The stars of the show in my garden this month have to be the Hydrangeas. Whether they be mopheads, paniculatas or oakleafs they all shine in their own way. But the true prima donna has to be my favorite of all of them, ‘Limelight’. As you can see in the photo to above he’s almost glowing when the sunlight hits the new blossoms. Below it the fading blossoms of ‘Nikko Blue’ will continue to create interest through the next few months as they age to a combination of cream, pink & blue. In front of ‘Nikko’ is one of my newest additions to the Hydrangea border, the dwarf oakleaf cultivar ‘Little Honey’. The bright golden leaves are interesting even without any flowers. 

There is a riot of colors in Grandma’s Garden Beds that include the dependable blooms of Shasta Daisies, Rubeckia, Knockout Roses, Orange Tiger Lillies and Pink Petunias. The little white lattice fence hides the ugly a/c unit nicely.
Here’s some of the other summer blooms going on in the garden at the moment including from upper L-R : Belamcanda ‘Hello Yellow’, Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’, Four o’ clocks, Hydrangea ‘Forever & Ever Red’ and Cleome. To see what’s blooming in other gardens all over the world or to join in this month please visit our gracious host Carol @ May Dreams Gardens.





Posted by chuck b. on July 15, 2009 at 12:29 am
I should get some Rudbeckia. Your hydrangea is huge!
They are a wonderful summer perennial to extend the season of interest in your garden.
Thanks Chuck!
Posted by cindee on July 15, 2009 at 1:02 am
Wow just beautiful! I love those rudbeckia!!!!!
Thank you Cindee, that clump is huge isn’t it?
Posted by Grace on July 15, 2009 at 1:19 am
Beautiful blooms, Racquel. Your hydrangea really does deserve the “Limelight.”
Thanks Grace. It really is a star in the garden.
Posted by joco on July 15, 2009 at 1:24 am
It is so nicely offset by the impeccable clapboard. A lovely mixture.
Four o’clock is a new one on me. Annual?
Thanks for the nice comments Joco. Yep, Four o’ Clock is an annual but it reseeds prolifically every year with no help from me.
Posted by Les on July 15, 2009 at 5:58 am
I really like Grandma’s bed. Happy GBBD!
I’ll let her know Les! Thanks!
Same to you!
Posted by Janet on July 15, 2009 at 7:01 am
Is this the first time your Four O’Clocks have been multiple colors? Mine are all either yellow or red. Thought with some cross pollination I would get a mix. hmmm. Little Honey is doing great!
Actually no they’ve always done this color changing thing. The yellow variety does this neat trick. I’ll save you some seed from it if you’d like some. Thanks I’m please with ‘Little Honey’s’ progress this year. Hopefully I’ll get some blooms next spring.
Posted by Layanee on July 15, 2009 at 7:22 am
That border is delicious!
Why thank you Layanee!
Thanks for stopping by this Bloom Day!
Posted by Gail on July 15, 2009 at 8:04 am
There is a riot of gorgeous blooms in your garden…Love Grandma’s Bed…Now those are flowers that make me smile (well, they all do!) gail
Thanks Gail, summer is such a riot of color in comparision to spring huh?
I’ll pass on your comments to Grandma, she’ll be thrilled.
Posted by Susie on July 15, 2009 at 8:35 am
I can’t believe how great your Limelight looks. Mine is just sitting there with not a bud to be found anywhere. Love your grandma’s flower bed. It’s so pretty!
Be patient Susie, once your ‘Limelight’ gets more established it’s going to be your favorite plant in the garden.
Thanks!
Posted by Randy on July 15, 2009 at 8:53 am
Racquel,
Your Shastas are standing up so pretty! Ours just flop over on the ground! What’s your secret?
I don’t know what to tell you Randy.
These have always done well, I think they might be the variety ‘Beckie’ which has a more bushy shape to it. I dug up some divisions of it to move elsewhere last fall & they don’t look as great as the original clump either.
Posted by Cathy on July 15, 2009 at 9:29 am
Beautiful blooms, I really like the Rubeckia and Shasta Daisies, Happy GBBD!
-Cathy
P.S. I have a wordpress blog too with the same template as you!
but I post GBBD on my blogspot blog,
Thanks Cathy. I’ll be over soon to check out your blooms! Happy Bloom Day!
Posted by tina on July 15, 2009 at 9:32 am
Grandma’s bed is the kind of bed I want to see in my garden. It is gorgeous. The hydrangeas too. Little honey is very sweet. The yellow is special.
It is pretty lush isn’t it?
Everything gets bigger & fuller in her bed than they do elsewhere. Thanks Tina, I’m pleased with my ‘Little Honey’.
Posted by Darla on July 15, 2009 at 10:43 am
Your gardens have shot up!!! Looks fantastic…!
Thanks Darla.
Posted by Balisha on July 15, 2009 at 10:51 am
That Limelight has really grown. Beautiful picture with the light shining on it. Grandma’s garden is spectacular!! What color!
Thanks Balisha. It just gets better & better every year.
I will pass on your compliments to Grandma.
Posted by OhioMom on July 15, 2009 at 11:41 am
OMG your limelight is huge, topping the fence … love all your blooms
It has really matured nicely over the past few years. Thanks Mom!
Posted by Linda at Meadowview Thymes on July 15, 2009 at 11:50 am
So many healthy plants Racquel! Mine are mostly cooked!
Thanks Linda. Sorry to hear that the heatwave is stressing out your garden. Hopefully they’ll bounce back better than ever once fall gets here.
Posted by nell jean on July 15, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Time is short, so I only chose one — yours — to see. Good choice. Love the hydrangeas. Grandma’s bed is just perfect — will she post the roof garden? I’ll look to see, later.
Thanks Nell, I’m glad you chose to stop by my blog today for Bloom Day.
How sweet are you! Actually my Mom http://capriciousincleveland.blogspot.com/ has the rooftop garden. This is my grandma’s garden bed that lives with us.
Posted by mothernaturesgarden on July 15, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Racquel,
Your garden is looking tip top. I so love the hydrangeas. Jealous is more the word.:)
Donna
Thanks Donna. LOL, I’m glad you love my Hydrangeas. You should consider adding one of these paniculata types to your garden. So much easier than the traditional mopheads & lacecaps.
Posted by Kanak on July 15, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Always a delight to see your Hydrangeas. And Grandma’s beds look wonderful with all that colour! Your four o’clocks and croscomia are very pretty!
Thanks Kanak, I enjoy these summer beauties so much. Glad you do too!
I will pass on your compliments to Grandma. She’ll be pleased.
I knew you would love the fabulous colors of Four o’clocks & Crocosmia. They have that exotic tropical feel that I so much admire in your garden.
Posted by Stella on July 15, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Wish my hydrangeas would bloom like yours. Have lots of bush but few flowers. I do have a Lady in Red that is in bloom I should take a picture of her.
I wish I could give you some advice on that Stella. Your Lady in Red sounds pretty, look forward to seeing a pic of it soon.
Posted by gardening with confidence on July 15, 2009 at 2:55 pm
WOW your gardens look wonderful. Love that Limelight. I put 3 in 2 years ago and so happy I did. Your four o’clocks speaks to me!!! Happy GBBD.
H.
Thanks Helen! Good choice on planting 3 of these beauties. If I had more room I would plant more too! If you would like I can save some seed of this Four o’ clock for you this fall.
Posted by Rose on July 15, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Wow, that “Limelight” is spectacular, Racquel! I can’t wait to see if mine eventually gets that big. You certainly have a lot of color right now; I think July is the best month for the garden. I especially like the sideyard planting, “Grandma’s Gardens.” Not only do I like the combination of blooms, but the name makes it special as well–were these plants originally from your Grandma’s garden?
In a few years yours will be as mature & large as mine Rose! This July has been pretty good compared to this time last year. All the spring rains we had really helped. Actually this garden bed belongs to my Grandma who lives with us. She is a passionate gardener too so when her & Grandpa moved in with us 4 years ago we made this planting area for her. I will pass on your comments to her, she’ll be thrilled.
Posted by fairegarden on July 16, 2009 at 8:04 am
Limelight must be an angel, to have that halo around his head! He is magnificent. Nikko is looking good too. Easy to see why the hydrangea family are lighting your fire just now. Love the Grandma bed too. Tiger lilies are a favorite of mine.
Frances
He is pretty special to me Frances. I’ve grown quite attached to the focal point he provides to my garden each summer. Thanks!
Posted by Linda at Meadowview Thymes on July 16, 2009 at 9:36 am
Beautiful blooms Racquel! I can’t believe your daisies are still in bloom. Mine have been gone for some time. And your hydrangreas–oh my how gorgeous! Thanks for sharing–I needed some bright flowers today!
Thanks Linda. Yep the Daisies are at their peak right now. Shows how different our zones are from one another huh? I’m glad my flowers brightened your day.
Posted by Marnie on July 16, 2009 at 11:45 am
I love the combo of rudbeckia and shastas.
I have a perfect place for limelight. Don’t know why I have been putting off planting one for so long. Maybe I’ll start checking the sales and try to pick one up this year.
Marnie
Thanks Marnie. I wish you luck with ‘Limelight’, it’s a great addition you won’t regret adding to your garden.
Posted by ~~Rhonda on July 16, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Racquel, your garden is bursting with color. Very pretty! The hydrangeas look great. I’ve added ‘Limelight’ to my want list. The peek at yours sent me on a google search. Love the color! Thanks for sharing all your beautiful blossoms. ~~Rhonda
Thank you Rhonda for the nice comments. I’m glad I could inspire you to add Limelight to your beautiful garden. It’s a real workhorse, you won’t regret it!
Posted by Dee/reddirtramblings on July 16, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Happy Bloom Day. All of your garden look so lush and beautiful.~~Dee
Same to you Dee! Thank you!
Posted by heirloomgardener on July 16, 2009 at 9:53 pm
I love that hydrangea bed.
Why thank you very much HG!
Posted by Joanne on July 19, 2009 at 11:18 am
Lovely flowers and all so tidy.