A walk around the yard....

Well finally... my Rose of Sharon 

(Althea, Hibiscus Syriacus) is blooming!  

It's certainly taken it's time this year to bloom!  Actually I am glad to know it's alive and seeing it bloom was a nod to the fact that I didn't kill it last year when I gave it quite a cutting back! There are a lot of buds yet to open but they are all facing the neighbors house!  I figured I better take a picture before I forget to!

You'll notice the bumble bee was visiting too!  The flowers are a purplish blue double bloom.

Such a pretty flower...

Now on to some random shots

 These Black Eyed Susan's haven't amounted to much this year.  They seem shorter than normal too...

The Stella D'Oro lilies are blooming again, but of course not as prolifically as the first time.

 Some more Delphinium

The Yarrow and Coreposis are still blooming

The Russian Sage has a very wild look to it this year.  I think they prefer to be planted in a spot where they can be on their own.  At least is smells good!

 The Sweet Alyssum that returned from last year has filled in nicely

Smells good too!  We have leaves dropping here and there....the fall season won't be long!

On the deck...I am awarding myself the "ugliest potted plant" award...this Sweet Potato Vine has been polite enough to produce flowers but I can't say that I 

enjoyed the plant.  

Very mixed about my plants I chose this year.  I need a better plan next year!

Let's wander to the back...

The arbor has Sweet Autumn Clematis...no blooms yet...and Morning Glories growing with no flowers too!  What gives??

Along the path some hostas with unusual flowers!  

 The shade in the back yard provides a great environment for these plants

 I only fertilized once this late spring with the Flower Tone and Plant Tone and the annuals
got a sprinkling of Osmocote as they were planted.

The always reliable Impatiens make a great display...the Golden Japanese Forest Grass, Hakonechloa "Aureola" gracefully lay along the stone wall...

Lastly, my planters in front of the garage took off rather wildly! The Sweet PotatoVine really got a run on and has just about taken over!  I do like the red Supertunias...they made a good show. 

One of the bloggers I follow Cabin & Cottage left this sentiment on a beautiful post she did- it grabbed my heart strings and expressed my sentiment!  
With her permission I'm sharing it...
(please click the link to see her beautiful post!)

When the season finally changes, it will be sweet and a bit sad.  I will want to hold summer tightly for a moment as you do with a loved one when you wish you could stay forever.  Already waiting, though not idly, until the next time you meet. . . .

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Thanks for visiting!

Liz

I'm joining 
Fishtail Cottage for
Garden Party #17
and
Today's Flowers

It's all about the Hydrangeas!

 Well summer is winding down, and I hate to
admit that! 

I strolled around the yard and snapped
a few pictures.  

This time of year around here it's all about
the hydrangeas! 

 These Limelights on the left were planted a year ago in the spring and the Endless Summer hydrangeas were planted at least 5 years ago.    I cut a bunch of these and gave them to my mother and daughter this past weekend. 

 The flowering has slowed down on the Endless Summer's and some of the flowers are turning color.

I'm real happy with this new one too called Vienna (Out of the Cityline series)

It's cheerful pink flowers are great and it's low growth habit makes it perfect on the corner like I have it planted.

I also planted a new one last year called Pinky Winky and it's coming along very nicely!  As each flower matures they will continue to grow larger and the pink that's at the bottom of the panicle will deepen with color.  I'm just tickled that it's doing so well and it keeps it's shape nicely too!

 Out front on my little island my 6 year old
Limelight hydrangea has developed really
well.  I can't get enough of how pretty they
are.  These a very reliable, and you can
trim them back or leave them alone, either
way they do great! None of mine get what
you would call all day sun, but these do get a
fair amount- probably 3 to 4 hours minimum.
The stand of woods by us is on the south side
so we are protected from the hottest part
of the sun.

My Russian Sage and Black Eyed Susans are about the last perennials blooming...however I am pleased that my delphinium is making a second showing! I think in a few days the flowers will be opening up!

This Rudbeckia-Hortensia or Golden Glow has been in my possession since I was in my late teens.  A neighbor gave me a clump and I've moved it to every place I've lived.  It can get as tall as 6 ft.  It always seems to get this powdery mildew about the same time it flowers.  It's always disappointing to see the mildew but for the most part the plant seems to handle it.

 I'll leave you with a few random shots of some annuals that are still hanging in there!

 Baby Tears...such a sweet plant...I'm definitely going to bring it in and keep it going through the winter!

My flying pig statue has all but disappeared behind these cosmos...I thought it would be cute with them circled around it, but they got much larger than I anticipated!  A few of these are 5 ft. tall now!

And finally my arbor- these morning glories and Sweet Autumn Clematis (neither of which has bloomed yet) have surrounded my little fairy and garden sign...

I'm still enjoying what's left of summer and I hope you are too!

I'm so sorry to see all the peril the East coast has been in after
Hurricane Irene left her mark last weekend.
I hate to admit how darn nice it's been here, but I guess that's how it goes.

I'm linking up with
Fishtail Cottage-Floral Thursdays
Rose Vignettes- Fresh-Cut Fridays