“July Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana
Thanks to Carol of May Dreams Gardens for coming up with GBBD. This is the day (15th of the month) in which we post everything which is blooming in our gardens.
Well, this month there is not a whole lot of blooming flowers. The unusually high temperatures of June and lack of rain seems to have stopped many of the summer bloomers. When the rains did come, they just seemed to beat up the few flowers that were around. That is what happened to our crepemyrtle trees. The flowers are very delicate and papery and rain can really do a number on them. More rain is expected this week, so maybe by August’s GBBD more blooms will be showing up.
A few daylilies are finishing up blooming. I was surprised to see buds on the daylily Misty Mayhaw, but they won’t open for at least a week. Eye Yi Eye and the red Mack the Knife daylilies have are giving their last hurrah.
Another flowering shrub that has put out its last blooms for the year is the mophead hydrangea. Most of the flowers have started to fade, but there still are a few fairly fresh ones around.
I was surprised to see two gladiolus starting to bloom. I had thought they were all finished by the middle of June, and then these guys show up. I will have to say that with the high temperatures, the flowers are not lasting as long.
There are a few flowers that are just showing up. The toad lilies have started showing a few flowers, and white hosta flowers are just starting to open up.
Perennials that are continuing to bloom are Texas Star (my favorite), jasmine, and society garlic. Except for the Texas Star, the others are small flowers which are blooming in clusters.
I think the only new flower that is blooming is the spreading torenia Amethyst Ice that I put in about three weeks ago. It is slowly taking off. I wish I would have planted these earlier before the high heat came; I think they would look even better if I had.
This July there is also an agapanthus or two still blooming, a few roses, tropical hibiscus and gerbera daisies, but they are not very showy at this time. I am hoping next month is a little better.
Always Growing 
Teresa~Gardening with Soule said,
July 15, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Thanks for telling me the name of the torenia Amethyst Ice. I have those growing and I did not know their name. Your flowers look lovely. Thanks for showing them.
Jan said,
July 16, 2009 at 5:26 am
Teresa, I love that particular color of Torenia. It is such a rich color. I hate when I buy plants that aren’t labeled with a name. If you ever want to get them again, you don’t know what they are called.
Janet said,
July 15, 2009 at 8:15 pm
I have a few hydrangeas blooming too. Funny that you have the Hibiscus coccinea ‘Texas Star’ too! Great blooms Jan.
Jan said,
July 16, 2009 at 5:27 am
Thanks, Janet. The garden does seem a little sparse regarding flowers, but thank goodness for colorful foliage. I think I would feel right at home in your garden since we grow so many of the same plants.
Sweet Bay said,
July 17, 2009 at 10:24 am
Mack the Knife is beautiful. I love your pale pink Hydrangea too. And the Torenia — I have just seen the blue/purple ones, the deep rose pink is lovely.
Jan said,
July 24, 2009 at 9:21 am
Isn’t Mack the Knife great? I just found this one a few weeks ago and already think it is one of my favorites. I love torenia and the pink was my favorite until I saw this one.