Garden Tour: Pictures Between Raindrops

According to the national weather forecast, June 2015 was the 8th wettest June on record for Pittsburgh.  Though I didn't have to go out and water any of my plants, some, like the tomatoes, simply are not thriving without a good dose of sunshine. However, it is no surprise that the weeds are doing just fine, if not thriving, and I haven't been very good about going after them in the rain. Still, some tough beauties are doing well, so I thought this would be a good time to share them with you.

One thing that is interesting is that so many plants are blooming earlier than usual. I don't know if it was the unusual hot weather we had in May, or the extra rain, but these Rudbeckia hirta 'Indian Summer' aka black-eyed susan flowers, usually don't bloom until later in July.

The Begonia grandis seedlings are crowding out my chives. Time to transplant them or give some away.

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Several of the hydrangea are doing well, but of course, they love water like this lacecap Hydrangea serrata 'Blue Billow'. Funny thing, it only has blooms on one side. I'm going to need to get our red maple tree trimmed back in the fall. I think it is casting too much shade on this plant.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Invicibelle Spirit' is full of blooms.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' and Geranium macrorrhizum taking over the sidewalk.

Even Hydrangea macrophylla 'Lady in Red' is staring to bloom.

Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace' an elderberry bush, also seems to be thriving this summer, even which some rogue butterfly weed pushing itself in the mix. I didn't plant it, but I'm pretty sure it's native around here, so after I confirmed it as butterfly weed, I thought I'd leave it and see what happens.

I believe this pretty flower was given to me by my friend Gail in a plant swap years ago. It's some type of Campanula, possibly 'Rings a Bell.' Oh, and yes, that's an oak tree seedling in the corner.

Even this Helichrysum petiolare or licorice plant, which I normally buy because it's sun-loving and drought tolerant, is looking pretty happy with the rain.  So overall, I guess I can't complain too much about the heavy rainfall. I may not have any ripe tomatoes this year but many other plants seem to be thriving.

Now that it's July the rain seems to be letting up. Time to get out and tackle the weeds.