Views of Midsummer in My Garden

I can't believe we are already so deep into July.  We've had a very busy summer so far here at PITV....lots of family outings to beaches, public gardens, theme parks.  I think my garden misses me, but honestly, it's just too hot to work out there anyway.  Actually, it's too hot to be flitting off to beaches and theme parks as well!  These days, the only outdoor place I wanna be is on that swing under the old grandfather oak.  Just sayin'. 

Having said that, I have been walking about with Mr. Nikon to make a photographic record of this hot July garden.  Come walk with me:

Starting in the shade garden (of course!), I pause to admire my hodge-podge collection of tropicals.  This is my favorite part of my entire garden, not just because of the shady oak, but also because the soil is so rich that the plants grow full and lush without any encouragement.  This Giant Tree Fern and Giant Bird of Paradise makes for my favorite combination in the whole garden.  I love the contrast of their leaves. 

And what's really fun in my garden is searching among the beds everyday for new blooms.  We don't plant in masses here at PITV, so there are many tiny treasures to be spied.  Here is an Amazon Lily (Eucharis x grandiflora) in bloom.  These are always a treat when they decide to bloom.  We recently dug up our three old Amazon Lilies and divided them.  They were being smothered and choked by a giant peace lily and alpinia.  Now, we have Amazon Lilies spread in several areas of the shade garden.  They looked really pathetic and tiny, and I was thinking it was such a mistake to divide them, at least until I discovered this bloom!

Oh, here is a favorite summer bloomer of mine...the Siam Tulip!  These really make a big impact, even from across the lawn.

Theblooms of this pine cone ginger are not quite so showy...well, at least, not yet.  The red bracts to follow will put on quite a show.

Here is a favorite ti plant of mine...'Chocolate Queen.'  I love the purple and teal streaks edged in creamy gold.  It is unfortunately being choked right now by viburnums-that-are-no-longer-little.  Where in the world can I move this ti plant to?  Ugh.  Decision to be made.

Moving on...into that horrifically, brutally sunny side of the garden.  The only shade we get over here right now is from three crape myrtles and a yellow tab tree.  Not enough shade for the length of this space.  But oh, how I love the crapes in midsummer!  This is 'Natchez,' a very large-growing, weepy crape myrtle.

If you let your eyes wander down the path, you will see what my Super-Garden-Man has been working on all summer.  Just to the right of the blue bench is the surprise pergola he built for me.  It is larger than when I originally posted about it, as he attached another pergola to it!  I will have to get together a post soon about our new garden living space.  It is really so awesome!  And you will not believe what I have planted to grow on the pergola!  I have lost my mind!  Anyway, you can see that we have extended the butterfly path right on down and around the pergola.  Nearly all of the grass in the area is gone.  (The grass always struggled here anyway.)  We laid cardboard boxes and mulch down to do the job.  Eventually, I will have new planting beds!  Woohoo!!!

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