East Front Yard

I normally like to do posts on different areas of the yard about once a month.  I got away from that this year, partly because of the hot, dry summer, and partly because it almost seems like reruns.  Still, I am wanting to make some changes, and this will help me keep track of things.  We have been watering regularly because of the new plants in the west area.  Still, some of the plants struggled in the heat.  Many of the daylily leaves turned brown.  With a bit of rain, and a break from the hot temperatures, plants are starting to look better.  The heat is expected to be back this week, though, but hopefully, the new vigor the plants have found will sustain them.  Plus, the days are shorter, and the night time temperatures are cooler.

I'll start with a couple views from the street.

Walking up the sidewalk, the marigolds are volunteers from last year's heirloom ones that I planted last year.

The Joe Pye Weed in the back towers over the area.

We are going to walk around the bed, going to the right, or east.  I did some thinning of the verbena bonariensis this spring, but some must have come up after that, and are now blooming.  They are great fillers in the garden, and the bees and butterflies love them, but still, I will be doing more thinning next year.  I forgot the name of the pinkish agastache.

I planted a few nicotianas to fill in some spaces.  These aren't getting very tall, but I like the color.

The helenium, 'Mardi Gras' is on a second flush of blooms after being deadheaded a few weeks ago.

We have turned the corner, and are facing west, heading to the north.  There are a number of volunteer annual blue salvias throughout the bed, joining the verbena.

After not seeing many monarchs this summer, I am pleased that I have been seeing one to three each day for two or three weeks.

I like the cleome brightening up the space.

I like this phase of the blackberry lilies, but want to get the seeds out before they ripen.  Plus, a neighbor boy asked about them, and I told him they are yucky.  I've read that they are poisonous, so maybe I should take them out soon.

I'm glad I decided to do this post, because I hadn't noticed the delphinium is blooming again.

The sedums are doing well.  I hope they continue to fill in the spaces.

Oh, yes, I need to do some more thinning of the verbenas "on a stick".  The helenium, 'Ruby Tuesday' is doing well, even though it has that competition.

The butterfly bush has been in that spot quite a few years.  I need to deadhead it again soon.

We just turned the corner, and are now facing south.  The hibiscus has been in that spot about 5 years.

The rattlesnake master may not have gotten as tall this year as in the past.

I did not keep up with deadheading the hibiscus this year.  I like the look of the dried seed pod.

I wouldn't want many hibiscus plants, but enjoy this one, and the volunteer one that is not blooming right now.  I also have a couple clumps behind the garage, and one seeded into the neighbors' yard.  There really isn't room for that one where it is.  I have to cut it back each summer.

While I was making my way around the bed, Larry came out and took some photos. After including him in some, I informed him he was in my shots, so he went to another part of the flower bed.  I told him I planned on including at least one of them, so here he is, and you can see how tall the Joe Pye weed is.  LOL

I didn't get the swamp milkweed deadheaded.  I wonder if these seeds will germinate in the area.

Can you see the bee in the Joe Pye bloom?  They like to rest in them.

Here is a peek at the newer planted area on the other side of the sidewalk.

I frequently include this view from the porch, facing south.  You can see the yellow blooms of the cup plant.

We'll walk down the sidewalk, facing back to the east.  Mountain mint, lavendar, and annual blue salvias crowded out the 'Orange Perfection' phlox this summer.

I forgot to include a closer photo of the kiss me over the garden gate in the back, but there is a shorter one in the middle.  It's the pink near the bicycle.

The lantanas around the yard were slow in getting established, but are now doing well.  I noticed some berry looking seed pods.  Do you deadhead your lantanas?

I am forgetting the name of this seedhead, but it's a native of some kind.

I'm thinking I'd like to take out most or all of the iris, and transplant some grasses from across the sidewalk to make the whole yard more cohesive.

I'd like to put some of the shorter grasses in this area.

I didn't get this foxglove deadheaded.  I'll leave it now, since it won't have enough time to bloom again.

One of the 'September Charm' anemones died back a ways, while the one next to it fared better.  The mums are getting ready to bloom.

Soon, there will be more pink from the anemones in the flower bed.

I turned back to the view to the north.

These are nigella seed pods.  I hope more come up next year.  The statice plants on either side are slow to get going, but I'm hoping they will bloom yet this season.

So, we made it around, and here are a few more views.

I had actually taken the next two earlier, while I was trying to get photos of butterflies.  That's when I got the idea to do this post.  I like this one of the monarch and Heidi.

Here's Heidi with the view from the street on the east side of the house.

I hope all is well with you, and those in the path of storms are in safe places.