Blooms of June. .

We have had sooo much moisture over the last month.

We've seen nearly 4.5 inches of the wet stuff over the last few weeks. .

we have had LOTS of wind. .

and ice pellets from the sky.

Did I  mention that we have had wind?!?

Even when it wasn't raining!

The flowers and weeds grow alike, as you might see with the giant broadleafed, stickery-sided weed in the center of my lovely blooms in the photo!

The larkspur are starting to pop!! My favorite is the dark purple. .

There is also a lighter purple. .

and sometimes an occasional pink or white.

These reseed like C-R-A-Z-Y. .

but they are easy to pull. .

And they sure brighten up the spot!

(Sara. .a great choice for instant color in your new yard!!!)

Last summer the hummingbird that visited was all over them. .

I haven't noticed any hummers as of yet.

This guy has been FOUR years in the waiting!!

One of my gardening patients brought me some milkweed seed years ago. .

I thought it was the tuberosa. .

which is a brilliant orange color, and truly a favorite of mine. .

I started some from seed. .

and expected them to bloom the second year or so. .

But instead of blooms the next year. .

I wasn't even sure that the plants in the spots where I THOUGHT I planted milkweed. .

WERE milkweed!!

They DIDN'T look like the orange clump of milkweed that I have. .

and so I was confused for the entire summer as to WHAT it was. .

But, because they were big plants. .

and definitely coming from the same spot I started them in. .

I left them!

Last summer, I waited for blooms. .

But none came. .

The plants continued to grow, and any time I would pop a stalk in half. .

The milky fluid came from them, leading me to believe they WERE milkweed.

I finally asked her about them at one of her appointments. 

And she advised me that it was the common milkweed. .

So I left them and continued to wait!

SOMEHOW. .

it has spread to include about a dozen plants in the same area. .

and since it HADN'T bloomed or set seed yet. .

That has me a little concerned.

BUT, they are blooming now. .

And they are gorgeous blooms, worth the wait. .

Plus, they look nice with the larkspur. .

AND. .

They are essential for monarch butterflies. .

So, they will stay!

To the west of the milkweed. .

 in the garden along the driveway. .

The red hot pokers are blooming, as is the passed-along pink penstemon to the right.

These red hot pokers are, interestingly, ALL yellow. .

And this clump has the more commonly seen variety. .

Which just so happens to be the variety that I ordered a few years ago.

This is the first year that they have really bloomed well, last year was just a flower on each plant. .

And since I had never seen the blooms before, I don't think I noticed the difference.

But it makes me wonder if I got a yellow one by accident.

They are pretty. .

And they are substantial plants (BIG).

I think they are adding alot to the beds they are in.

They are native to Africa;

And though I've lost one of the three I planted 3 years ago. .

The other two are flourishing now.

And they add a nice contrast to their places. .

They are also supposed to be hummingbird magnets. .

Hmmm. .

Here's a close up photo of the pink penstemon with the purple larkspur. .

There SHOULD be hummingbirds here. .

RIGHT??

Sigh!

The pink knock out roses are on FIRE. .

And if you look into the background, the pond is hiding beyond the tall green plants in the shadow. Those plants are a nice mixture of Mexican hats and gray headed coneflowers. There are a few scattered blossoms right now, but I imagine within the week, the plants will be L-O-A-D-E-D with blossoms and winged creatures!

Speaking of winged creatures. .

I spied a couple of giant bumble bees working the perennial snapdragons.

The Texas red yucca is blooming. .

I showed the light pink stalk with buds on it last week.

Still no blooms on the big plant.

Can you say

H-U-M-M-I-N-G-B-I-R-D

M-A-G-N-E-T????

Why, oh WHY don't they hear me? Sniff!

But on a more cheerful note. .

The coronation gold yarrow has just started blooming too.

And it's very. . .

Cheery!

Back around to the new patio. .

You can see my hen and chick flock in the rock planter. .

As well as my funnel planters. .

That I single handedly screwed into the post. .

Well, not really using just a single hand (yuk, yuk, yuk!). .
You know what I mean!

Anyway. .

A couple weeks into summer vacation finds. .

Two big boys working full time jobs while cramming in golf, frog hunting and fishing in their spare time. They will both be counselors at 4-H camp this coming week. .and then get home, repack, and head out for football camp at the end of the week. Devin and Cami have been attending a bible camp each afternoon this past week plus some pool and library time. .

and all the kids attended our 4-H Safari themed day camp. .

two as counselors and two as campers. .

and one mom that worked as the snack and lunch lady. .

hopefully pictures and stories to come.

Devin will get to go to 4-H camp next week too. .

 and Cami will have to stay home to keep her dad in line. .

Wish her luck!!

Enjoy your weekend!