July Beauties

 The sunshine we have been finally getting in the last week has really helped things to burst open in a beautiful way!

The campanula cluster bell flower is looking really beautiful.  It is rather invasive and does try and take over your garden via its root system so as long as you are aware of that and you ruthlessly remove it where you don't want it to grow, it is nice to have in the garden.

Campanula cluster bell flower

Tiger lilies are one of my favourite in the garden. I had numerous clumps of them in our previous home in northern Manitoba, and I often gave bulbs away in the spring or fall  to whomever wanted them. I did try to bring some and grow them here when we first arrived. Unfortunately the little black moles under the garden liked them, too! :(
Only one bulb survived after the first summer, but I managed to get 3 more bulbs from the kind owner of the Lily farm out on Hwy 11 west, out towards Rocky Mt House.  She got them from her own mother's garden and gave them to me free. (I did buy some beautiful oriental lily bulbs from there as well which are a bit more temperamental and difficult to grow. More about lilies later.

Tiger Lilies

Pinks ( dianthus)

The clematises are growing well so far, but no blossoms yet.

The Jackmanii clematis and General Sikorska are growing well but not blooming yet. My tiny white Alba is growing and hopefully will set a few buds for the first time....  The Jackmanii on the right is taller, but the General has more branches and usually more flowers as well.

Blue Sage

The bees love my blue sage  perennials, May Night. Personally I think they have an unpleasant smell but I love how they look. Remember to cut them back right away after they bloom so they don't seed themselves too much. They like to try and take over if you let them. I have given the youngsters away to a number of people (aquaintances, friends and my daughter) and sometimes to the Plant Swap held in May in town.

American Gold Finch

The gold finches are nesting nearby and they enjoy the nyger seeds in the feeder.

Stone crop starting to bloom

Poppies and daisies

A sea of white

The white daisies are in full bloom along with the white potentilla.  I have been cutting a lot of the daisies away from my rose bushes to make sure the roses get enough sun and air movement around the.

Almost time to chop the daisies right down, though. They are shading the Lavatara and the 4 O'Clocks that I started in the greenhouse and planted in that bed.

Lychnis Splendins

I moved the Splendins over a few feet to amore central spot and it didn't seem to mind as it has bloomed its little heart out regardless. It was kept well-watered by Mother Nature, though (and I think that's the secret to a successful move.)  We had rain almost every day for 5 weeks in a row!

Goldfish pond

Lupines

The lupines suddenly opened their buds and started blooming all at once. I think they were held back by the lack of sunshine in June and now were making up for lost time. :)

Time to cut the purple ones back as they are setting seeds and I already have half a dozen young ones to move or give away.

Swallowtail enjoying the end of the lilacs

Wild roses in bloom everywhere here at the Lake

I LOVE my roses and they have thrived this summer.