Lagerstroemia (unknown crape myrtle cultivar)
It's the middle of July in Washington, that hot, steamy time of year that prompted me to dub it the "DC Tropics". It doesn't help that we've had several days of rain, cranking up the humidity to decidedly tropical levels! But this is when my garden starts reaching its peak, and the tropical, subtropical, and other heat-loving plants start looking their best. Below are some of the plants that are blooming today. For the full set of photos click here. For more Garden Bloggers Bloom Day posts from all around the blogosphere, visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens.
Sure, the flowers are pretty until it rains and somebody walks on them...
Ruellia brittoniana
Lobelia cardinalis
Lobelia cardinalis
Verbena bonariensis
Sabal minor 'McCurtain', blooming for the first time
Nepeta cultivar (name lost long ago)
Kniphofia 'Mango Popsicle'
Silene regia 'Prairie Fire'
Spigelia marilandica, very last flowers
Buddleja 'Attraction'
Vitex agnus-castus
Vitex agnus-castus
Is this cheating? Hibiscus 'Fireball' had flowers yesterday, and will again tomorrow!
Argh! Begonia grandis 'Early Bird' will be open tomorrow
Phytolacca americana (Yes, this is pokeweed. Yes, this is a weed.)
Finally, a couple of views of the garden, still recovering from our coldest winter in 20 years:
View from the roof deck
So... here are the flowers. Now where are all the hummingbirds and butterflies?
Great photos!, I especially like the fact that you use the botanical name.
ReplyDeleteThanks, as a botanist, how could I not? ;O)
DeleteGorgeous plants (and photos). Your steps look candy coated.
ReplyDeleteI'm envious that your hibiscus is blooming already. Lots of buds on mine. It's supposed to cool down this week, plus a break from all the rain. I like this weather, though. Tropical indeed!
If anything, the hardy hibiscus are a bit late this year; everything has been delayed a bit because of the hard winter and late, chilly spring, but the hot weather has everything catching up fast!
DeleteButterflies and hummers will surely find your lovely garden. They start out slowly -- one here today, a different one tomorrow, then pairs, then hordes. I'm seeing more dragonflies this year.
ReplyDeleteI do finally have a pair of hummingbirds (probably female & juvenile) visiting regularly, but still no butterflies! I'm really scratching my head over that one. I never get a huge number, but it's usually something more than zero!
DeleteYour garden looks amazing in the deck-view after that record-breaking winter. Looks like a lot of plants that thrive in SoCal too -- I need to try that fire engine red silene.
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise, but I do miss the palm trees from last year! Silene regia 'Prairie Fire' has been very easy and reliable for me; its only fault is that it tends to fall over. It gets a touch of shade so perhaps that's why; it really does want full all-day sun.
DeleteYou and I have many of the same cottagey - type plants, although I don't have anything tropical at all. Your garden looks beautiful! Did you lose many plants this winter?
ReplyDeleteThanks, I did lose some plants but not as many as I had feared. A future blog post will address the palms, and another one the begonias!
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