An Orchid...

Orchids amaze me.  They have a lasting beauty that seems almost artificial....made of wax.  But, it's real.

I was given this Phalaenopsis, several years ago, by my son and his family.  It has bloomed faithfully every year.  I have several others.  But, they bloom when...or if...they feel like it.  And, not yet this year.

These blooms started coming on, at the end of April.  Here we are, toward the end of July, and they're still beauties.  The long-lasting blooms are...well...amazing.

One day soon, they'll begin to wither and the blooms will drop.  They'll lose that waxiness, and turn to tissue paper.  Sometimes, it seems they do this over night.

Until then, we'll enjoy this beauty.  And, hope it's sisters decide they'll give us a show this year, too.

Have a great weekend.  And...

Happy Gardening...

~~Linda~~

Bloom Day, plus Three

I've been reading a lot of the garden blogs online. Many participate in the Bloom Day, on the 15th of each month. This was started by Carol at Maydreams Gardens, to show what's blooming at the middle of the month. I was looking forward to my first Bloom Day blog, but I was gone on a fun trip to Florida on the 15th, so hope it's ok to do this three days late. For a "new" garden, I seem to have a lot of blooms.

A bright fucia Autumn Sage, salvia greggii, that came with the house.

Indigo Spires salvia, moved from the old house.

A soft coral Impatient....on the porch, where the deer can't get to it. Another bright fucia....a Geranium....likewise on the porch.

Purple Heart, setcreasea pallida. Deer love this....so, on the porch.

Plumbago capensis. I've read these are "deer resistant"...but, I don't trust it....so, this is on the porch, too. It's good we have a big porch.... That fantastic Gaillardia.

More fucia, in a Calibrachoa, Superbells.

Yellow Lantana, that came with the house.

A pale yellow day lily called So Lovely. It is, isn't it.

Another, even paler yellow daylily, called Miss Amelia.

And, my beautiful Phalaenopsis orchid. A Mother's Day gift a few years back, it gives us a lovely, long showing each year. Not actually in the garden, but close enough.

And, finally, I know this isn't a bloom...but it came from one. Our first harvest from the veggie garden. This will be great tonight, roasted on the grill.

There are other things blooming. We're on water restriction already, so that will make extra work. The inch of rain we had Saturday surely helped. Maybe we'll be lucky, and get more soon.

Hope your Bloom Day was as nice as mine.