Flower Power: GBBD July 2010

May Dream Gardens hosts Garden Blogger's Bloom Day every month.  During the shady heat of July, blooms are scarce in my garden (actually, they're always pretty scarce in my shade, but they become even rarer during the dry summer heat).  But a few of my plants are making the attempt, so here's a few blooms:

Established Plants

Water Poppy (Hydrocleys nymphoides) is one of the few pond plants that will do fairly well in filtered sun, throwing out a few blooms on occasion. 

My Chinese Indigo (Indigofera kirilowii) is in its second year (still pretty small) and will produce pendulous blossoms on new growth.

One plant that doesn't seem to mind the dry, hot shade, the Rock Rose (Pavonia lasiopetala) continues to produce hot pink flowers.

My Society Garlic (Tulbaghia violacea) didn't produce any spring blossoms (as it was likely recovering from getting blasted by the winter's 18 degree lows).  But its sending up some lilac clusters now.

One plant that I'm considering for additional locations in the garden is the 'Ragin Cajun' Ruellia (Ruellia elegans 'Ragin' Cajun').  Its red flowers seem to float above the foliage and I'm thinking it might get even more blooms in a slightly sunnier spot, .

New Plants in the Garden

And in my one sunny garden spot (due to a collapsed tree), I threw caution to the wind and planted some different flavors of Zinnia.  For whatever reason, most did not respond well.  But Zinnia 'Zahara Orange' seems quite happy.

Hope your gardens are filled with blooms!