I'm linking up with Carol's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. Unfortunately, this month I have more non-blooming flowers than blooming ones, so I'll be getting my July floral bloom fix around the internet instead of in my garden. First, here's what I do have in bloom:
The pink diamond hydrangea tree has started to bloom. These flowers start out white and by Fall they turn pink.
The butterfly bush has blooms too. These dark purple flowers are so pretty and have a pleasant, sweet smell. I've seen a few white sulfur butterflies, but no other kind of butterfly. These flowers attract bees too, and I do like my bumbles, so that's been nice.
Now for what's NOT blooming.
My mammoth sunflowers look weak. {sigh} Last year they started blooming in June. We're now at July 15, and I haven't seen so much as a bud. To be fair, the seedlings I started early this spring got clipped by a vile creature commonly known as a squirrel, so I had to start them over. These haven't been growing as long as they would have had the original seedlings not gotten clipped, so developmentally I guess you could say they're a few weeks behind. A little fertilizer may be in order.
More non-blooming sunflowers--On the left I have Coconut Ice hybrids, and in the square container I planted Chianti hybrids. I've never grown Coconut Ice before, so I have no basis for comparison. But I did grow Chiantis last year, and they were blooming by mid-July. The Chianti seedlings I started in early spring also got clipped, so these are the second try. For the mammoth and Chianti flowers, I have done nothing differently this year. They get plenty of sun and are even in the same containers they were in last year. Maybe a little more time is all they need.
All my hopes for mid-July blooms rest on the Teddy Bear Sunflower. These are also new to my garden this year, and I spotted a few flowers trying to open last night. Maybe I'll have some blooms in the next few days. And I hope by next month to see all my sunflowers in bloom.
Happy GBBD!
Your summer blooms are beautiful! It looks as if you will have sunflowers very soon. I look forward to seeing them. Happy GBBD!
ReplyDeleteWe should have been here tomorrow. Gardens bloom best on the 10th and the 21st, not on Bloom Day. Water, fertilizer, sun and time: sunflowers don't ask for much, do they?
ReplyDeleteThat is a pretty bloom on the butterfly bush and it looks as though your sunflowers should be blooming soon! Happy Bloom Day
ReplyDeleteHi! I can't wait to see the Teddy Bear sunflower in bloom. It's looks so interesting... My Hydrangeas 'are just starting to open as well. I grow H 'Pinky Winky with much success but that is the only one so far!
ReplyDeleteI love sunflowers also :) Thanks for sharing your blooms--and your non-blooms too!
ReplyDeleteI love sunflowers also :) Thanks for sharing your blooms--and your non-blooms too!
ReplyDeletemy sunflowers aren't even close either. and one of them just recently got its head chomped off by a squirrel, even though it was like four feet tall and not blooming. pretty sure there's something very wrong with my chiantis, they look super pathetic compared to yours.
ReplyDeleteWhat you have in bloom is looking good. Some plants here have also been slow, caused by very cool temperatures in June.
ReplyDeleteTeddy Bear Sunflower! I can't wait to see what that will look like in full bloom. How fun! Your other blooms are lovely, too.
ReplyDeleteSquirrels are little bundles of wickedness and spite. Those cute, fluffy tails are about their only saving grace... Hope your sunflower recovers to last year's glory, and that they all bloom soon for you!
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