our country's independence. 

I absolutely love the dramatic foliage of the Castor Bean, which I once again used as the centerpiece in these large planters. 

I don't grow Castor Bean for its flowers, but rather for the striking foliage that towers above the planters, with almost an umbrella effect. 

The flowers are interesting and unusual, but get lost against the dramatic foliage. 

I start these from seed in the winter months, along with all the veggie garden starts. They are loving this heat and flourishing in the humidity, unlike me. 

I hope you all have a fabulous July 4th, and are enjoying cooler temps than we are at the moment. 

If not, feel free to go get yourself some ice cream or a frozen cocktail to help ease the heat! 

And remember in your thoughts and prayers all those who fought for the independence we are so blessed to enjoy in this great country of ours. 

They are heroes, one and all.