Today is the last day of the month, time for the End of the Month View, suggested by Helen Johnstone at The Patient Gardener’s Weblog. Rather than show wide vistas of a garden that is suffering somewhat from lack of rain and too much heat, I decided that I would offer close-up photographs of individual flowers that are doing well.

Clearly the main color in the garden right now is coming from the crape myrtles. I am growing at least eight different varieties, and here are a few that are showing off their color right now (the blooms on several were too high up for me to reach with the camera).

The garden phlox have really struggled in their battles with rabbits, but a few have made it to bloom. I’m delighted to note that several that were badly eaten down by the furry creatures have put out new growth and I expect them to bloom soon. I deadhead the garden phlox, and they have reliably given me a second period of bloom. I was disappointed when the white phlox ‘David’ not not come back last spring. I will certainly try to find replacements in the fall.

Lantana is a staple annual in our summer pots. These are doing well…surely because I have hand watered them regularly.

The hydrangeas have also been slow and somewhat sparse this year, but what we have are lovely.

Dianthus and coneflower:

Coreopsis ‘Creme Brulee,’ Society Ginger, calibrachoa, geranium, and dipladenia:

Viburnum ‘Summer snowflake,’ trailing vinca, pink Knockout rose, marigold, Clematis ‘General Sikorski,’ and the seed pods of Berckmann’s arborvitae: