Tuesday, July 7, 2009

July in the garden

The heat of summer is starting to build, and L.A. has asked us all to conserve water. So I expect to see the garden's lushness subside as we tidy plants, cut back spent blooms, and hunker down until autumn when the weather cools.

But right now, the roses are giving their all. This English rose is in a pot on my deck.

Patterned and colorful leaves are as pretty as flowers. An ornamental grapevine climbs over the shade structure. Its leaves are like stained glass as the sun glows through them.

This elegant clerondendrum flower is as blue as the July sky. Its petals look like butterfly wings.

The agapanthus and lavender are in full bloom on the hillside beneath the lemon tree. So let's enjoy it now, before the heat comes.

10 comments:

Beverly said...

We've got that heat. And, we have been on water restriction for several years now.

Our blooms are droopy after a few hours of sunshine each day, but we are still enjoying each one.

Thank you for sharing yours with us. I so miss having citrus tree in our yard.

cactus petunia said...

The thing I miss most about California is being able to pick a grapefruit or lemon right off the tree in your backyard...What a lovely garden you have!

mo.stoneskin said...

I said hello to the English rose, felt a strong brotherly love towards her.

Crystal said...

Gorgeous! Not much survives here in the heat of Arizona, unless it's a native desert plant.

Whiskeymarie said...

I'm in deep, deep love with my lavender plant right now. As usual, gorgeous pics of your plants/garden.

KBeau said...

Love that blue flower. We don't have anything like that here. I have a few things that do well in the heat we're having here. Particularly lantana and periwinkle.

Pumpkin Delight (Kimberly) said...

Beautiful. I wish I had a green thumb, with or without water!

Woman in a Window said...

I love that, a flower whose tongue is the same blue as a July sky. Soothing somehow.

Gilly said...

You do have some pretty flowers in lA! Mine have been a bit battered by the rain storms we've been having, but things have to be tough to be in my garden, and they will all perk up!

When you talk about the heat spoiling all your gardens, I suppose there are advantages to being where we are!!

Anonymous said...

I feel like I've just been to a restful place.
Thank you!