Eye-Minded Me in my July Garden

An interesting coincidence today is the daily Dictionary.com word of the day.

Eyeminded: adj. disposed to perceive one's environment in visual terms and to recall sights more vividly than sounds, smells etc.

As an eyeminded person, the July garden is rife with eye-candy for this eyeminded person, exactly the way I want it. But, lest you think I'm not appreciative of the other senses, there are buzzers everywhere and the air is fragrant with floral sweetness. And the berries are ripe so I'm popping a few of them in my mouth as I putter.

Here are a few of my happy clematis:

Clematis viticella 'Ville de Lyon'

Clematis viticella 'Madame Julia Correvon' and 'Alba Luxurians'

Clematis viticella 'Purpurea Plena Elegans' and 'Palette'

Clematis crispa hybrid

Another Clematis crispa hybrid

Clematis 'Haizawa'

Clematis viticella 'Rosalyn'

Clematis viticella 'Minuet'

Clematis florida 'Alba Plena'

Clematis integrifolia 'Alionushka'

Clematis viticella 'Venosa Violacea'

Clematis 'Venosa Violacea' with Star Jasmine

Clematis viticella 'Kermesia'

Clematis viticella 'Confetti'

Clematis viticella 'Pagoda'

Believe it or not Clematis is not the only thing I grow.

Sidalcea 'Party Girl'

Leucanthemum x superbum 'Ice Star

And may I present the mopheads:

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ayesha' still at its lightest color

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Buttons & Bows'

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Peppermint Swirl'

Dianthus x isensis 'Dancing Geisha' (Sorry for the crappy photo)

Dianthus x isensis 'Dancing Geisha' (Another out of focus photo)

Penstemon 'Garnet'

The second flower on Gardenia 'Frostproof' with Nandina foliage behind it.

Finally I wanted to share photos of my twenty year old Pineapple Guava. (Feijoa sellowana) Specifically, its very first flowers. You read that right. My twenty year old plant has finally decided to grow two little flowers. I photographed the progression.

My first glimpse at the semi-hidden buds, centered inside the shrub.

Next year I hope to have a bush loaded with flowers. I'll keep you posted. 

Finally a few critters:

A sweet baby bunny and so far, no noticeable damage to my plants.

One of several hummers, taking a break from dive-bombing

A teensy frog, no bigger than my pinkie fingernail.

 I hope your garden is making you happy.Thank you for visiting.

The Begining of Fall

Summer officially ends in a few days but we've already gone from a prolonged heat wave to cooler than average temperatures that feel very fall-like.  Considering that summer started early, I guess it's only fair that fall should too. Fortunately the garden is still happy. I'm loving all of the late and repeat bloomers. 

Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate is coming into its own right now. The plants reseed themselves and if I'm diligent with the slug bait, the tiny seedlings grow and flourish and repeat the cycle. That is, if they're not eaten by a hungry bird which I witnessed this morning but didn't get a photo of.

Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate

Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate

Most of my Echinacea are done but this little flower popped open a few days ago. The cooler temps mean richer hued petals.

Echinacea tennessensis 'Rocky Top Hybrids'

 All of the hardy fuchsias are at their beautiful best right now. The hummers are fighting over them.

Fuchsia 'Santa Cruz'

There are a few repeat bloomers in the Clematis department. In the case of 'Princess Diana' the intermission was very short. She's a prolific and boisterous gal. 

Clematis 'Princess Diana'

And because of her happy ways, once she goes dormant, I will be moving her.

Clematis 'Princess Diana'

Here's a new, unnamed Clematis. It looks like it has some crispa parentage and perhaps a cousin or sibling of C. versicolor. No matter the name. I love it.

Here's another newbie. I've never met a small-flowered Clematis I didn't love.

 And one more. Don't you love that coloring?

Japanese Anemone is the quintessential fall flower. I dug out all of these 'Prince Heinrich' a few years ago. But I missed a few and now I'm glad I did.

Anemone japonica 'Prinz Heinrich'

And, of course, no fall garden would be complete without Aster (or whatever we're supposed to call them now). My favorite of the clan is vibrant pink 'Alma Potschke'. 

Aster novae-angliae 'Alma Potschke'

I'm thrilled to pieces with how well my new Cirsium has done this year. And this bumblebee seems to be too.

Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpeum'

Begonia grandis

Rehmannia elata (Chinese Foxglove)

This hybrid Mimulus comes from Annie's Annuals & Perennials. I'm going to protect it this winter even though it's purported to be hardy down to Zone 7. Its flowers have been nonstop since I purchased the plant last spring.

Mimulus x aurantiacus 'Cherry'

I am hoping my new Correa will bloom this winter like it's supposed to do. It's had a few bells all summer and now it's loaded with them. What a sweet plant.

Correa 'Dusky Bells'

I've already picked a bunch of hydrangea stems for drying. I still need to get some 'Limelight' ones but I want them to get as pink as they want first. 

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight'

I think the 'Glowing Embers' blossoms are ready.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers'

And now for some wide shots.

Thanks for visiting.