19 June 2013 - What's blooming this week

Last year when Jack and I went to Red Butte Gardens we were both enthralled by the Foxtail Lillies.  These lilies ranged in colors from white, light yellow, dark yellow and orange. The flower stocks were often 6 feet tall.  Last fall we ordered twelve  tubers and got them planted before the first snow fell. 

All  twelve came up this spring, then with the wild temperatures fluctuatating from freezing with snow to 80 degrees to snow again, we did lose one of them. Out of the remaining eleven plants, six of them sent up bloom stocks. 

Being naturally optimistic I am hoping for more (and taller) next year. Those blooming are so lovely.  

The blooms at Red Butte were covered with bees of all kinds. The bees have not found ours yet. 

Maybe I need to get a hive of my own set up. 






 
 

 















The oriental poppies are at the height of their glory. The blooms are not lasting very long in this heat -- we hit 97 today, but I am enjoying every minute of them. 

When I was young, the driveway garden, was filled with roses, canterbury bells and the ever so exotic bells of Ireland. Those are long gone, but these little star-shaped bells are blooming madly. One more thing to add to my list of what-is-it research. 

And speaking of roses, here was the big surprise. I have mentioned several times about all the work in, on and around the pyracantha hedge-- trimming it back, pulling some out and other wise hacking it down to a manageable  size. During this process I uncovered a second lilac bush. I knew there was one all smished back there and it now has breathing space. The second one was a lagnappe. But the big surprise? Roses. 

Growing up in the middle of a pyracanta bush is an old classic climbing Blaze rose. What fun! With some air, sun and water, it went to town. The poor thing only has two canes, but it used them well. Next year it should be fuller and loaded.  

It is possible that it has bloomed in past years, but the pyracantha hedge used to be about 12 feet thick. Could be it was totally obscured. Day by day the jungle is being tamed and surprises abound. 


While these aren't really flowers, it is a good time to mention that all of Jack's tomato plants are blooming. Several have green tomatoes already. They are loving this hot weather and are growing like crazy. 

Last year I had a big pot of nasturtiums. This year several volunteers showed up. Great!  They are such a happy flower. 

Funny, this year I seem to have lots of yellow, red and orange flowers, including this dahlia. 

Even the copper rose is red on the inside and gold on the outside. 

And I am considering adding red hot pokers to the mix. More red and yellow. 

It is a pretty hot combination.












And here's my favorite. One lone milkweed plant, covered in butterflies.