Bloom Day July 2008

It's already been a month since the last Garden Blogger's Bloom Day?? This event takes place thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens. (Go there to visit many other gardens in bloom this month.) I have to say that since June it seems that a lot has happened on the bloom front.

The wild flowers are blooming and setting different stages every day. Our "tiger" lilies and other lilies are also blooming. Let's take a stroll to see some highlights...

Morning glories...I like those heart-shaped leaves and the tightly closed blooms during the day.


Dill...such a nice scent and attractive to many insects. This year we have some fern-leafed variety, but I might try to go back to a traditional or giant type.


Purple...bloom


Allium...a common onion.


Seed sown marigolds are blooming.


Blue forget-me-nots...a great color, but have to be careful of the dried seeds.


I was surprised that these flowers returned from what I though were annuals last year.


Geranium


We planted these nasturtium throughout the yard and they look great.


Rudbeckia are now blooming...a couple different varieties.


Some other purple blooms...tansy and alyssium.


I'm not sure there is much to add to these. I've seen many daylilies blooming, but the one's in our yard are not yet. Check back as the blooms should change a lot over the next month as well.

Orange Surprise (GBBD June 2008)

Welcome to my garden bloom tour for June 2008. This post is in coordination with Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day at the "May Dreams Gardens" blog where you can find many other gardens in bloom. This orange flower has a presence this month, but I might say some of the buds steal the show as well.
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The Blooms:

I wasn't sure what to expect a few days ago when I noticed this plant tucked in the back of a wildflower bed. It's the first bloom in the bed and really stands out. Update: I think this is Siberian Wallflower ("Cheiranthus allionii").


My seed grown violas 'Johnny Jump Up' are just starting to bloom. Isn't it cute?

Viola cornuta (Violaceae)

Now is finally the time for chives and alliums. The bees should be flying in soon.



Allium (ornamental) & Allium schoenoprasum

How about these small white and pink flowers...they're radishes. The beneficial bugs love them and maybe they can keep the pests busy too.



The alyssium I planted have been blooming for a few weeks.


It's a common weed, but it is blooming.


A I mentioned earlier this month, the peas are in bloom. In fact, some can be harvested from the snap variety right now - I will let them get a bit bigger before picking though.


The nursery violas are continuing to flower.


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The Buds:

Some plants are quite ready to show this month, but they're getting ready.

Some asiatic lilies here and to the south of the house are forming buds.


The wildflower will be the second plant to bloom in that plot. Onions from last year are forming buds.

Spurred Snapdragon (Linaria maroccana) & Onion

A kind of red clover is starting to get a hint of color. This other flower bud has an interesting look.

Red clover & ?Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)?

Not sure what these two are, but they're in the "wildflower" plot too.

?Catchfly (Silene armeria)? Dairy Pink (Vaccaria pyramidata) & Sweet William (Dianthus)

Here you can get an idea of some "Tiger" lilies that have buds - I'm sure they're a few weeks away or more.


Well, you made it to the end of the tour. It has been a cool spring and lately wet. This has left a number of plants behind this year, but has been good for the cool season crops. Some more bloom day information...

Skipped (flowered and done between last bloom day and this):

• Flowering shrubs

Continuing (flowering since at least last bloom day):

• Dandelion
• Viola (purchased)
• Strawberries

Buds (of note and not pictured):

• Shasta Daisy

Grapes (Blooms for GBBD May)

Okay, I'm sure you know that those are not grapes. It's one of my blooms for Garden Blogger's Bloom Day for May 2008. The weather is starting to warm-up, trees are starting to leaf out, and I mowed the grass for the first time this year. Have a look at what's blooming in North Dakota

Grape hyacinths look nice, but they really are small. I didn't take a photo of the "normal" hyacinths for today, but you can see one in my Mother's Day post.


More Spring bulbs, I haven't identified them yet, but these little white and purple flowers are a nice greeting walking around the garden.



Most of our tulips have not bloomed yet, but this pairing of red and white is going strong -despite the rabbits' efforts. I have noticed some bright displays of tulips in the neighborhood. I might have to replant some bulbs later in the season.



The strawberries are starting to flower. I can't wait until June. These June-bearing plants usually sets fruit near the end of May. I'm not sure if they are later this year or not.


The violas have very pretty faces. These were purchased as already blooming plants a few weeks ago (maybe that's cheating?). I have transplanted some "Johnny Jump-Ups" that I started from seed, but they are still fairly small seedlings.


The first Dandelion of the year (in my yard). I have been spotting dandelion blooms during walks all these last couple of weeks. Just today is the first I have spotted them in my yard. I am happy to report that I also noticed some bees buzzing as well.


Early in the week some of our flowering bushes began to break bud.


We still have ladybugs. I was having a hard time finding them until I went to the grass. That's why I don't always like mowing the grass - even if it's "too" long. Today during my first mow of the year there where many beetles taking flight (at least those will live).


I love the purple chive flowers, but they are not blooming yet. I see some scapes? forming though.


Here's an artificial bloom we found at the store. It "glows" at night. Maybe I will attract some lighting bugs (fireflies).


Oh, and I can't leave out the compulsory first Spring salad made from lettuce that was thinned.