The scorching temperatures have continued, but there was a reprieve for the garden in the form of rain last week. Rain and mowing did wonders for the appearance of the garden. It's kind of scary how thin that line is between pretty or at least intriguing and scarecrow ugly. The seashore mallows especially were looking like toast.
This pink rainlily (Zephyranthes grandiflora) opened in response to the rain. It was put in last fall and this is the first time it's bloomed here. Grandiflora is a good name; at first I thought it was a tiny pink daylily. I was impressed by how well the flowers held up to the heat.
The butterflies love the heat and the Buddleia flowers. Buckeyes, Skippers
and Swallowtails cover all of the butterfly bushes.
Thankfully after the last few days of murderously hot temps (and I know a lot of people are suffering from the heat), it's raining again. The plants will be happy.
Gorgeous photos!! I want some rain please.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos. Nice to see you post again.
ReplyDeleteI sort of inherited the job of taking care of my Dad's butterfly bush (in a big pot). I'm surprised to see very few butterflies visiting it. Of course, it could be the time. I'm at work during the busiest daily butterfly times and only home very early and quite late.
M
SweetBay,
ReplyDeleteWe are on our third rain in two days can you believe that? Hope you get more and its good the temps are dropping. Been working outside everyday for weeks, rained out at lunch..
Wonderful photos in spite of the heat, and after having a nice dose of rain.
ReplyDeleteWe need rain, hope we get some soon.
FlowerLady
Yes, rain is beautiful! Love that rain lily. I grow the white, though they do not look as good as last year, even though we've had plenty of rain. Lovely butterfly bushes as well.
ReplyDeleteWhile I've been in MO the garden crossed that thin line! But it is amazing what a clean up and some rain can do to perk up the garden! Beautiful shots of the butterfly bush and friends! gail
ReplyDeleteLove your RainLily - it's so delicate looking. And your Butterfly bushes sure are attracting the butterflies. I'm going to have to go up closer to mine and see if any butterflies are up there.
ReplyDeleteEverything's better for a downpour. You've had some serious heat over there and it must make gardening difficult and at times soul destroying, it can be like that here, so I know the elation when rain arrives.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you got rain--we got a ton a few days ago and yet some areas of my garden are so dry--dust blew up when mowing parts of the weeds (erm, I mean "lawn"). That lily is wonderful! It kind of looks like the naked lilies/autumn crocuses.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures of your flowers and butterflies! Rain is a good thing!!!
ReplyDeleteWhile looking at the weather radar today, hoping we would get some, I noticed that central NC was a mass of yellow and orange images indicating heavy rain. Please send some this way!
ReplyDeleteWe went through a very hot, dry period too. It was murder on the garden. The hostas were cooked!
ReplyDeleteThings are looking up lately since we've had some lovely rain and the temps have been a bit cooler. I'm so happy to be able to work in the garden again. Can't do it in that awful heat!
Your butterfly pics are beautiful! And so is that rain lily. What a lovely color it is.
My Buddleia is just beginning to bloom.
Wishing us all mild temps and enough rain :)
Hi Sweetbay, glad to hear you got some rain! I think it would take a lot of heat for your gorgeous garden to cross that line into "scarecrow ugly" (great phrase btw!). Love the butterflies!
ReplyDeleteI seems to live in a rainy part of the world, for the last couple of summers at least, you all write about heat and a dry summer..
ReplyDeleteYour daylily is beautiful, like that colour, to me it's a bit unusual, isn't it? Your 'buddleia' too, an inspiration to me last year ( mine survived!) and your photos, as lovely as ever.
Enjoy your summer :)
Please send us some of your rain. We've had storms roll through New England, but they have mostly missed our little pocket of the world below a low ridge... everything is so dry and crispy and just looks sad. You are so right about the thin line between pretty and ghastly.
ReplyDeleteNothing like a summer rain during these hot, hot days to perk up the garden. I agree the butterflies must love the heat; I've seen so many this year compared to last. Good to see more of your lovely photos, Sweet Bay!
ReplyDeleteThe butterflies are so pretty! It's amazing how refreshing the rain is. We started off so wet this year and now have barely had any. Glad you're getting a little relief from the heat with the rain.
ReplyDeleteBuddleias are survivors - they pop up in the oddest places. It is very warm here (unusual for it to last so long) and some of my plants are looking extremely unhappy. Any rain disappears into my light soil and seems to bypass the plants!
ReplyDeleteA water hose cannot compare to Mother Natures rain falls! As I type, I see butterflies, skippers, hummingbirds and bees on the butterfly bushes. I think I will have butterfly bushes from now on where ever I might live. They play host to so many different things...
ReplyDeleteWe have no rain, only temps in the 90's, cooling to 80's and don't expect rain for at least another month...dry summers we have.
ReplyDeleteThe photos are lovely SweetBay.
Your images of the butterflies are breathtaking! Lovely images!
ReplyDeleteI do so love a beautiful butterfly!-- Randy
ReplyDeleteHi Sweetbay, I too love all the activity on the butterfly bushes. I hope you get lots more rain... we need some badly!! I so agree with your statement about the thin line... for more than one reason (drought) I have not mowed in an age. It is nice to have those garden beds and paths defined. Lovely photos!
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of a rainlily, but yours is lovely.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your butterflies are happy with heat. Maybe the rain will cool things off to a more comfortable temp.
We've had a hot, humid week and a couple of small rainfalls. The alfalfa is growing fast.
It's funny how we [ME] complain about rain until it goes missing. When it returns, even for a brief visit, it's always a blessing!
ReplyDeletefrumoase fotografii,bravo
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful summer flora. Love the Zephyrantes for their ease in growing and pleasing. Have lost all my butterfly bushes. Next time in the nursery have to buy some again.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are delightful like always.
Mu butterfly bushes didn't do so great this year... but that one looks very happy.
ReplyDelete