When I started this blog post reviewing the garden at the end of July, little did I realize that in addition to all the other activities planned for July, we had to deal with the impact of a forest fire near where we live which grew to 560 hectares.  Thankfully due to the hard efforts of our firefighters, I can safely say that the fire has been almost a 100% contained.   As we have been through a scenario like this before (the Terrace Mountain fire in 2009), we were well ready for possibly being evacuated again, but not so prepared for being without power and water for 4 to 5 days.  With the help of a generator and hand watering we were able to keep the containers and baskets watered and keep the fridge and freezer going.

Despite the challenges of extreme high temperatures this month and lack of water for a while, the garden has survived.  I did however have to replenish some of my containers; the earlier annuals that I planted did look very bedraggled.  Fortunately I was still able to pick up a few annuals from the Superstore and Home Depot, although the choice was very limited.

The phlox paniculata is continuing to bloom and I now have a variegated variety in flower with white and pink blooms.  Phlox is a great addition to any garden with their long-lasting fragrant blooms.  

The vegetable garden is overflowing and it is very hard to keep up with.  The same thing happens every year when I give away produce to neighbours and friends as I hate to see the vegetables go to waste.  I am really pleased with the different variety of tomatoes I grew particularly the “heirloom” type and the “moneymaker” (with a larger tomato).  I can’t wait to make some pasta dishes which will use up a good quantity.

Others flowers that have continued to bloom profusely throughout July are the blue cornflower, the shasta daisies, yellow coreopsis, the sun-loving rudbeckia, my apricot peach double rose and an abundance of the purple flowered annual alyssum which looks lovely against the grey leaves of the dianthus in my rockery garden.

Blue cornflower

The purple coneflower (echinacea) started to bloom around mid July and will be in flower for a while. 

Of course the sunflowers are continuing to add colour even though they started to bloom a lot earlier this year.

Other highlights from this month.  I was privileged to help take part in a wedding shoot and I had so much fun doing this.  The wedding was set in the Cariboo and I was taken aback with some of the scenery.