I’ll choose not to talk about the abysmal heat and humidity we’ve had this week, nor about the stage one water alert the County is in (otherwise known as not enough rain), nor about how, even today, it appears we may get just a few drops of rain here and there since, according to the weather maps, we’re sandwiched in a dry trough between the remnants of a storm that hit the American north east coast overnight and storms coming in from the west. Drat! I’ve talked about it!!
On to gardening! The Propagator hosts a Saturday show and tell on his site for gardeners around the world to post photos of six things. It’s also on Twitter – just look for the #SixOnSaturday hashtag.
Yucca filamentosa ‘Mor-Blue’. Quite hardy here and, this year, blooming like never before. It’s a dwarf variety of Yucca – the foliage likely won’t get much taller than the 60 cm or so it is now.
Staying with the xeriscape theme – my Prickly Pear cactus is blooming! I think this may be Eastern Prickly Pear – Opuntia humifusa – but I could be wrong. A lovely lady at the other end of the County gave it to me last summer, saying she was (rightfully so) fearful of her dog getting hurt by the needles. If so, it’s on the Endangered Species list – its native habitat is on the sandy shores of Lake Erie, a few hundred kilometres west of us.
I thought this was a genetic mutation of Gaillardia – Blanket Flower – since I scattered seeds collected in the wild many years ago and it’s been self seeding ever since, throwing up several variations on the basic colour scheme. A much-followed and well-liked gardener on Twitter, however, says it’s a Rudbeckia. I have two Rudbeckia varieties – neither is close to this. The foliage looks like Gaillardia. The stems and foliage are upright and sturdy, even while growing in the extreme dryness of the driveway edge, unlike the very droopy Rudbeckia. Plus, my Rudbeckia are nowhere close to flowering. What do you think????
July means daylilies, all over the northern hemisphere I suspect. Here are some of my favourites now blooming.Hollyhocks – Alcea rosea – the good: pale pink blooms next to the pale pink blooming Tamarisk.
Hollyhocks – the ugly: I’m going to pull this rather large patch; it’s been growing by the house, hiding the propane line, for four years. Year one, they were glorious. Every year since, sadly, the rust has become worse. This year – ugh. Perhaps I’ll replace them with more yuccas. Or cactus. Or even tall sedums.
That is why we do not grow hollyhock!
I believe you are correct about the Opuntia humifusa, although I would not know either. Ours are very different species.
‘Mor Blue’? Is the same one I asked about just a few days ago?
I think the Gallardia is a Indian Summer Gloriosa Daisy something. Did someone already say that? I am still baffled about Canada being as hot as here. And you almost got a tropical storm. And you like the cactus? I like to walk around barefooted and the cactus had to go….
Yrs, the weather is often baffling! No rain yet…as I predicted…still some hope though. And the humidity has dropped!!😄 Yes, it may be that Summer Gloriosa. Now, how did it get there? Here? Another baffling mystery!!
It is weird, I remember that – it is a Indian Summer Rudbeckia? yeah? from years ago in Atlanta. Maybe in some seed somewhere. I got some really weird seed from Floret last year. Fingers crossed for rain, pouring down here.
It ‘s incredible to see opuntia flowers after the harsh winter that you have every year. I know that some species resist difficult conditions but already in bloom … that’s great!
Gorgeous colors of the daylilies and gaillardia
Our Opuntia nearly have finished blooming. I missed them this year, but at least I’ve found a few. We have several species, and they really can put on a show. I’m glad yours managed a flower for you!
It does look like rudbeckia to me. The centers are shaped just like all of my different kinds. The leaves look fuzzy, and my blanket flower never was. Nice daylilies!
I had to give up hollyhocks due to rust, too. I had a lovely nearly black single and a delightful pale yellow, but no more. Your daylilies are brilliant and I’d say those are gloriosa daisies… a self-sowing annual Rudbeckia.
rudbeckia hirta, i reckon. if your HH have lasted 4 years before succumbing that’s pretty good. they’re mainly grown as an biennial here because of the rust. could you grow some more?
Yes, I’ll try to either collect seed or buy some to grow next year. A ways away from the house, so that we can see the flower colour but not so close we see the rust!
County Gardening 
That is why we do not grow hollyhock!
I believe you are correct about the Opuntia humifusa, although I would not know either. Ours are very different species.
‘Mor Blue’? Is the same one I asked about just a few days ago?
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Yes it is! And even the flower stalk that got bitten off, and was in the vase, has opened!
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I have Rudbeckia envy. I grew some from seed in spring and all the plants seem to have stalled as tiny things. The joys of gardening.
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Hopefully they’ll come back next year, bigger and stronger…???
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I think the Gallardia is a Indian Summer Gloriosa Daisy something. Did someone already say that? I am still baffled about Canada being as hot as here. And you almost got a tropical storm. And you like the cactus? I like to walk around barefooted and the cactus had to go….
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Yrs, the weather is often baffling! No rain yet…as I predicted…still some hope though. And the humidity has dropped!!😄 Yes, it may be that Summer Gloriosa. Now, how did it get there? Here? Another baffling mystery!!
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It is weird, I remember that – it is a Indian Summer Rudbeckia? yeah? from years ago in Atlanta. Maybe in some seed somewhere. I got some really weird seed from Floret last year. Fingers crossed for rain, pouring down here.
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🤞
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It ‘s incredible to see opuntia flowers after the harsh winter that you have every year. I know that some species resist difficult conditions but already in bloom … that’s great!
Gorgeous colors of the daylilies and gaillardia
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Yes, I was thrilled that a) it survived the winter in my heavy soil and b) it’s flowering!!!
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Our Opuntia nearly have finished blooming. I missed them this year, but at least I’ve found a few. We have several species, and they really can put on a show. I’m glad yours managed a flower for you!
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I’m going to (carefully) pull the stuff growing around mine, and add some gravel as a mulch. Hopefully it will spread!
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It does look like rudbeckia to me. The centers are shaped just like all of my different kinds. The leaves look fuzzy, and my blanket flower never was. Nice daylilies!
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Thanks Lisa! If so, its hardiness/drought tolerance belies its frilliness, if that’s a word! 😁
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Chris, do you know the name of that last, deep daylily? In general, I don’t favor lilies, but that is a beaut!
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Sadly I don’t….almost all my daylilies are from friends or purchased over the years, tags long gone.
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I had to give up hollyhocks due to rust, too. I had a lovely nearly black single and a delightful pale yellow, but no more. Your daylilies are brilliant and I’d say those are gloriosa daisies… a self-sowing annual Rudbeckia.
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Thanks Eliza! Nature… (We had a huge downpour last night! Rain barrels are full, harden is happy!)
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Yay! 🙂
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rudbeckia hirta, i reckon. if your HH have lasted 4 years before succumbing that’s pretty good. they’re mainly grown as an biennial here because of the rust. could you grow some more?
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Yes, I’ll try to either collect seed or buy some to grow next year. A ways away from the house, so that we can see the flower colour but not so close we see the rust!
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Grow something at their feet that will spare their blushes.
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