A Wednesday Vignette to Celebrate Summer

Wednesday Vignettes

Wordless Wednesday

A Few Blooms and a Few Promises

You know it's summer when the Coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) bloom, and it was just about to happen when I wrote this post a few days ago. They're even closer now.



Another summer sign is the blooms of Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius), which are pretty enough for a June wedding bouquet.

It's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, and much is happening in the garden as we move into summer.



The pollinators have been buzzing on the 'May Night' Salvia (Salvia x sylvestris).



The Peonies (Paeonia lactifora 'Sarah Berhnardt' and one of the 'Kelways') have finished blooming, but I arranged some in a bouquet before they faded.







Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum) has finished blooming, too. It seemed like it was a good year for this plant, or maybe I simply enjoyed it more--from buds to blooms to awesome, curly seedheads.



Fringed Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia) always seems to have a long blooming period in my garden--from early May to mid-June and beyond.



This purple Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea 'Camelot Lavender') is impressive in its first year--with side shoots and graceful coloring. I hope it will be bigger next year.



The annuals are settling in nicely, too. I had to have Angelonias (A. augustifolia 'Angelface Blue')  in a pot again this summer.



I played around with several pots, and now I need to figure out where I want them to sit.







It's hard to believe I only discovered Lantanas (L. camara) a few years ago, as annuals for a northern garden. They've become staples in my garden, and the butterflies love them. Shown above, top to bottom: 'Flame,' 'Citrus,' and 'Bandana Red.'



Finally, I wasn't thrilled with the red Pentas (P. lanceolata) I planted last year because of the color clash in that part of the garden. But these pink ones--even though they're named 'Graffiti Violet'--are perfect.

What's blooming in your garden this Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day? Head on over to May Dreams Gardens to see what's blooming in gardens around the world.

A Hummingbird's Nest

Wordless Wednesday
Wildlife Wednesday
Nature Notes

Update: Unfortunately, soon after I posted these photos, a predator raided the hummingbird's nest. I have theories on why this happened (cold night, deep torpor, a young mum, crows in the area, etc.), but there's really no way to know for sure. It was a sweet experience to see her constructing and guarding her nest--a first for me. I can only hope that she's OK and will be able to have another nest full of eggs to guard soon.