It happened yesterday. The summer solstice occurred yesterday afternoon about 4PM here in the Central Time Zone. Summer is here. Now the daylight hours will gradually ratchet back. It is hot here and it will remain so for the next 10 weeks.
I have been busy harvesting blueberries and tomatoes. I planted some beans from seed but they have yet to appear above the ground. My perennials are doing so well that they have crowded out the weeds which is a good thing. The blooming plants have really been impressive this year.
Tomorrow, as has become customary, I will be joining the Six on Saturday group and sharing my blog with 6 or so photos. Others from around the world will do the same. Come and see. Better still, come join us and share six of your own. Our host is Jim Stephens and here is the link to find the Six on Saturday site. https://gardenruminations.co.uk.
I started a lily garden 2 years ago and have grouped several species of the together. Here are two of my favorites at the moment. I started the Iris from seed given to me. The oriental lily was purchased on line. This patch can be seen out the dining room window.
“John Manick Phlox”
“Mexican Sunflower”
The Peacock orchid is new to me. It is several weeks later than my other glads and not as tall. They are staying upright so far without need for staking. Yeah!
The phlox is in its third year and performing admirably.
The Tithonia is a pollinator magnet which really pleases me. It is a showy bloomer, sturdy upright and about 4 feet tall.
“Tall Thimbleweed”
The next two photos are not from my garden but from a walk in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens yesterday.
The anemone is a native and striking alone or in the grouping in which I found it.
The skipper really stands out against the green leaf upon which it is resting. The skipper has love grass as a host plant of which there is plenty nearby.
I hope your weather allows you to enjoy the outdoors. I hope your garden is thriving and that your plans are working out.
Happy Gardening!
Fine for Friday 
I love the idea of a lily garden. I have 3-4 new lily plants this year that are budding up. I put them in a new space as we suffer from the lily beetle here which is a nuisance and makes growing lilies challenging.
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A lily garden sounds great. I didn’t know Gladiolus acidanthera was also called ‘Peacock Orchid’ – they have a rather nice fragrance.
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Wonderful selections this week! I especially like the iris and the skipper! The anemone us used extensively under trees on campus where I work. They have latge built in concrete planters and under teh trees, either a bed of the anemone, or of a native allium. Both are very nice!
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Gorgeous photo of your elegant martagon lily with is a perfect match for the lovely little Iris Domestica. I hope the heat of your summer doesn’t get too much for you ☀️
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I love Tithonias and have planted out two small plants grown from seed… they are not sold as plants here so I have to grow them myself. The ‘Blackberry Lily is intriguing… I have never seen a lily like that and have quite fallen for it!
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Tithonia reseeds here but in small measures. Both it and the Blackberry Lily are tall but slender, elegant plants.
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That tiger lily is my favorite ! Good idea to group some different lilies.
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