As we head on into the month of July the scene is looking very different.  Most of the rose blooms have faded and my husband has thankfully trimmed the climbing rose over the arbour as it does tend to get a bit unruly.  There will be a second blooming though on most of my bush roses.  

The hydrangeas are at their peak this month and I just noticed that the blooms are developing on my hydrangea paniculata that will flower throughout the summer and well into the fall.   I do plan next year to try to make the soil more acidic around the light pink hydrangea and aim for at least one blue hydrangea.

The sweet peas continue to flourish both in my front and back beds.  The cut flowers provide colour and fragrance in our living area and guest bedrooms.  

The shasta daisies too are a great perennial to have in the mixed border beds.  They do not only provide contrast but also work well as a cut flower.

 Other perennials that are currently blooming include rubeckias with their striking yellow blooms and my tall phlox has started to bloom.

This is when all the annuals come into play.  I am really happy with the double mixed poppy that I started from seed earlier in the year that has produced delicate pink and white blooms as well as a red and white shade.  They really perk up the perennial beds.  There is just one single white poppy mixed in.

The cosmos is beginning to bloom…these have just self seeded from last year,

One perennial that I grew from seed earlier too that I had completely forgotten about is Lychnis (maltese cross) with bright red blooms.  There are also a few self seeded alliums that are coming into flower.

Apart from a little deadheading and pruning I have spent little time in the garden the past few weeks but early maintenance has paid off.  There are so many other distractions at this time of the year from camping, entertaining guests, boating and I do try to fit in watching some of the Wimbledon matches.

Hope you are enjoying these summer days.