I like to grow fun stuff sometimes.  I saw these plants in New Orleans and Florida and fell in love with them.  I purchased a bulb from Logee’s Greenhouse three years ago, and it has done very well.  ( I put it in the basement during the winter).  The buds are very cool at all stages of development.    There are a lot of  photos, but I just couldn’t resist.  The scent is intoxicating as well – especially in the evening.  Enjoy.

Early buds

Starting to open

Unraveling

The blossom starts out yellow and changes to orange

This morning, picking up the sunlight

What glorious weather we’re having.   It’s quite crisp so I have been able to do some much needed weeding and transplanting.  The daylilies are almost done but the dahlias are going strong.  Much of the garden slows down this time of year  –  those lazy days of summer linger a bit longer in the garden too.

Thalictrum rochebrunianum – this delicate plant adds a real fairy garden feel in the shade.. the flower scape is five feet high

Close-up of the blossoms

Agapanthus

Queen Ann’s lace in the meadow

Grasses in the meadow  – morning dew

Dew drops on a meadow grass

Hydrangea blossom

Hosta leaf

Knock-out rose bud

Asiatic lily and birches

The Carolina wrens getting breakfast

Fledged!

Wow.  Usually August is dog days, hot hazy humid.. its not over yet but it sure has been gorgeous in my neck of the woods.   The daylilies and dahlias continue and  phlox are blooming.

Faith’s phlox – these are from friend Faith’s garden.  They are  extremely fragrant and don’t seem to get mildew.

My grandmother’s white phlox – these came from her garden

Care for something tropical?  The elephant ears are getting pretty big and the succulents are thriving

These hardy hibiscus were here when we moved in

When the weather is this nice, dinner al fresco is in order

The veggie bounty is coming

Tomatoes, beans, peppers, eggplant, blueberries, squash, cukes, herbs…

And a platter of daylilies…

There have been quite a few visitors to the garden lately.. and not the two legged kind.

Can you find the hummingbird in this photo?

Bet you can’t see Esther hiding in the tall grass either

Dragonfly #1

Dragonfly #2

Dragonfly #3

Yellow swallowtail

Painted lady

Another lady

Dastardly rabbits – so cute but so destructive

Mr. Chippy

A parade of wild turkey toddlers

Carolina wrens have nested  in the plants by the front door

Mom and Dad have been very busy with 5 mouths to feed

Open up