Thursday, July 15, 2010

July: Bloom Day!

Is it that time again already?

Biggest. Sunflower. Ever.
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Seriously, what sunflower has a trunk??
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ETA: I measured the sunflower and it is 11 feet 4 inches tall, 4 3/4 inches diameter where my hand is. On 7/16 it has 4 flowers open and about 20-ish more buds. The thing is a freakin' TREE. Did I mention it's a volunteer? Why are my best plants accidental?

Monarda didyma 'Violet Queen' and Schizachyrium scoparium, little bluestem grass, in the prairie garden
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The double cosmos 'Rose Bon Bon' seeds from Renee's that came with the Spitfire nasturtiums have just started to bloom.
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Do I ever get tired of taking pictures of red admirals? (Answer: no)
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Or swallowtails? (again: no)
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Ox-eye sunflowers, Heliopsis helianthoides, in the prairie garden
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Speaking of the prairie garden... This view just makes me so happy!
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My favorite weed (good thing, because I have a lot of it): Commelina communis, the Asiatic dayflower
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And let's not forget what's happening indoors! I lost two of my African violets and a third is in its death throes, but this guy still loves me.
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Even the City of Chicago celebrates Bloom Day!
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Thanks as always to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting!

7 comments:

garden girl said...

Wow Diane - that is a SERIOUS sunflower!

Your gardens are looking really gorgeous. Happy Bloom Day!

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Nice! I did that sunflower. I just sowed some on July 4 and they are baby seedlings. :)

Tracy said...

Wow!! That sunflower should be in the Guinness Book of World Records. That isn't a flower, it's a tree! Great butterfly pictures. I just love that prairie garden shot - beautiful!

Unknown said...

That is one happy sunflower. Never tired of looking at butterfly shots.

Rose said...

Your prairie garden is beautiful, Diane! And no, you can never get enough photos of butterflies...or coneflowers, for that matter. The two just seem to go together, don't they? I also planted some of Renee's Rose Bonbon cosmos, but I'm still waiting for them to bloom; I just love them.

That is one huge sunflower! Unfortunately, my husband mowed down all my sunflowers while they were still seedlings--another example of his selective listening:)

Unknown said...

The garden looks fantastic, but you're right, that is one whopping big sunflower. Love the butterflies, too.

Ramble on Rose said...

That sunflower is unbelievable! It's great that it has the trunk so it doesn't flop. Also, love the prairie garden!