I am finally seeing blooms from my ‘Orange Perfection’ garden phlox.
It has been here for two seasons.
I guess my cheap self shocked it by dividing it into six plants before planting it last spring.
I am pleased with the color. It’s a lovely salmon with a magenta eye.
The stems are a bit floppy, but I like how it leans on the rocks and peeks over.
I am happy with them. They are the perfect orange.
Flower
I usually visit this farm in June at the peak of daylily season.
I did not get there until July this year. I am glad.
There was a whole different crop of flowers.
They seemed unbothered by the heat of the southern summer.
This place used to be a working dairy farm then a daylily farm.
Now it’s just home to folks and flowers, goats and horses.
Here are some daylilies that bloom mid-July.
I always enjoy my time with these friends and their flowers.
Flower
This plant is called a Sago palm, but it is not a palm.
It is however, poisonous if ingested.
It is an ancient plant called a cycad.
Cycas revoluta is its scientific name.
Its fronds are stiff with leaflets that have pointy, scratchy tips.
I water it rarely except in the hot summer.
It puts up a new crown of leaves in June. This takes about two weeks.
This new set of leaves is almost as big as the ring from last season.
I have read that you should leave all the old leaves, but I never do.
The whole plant will get hauled inside for the winter.
The bottom ring will turn brown and ugly.
I will remove it.
I do not know whether this is a male or female.
It has never put up a cone or basket.
Maybe that’s because I stress it every spring by amputating the ugly, old leaves.
So my advice is. Cut off the ugly parts, but do not eat them.
Flow on the Sago
Raphael is always late.
Every year he makes me wait.
He shows up when the others are done.
He likes to be the only one.
I still love Raphael Hemerocallis.
He is worth the wait.
Flower
The 10 Best Artworks by Raphael, Seraphic Genius of the Renaissance—Ranked
It is hard to miss this show-off in my garden right now.
If you are not looking in its direction, its fragrance will turn your head.
This Stargazer Oriental lily/ Lilium orientalis has doubled in size since last summer.
The only drawbacks are the staining orange pollen and that it is toxic to cats.
(I do not have a cat, but needed to share that for my cat-loving readers.)
Some flowers are beautiful. This one is crazy beautiful!
Flower
I was thrilled to get to watch a parade that did not require hot glue and poster putty.
This real parade was in the mountain town of Blowing Rock, North Carolina.
I will spare you commentary. Enjoy the parade.
I will mention my favorite character in the parade. Let’s call her Sparkle.
She came through three times. I think she cut the corner and came back around.
I love a parade!
FLOW
American freedom is a thing to celebrate.
The fairies realized that a party was in order and planned a parade.
There were prizes awarded for the best decorated entries.
Carie the Tooth Fairy won for her bike decor.
Several floats were constructed.
Tink enjoyed riding on one of these.
Queen Mona decorated her carriage.
A patriotic tear drop trailer joined in.
Even the onlookers were in costume.
Wingrid stayed awake for the festivities.
Ruth lead the proceedings, of course.
My favorite entries were the little kids in wagons.
Happy Fourth of July!
Thanks to my friend Barbara S. for the parade idea.
Happy Birthday to my favorite little boy, Rudy A.
Happy Birthday America.
Flower
I am hoping that some of you will be sad that my June blog blitz is over.
I myself am relieved to be done.
Now for the data.
Did posting every day run up my stats? Yes
Was it worth it? No
I felt like I was my own Flower Twitter tossing floral confetti out into cyberspace.
If this is what it takes to get an agent and publisher, I may have to pass.
I will be quiet and rest up for the FAIRY PARADE on Thursday, July 4th.
I will be going back to my usual two or three posts per week.
I hope you folks aren’t too awful disappointed.
Slower Flower
The Belamcanda chinensis are competing for attention in a rather crowded field of flowers today.
These beauties are really in the iris family, but are called Blackberry lilies.
There are several colors.
My dark “Leopard Lily” must have crossed with
my yellow “Candy Lily”
to produce this unusual tie-dyed look.
Another surprise in the garden!
Flow
floweralley 