Smiles Peeps,
Today is Fishtail Cottage Garden Party!
I look forward to joining Tracie's party each week..
But it's not been a good year to have a garden in Illinois...heat and drought, more heat and more drought has left my garden with few pretties to look at.
I've actually felt sad this year knowing she doesn't look anywhere near her best!
But it is, what it is!
You might not have noticed but I haven't shown "large" garden area photos since Our Garden's Dining Room .
June was around the last time she look luscious and all primped up!
Yes, it's Wisteria, she's in her third bloom of the season! Third bloom in August you ask?
After her first bloom in early Spring I prune her back hard, at least two feet.
She will bloom again about in a month, then prune her hard again
Now you won't get anywhere near Springs full blooms, but enough to enjoy her beauty and lovely smells again.
My Phlox and heirloom Balsam are doing well.
I was so happy to see a heirloom balloon (white) flower hidden amongst draft zebra grass. The yellow flower is Rubeckia.
I was also excited when I stumbled upon the Mallow plant. Twice she has been completely nibbled down by rabbits. So happy I'll have seeds to gather for next year! Some Queen's Anne's Lace on the left.
One of my favorite vines - Variegated Porcelain Berry Vine. Her berries will turn into beautiful pinks, coppers, turquoise and gold colors with grey spots. The birds love her fruit!
One of my containers still looking pretty good!
I'll be heading over to see all the beautiful gardens shared at the party!
How's is your garden doing this year?
Hi Cathy: Your garden looks lovely. That wisteria is just gorgeous! I am sure it's been tough due to the warm weather in Illinois. Out here in the Pacific Northwest, we've had the exact opposite problem, where it was fairly cold for a long time in the spring and into the summer, but it's nice now! Thank you for stopping by my blog today and asking a great question and leaving a nice, thoughtful comment, because I appreciate it very much. I'll see you at your party on Sunday!
Well, I think what you've shown looks great, Cathy! I think we've all been hit pretty hard with this horrible heat and drought. We moved to a new area {NY to Ohio} and I've just been looking and watching different areas around our condo, and looking at what other people have planted to get an idea of what does well where and through the heat. I've already got one plant on my "to get" list and have a few others in mind that might do well in the heat. I did put three new hydrangea bushes in {small ones} and I've been babying them, making sure I water them every day. So far, so good.
Yes it is a hard summer for Midwestern US, are you experiencing the same in Ohio. Thanks for stopping by and I love how you added fabric to your bedroom cabinet!
I definitely have garden envy! LOVE the wisteria!
Your photos are amazing, and I had no idea that wisteria blooms so many times during the season. Interesting!!!
Linking from Fresh Cut Friday,
Ricki Jill
I love looking at your gardens, Cathy! The wisteria is really beautiful...did not know you could get 3 blooms in one season!
i love wisteria...so pretty! i've found my garden is just too little to make room for it here though...so just going to enjoy yours! Sorry it's taken so long to come by to see your post - been down w/the flu for a couple weeks (it just won't leave me alone). lol finally getting caught up! xoxo, tracie