17 August 2008 - August rains bring August flowers

With no measurable rainfall since the April, my garden has struggled.
Yes, I watered but nothing can replace rain.
Fortunately, the summer monsoons arrived just in time.

Russian Sage and yarrow

Russian Sage and yarrow

corkscrew Allium

15 July 2008 - busy bees (backyard)

12/13 July 2008 - More sun colors (backyard)

07 July 2008 - Monarch butterfly

I was lucky ... had my camera in hand when
a Monarch butterfly decided to feed
on lamb's ear blossoms.

06 July 2008 - backyard

tomatoes, variety "Fantastic"

delphinium - early blooms

milkweed

gaillardia daisies

gaillardia daisies

potentilla cinquefoil

dianthus - I love the deep coral color

feverfew

trollius chinensus "globe flower golden queen"

maltese cross

California poppy

05 July 2005 - front yard

prickly pear
The delicate, pale yellow blooms are late this year.
In fact, I didn't think they'd appear at all, given our dry spring.
Too bad each blossom lasts but one day.

campanula

gray santolina
This shurb did not bloom last year, so I'm pleased to see
scores of tiny yellow blossom rising from the sage-hued foliage.

28 June 2008 - backyard veggies

Friday's hot and dry weather nearly scorched my gardens.
Today is about 20 degrees cooler, cloudy and humid.
Go figure.

When I went to Ace Hardware,
the last Japanese eggplant on the plant rack called to me.
It looked healthy and happy so I bought it.
Now, it's right at home in my garden (far right).

heirloom "Brandywine" tomato blossoms

above and below: rain splattered "Fantastic" tomatoes
I'm glad I bought this early producer at HerbFest.
I hope the fruit ripens.
Otherwise, I'll be making soup with green tomatoes.

26 June 2008 - more front yard blooms

The drought is taking its toll on my garden.
Still, my collection of hardy xeric perennials survives and blooms.
I do very little maintenance work: weeding,
weekly watering when we don't get rain,
organic fertilizer 2x a year, additional mulch and
an occasional trim (I'm a diligent deadheader).

paprika yarrow

mirabilis mulitflora leaf (desert four o'clock) and ladybug

campanula - more blooms appeared after I watered

alpine aster

Reiter creeping thyme groundcover

(above and below) dianthus firewitch

26 June 2008 - front yard - It's about "thyme"

I just deadheaded the catmint and salvia,
so the garden is missing its familiar patches of purple.

(below) Despite the hot weather and lack of rain,
the Reiter creeping thyme, my favorite groundcover,
is thick and lush this year.
The crop of small, pink flowers is especially lovely -
even the bees agree (see next photo).