Ambivalent Hydrangea, B&A's and The Giveaway

MY HYDRANGEA SEEMS TO have a bit of trouble making up its mind. Perhaps my soil is neutral because the flowers aren't wholly alkaline-pink or acid-blue. But I'm not complaining. 

I took the photo below a few weeks ago. My hardy orchid, growing in a container, is happy to smile for the camera.

Hardy orchid, Bletilla striata in bloom.

Below is a tuft of my wispy Tamarix racemosa in bloom. It's difficult to photograph but it's actually a very soft pink.

This is the third or fourth (?) year for my Abutilon 'Nabob.' I love the deep red color.

Below is a bit of charming (at least to my eyes) garden chaos.

Purple with black-centered, Geranium 'Patricia', soft pink Campanula lactiflora 'Loddon Anna'
and Sidalcea 'Party Girl' 

Below is Centaurea jacea, a wild perennial Bachelor Button. It blooms in July. It doesn't reseed. The bees love it and it's pretty.

I bought another package of Oxalis 'Iron Cross' this spring. The foliage on the left are from last year and the ones on the right are the newbies. You can hardly tell the difference now.

My Joe Pye plants are getting taller by the day. Here is 'Baby Joe', Eupatorium dubium. 

And below is Eupatorium cannabinum. It blooms earlier than E. purpurea or E. dubium or E. maculatum or... 

Finally, I have "After" photos to go with the "Before" photos I took over a month ago. Despite my efforts, I've decided that mine is a garden belonging to an eccentric old woman. Plants leaning on plants, no room for anything. Oh well. At least you can walk down the paths now. 

Before--no definition, just a mass of green with a few roses mixed in. 

Sorry this is crooked. The rose is still here but out of bloom right now. The daylily is almost ready.
In the pot is Hesperaloe that didn't bloom this year. 

Before--the pathway was buried under a layer of leaning plants. On the right is 'Knock Out' rose.

After--voila, a pathway, albeit with weeds popping up and still rather chaotic. 

Before--the same pathway from the opposite end. 

After--although the pink rose in the before photo has finished blooming, pink
'Floral Carpet' Rose is in full bloom. 

Before--the main pathway

After--better...

My Daphne 'Summer Ice' is really outdoing itself. It has doubled in size since spring
and this second flush of blooms is outstanding. 

A few more happy campers, if I may...

Clematis 'Polish Spirit'

Heart's Tongue Fern

Fuchsia and Lady Fern

The few poppies I have this year are all late in blooming. This is 'Lauren's Grape'
with Verbena rigida behind it. 

Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Ice Star’ 

Purple Clematis 'Polish Spirit' and pink small-flowered Clemmy 'Confetti.' 

Argaranthemum--one of the few annuals I've purchased this year. Love that deep pink color.

Finally, to reward you for your patience, I have a giveaway! Ricki Grady (and publisher) was kind enough to print a portion of my review on the back of her book. Beside my blurb is one written by Loree of Danger Garden fame. If you haven't read this engaging, delightful book yet, leave a comment and I'll choose a winner.