Even an hour makes a difference

I finally buckled down this afternoon, between grocery shopping, soccer, cooking, and laundry, and spent about ninety minutes working in the yard. Because I focused everything in a small area, its very visible. I pulled back the horrible morning glory vines from the back quarter - again - and filled three bags with virginia day flower, that seemed to have hit optimal conditions this year.

Today was simply beautiful, and I've got to spend more time cleaning up, because the rank weeds are causing permanent damage to the good stuff around them.

Meanwhile, in the front, here's a beautiful Joe Pye seedhead in the dappled shade under the oak.

 And another picture of those black-eyed susans that just won't quit.

And my yellow yucca, which has bugs and spiders and stress and spots from damp.

Back to the Garden: Still Blooming

Let's just pretend August didn't happen, OK? I didn't lift a finger in the garden, and it shows it. I've been coasting all year, and eventually it will start to show.

But I'm coasting from a good place, and I've got a lot of stuff blooming. The view from the corner isn't that impressive.

But the close-ups and vignettes tell a different story.

Balloon Flower

Black Eyed Susans - I don't remember planting these!

Goldenrods with Verbena bonerensis in the background. All volunteers.

Sunflower

Pink Turtleheads

The chewed-on pink turtleheads are very typical of the wilted and motheaten look of my garden. I'm actually pleased to find out the turtleheads are appetizing to somebody. They are a critical food to a number of beautiful butterflies, and a large part of why I planted them is to be dinner in a time of need.