Garden in the First Half of July

 Things are starting to grow.  The blossoms are scarce, with not enough for bouquets indoors.

The prayer flags provide a bright note on the frame that will support dahlias.  At this time, the dahlias are about 8 inches tall.  They have been interplanted with zinnias, also not blooming yet.

Tomatoes are getting bigger.  The corner plant is our favorite tomato, Cherokee Purple.

The tomatoes will end up softball sized, weighing as much as 20 ounces.

Interplanted with the tomatoes are basil, parsley, marigolds, and zinnias.

But by July 7, there are calendulas.

We planted these last year, and what you see are self-seeded.  They are really good seeders!

We have found the plants thriving in several places, including in the back yard tulip garden that did not exist as a garden a year ago!  The colors range from yellow to orange.  We will have to put up a fence to keep them from overtaking the front sidewalk!

By July 9, we are getting to see a variety of flowers  - daylilies, zinnias, marigolds, and some of the hosta have begun to flower.  The tall, straggly, weedy things in front of the shed are aconite - monkshood - they are taking forever to bloom.

It was fun to come across this bud stem of aconite one foggy, drizzly morning:

The water has weighted the branch to make it horizontal!

The birds enjoy this birdbath.  We have noticed them using it more this summer.  

Perhaps the plants growing around it make them feel safer.

The drumstick alliums are putting on quite a show.  These have begun to bloom - that's the lighter pink tops.  They really attract bees and other nectar sucking flying bugs.

We are delighted and amazed to see the San Marzano turning color on July 12.  San Marzano is a plum tomato that makes excellent sauce.  This is super early to be turning color!  In past years, the earliest we have picked a tomato is August 14.  Most often the first tomato is August 21.

The first asiatic lily bloomed in mid-July.  It is mildly fragrant and a delightful creamy color.  We have to cage them - the critters think they taste wonderful!  Last year, deer ate them all.

When you look at the dahlia frame in the above picture, it is hard to believe that they will need the stability of that tall frame.   Come back to see the pics in August and September!

And the mushrooms are always fun.

To see other garden pics:

Garden at the End of June

And the first half of June is here.

You can see the end of May, 2020, here.

Here is the first week of May

Daffodils 2020

The middle of April is here.

First week of April.