Reaching the end of July is unsettling—summer, slipping by.

The summer garden has had its disappointments. Hot and dry weather and grazing rabbits have left their mark. This week, at least, a couple of thunderstorms offered some relief from record-setting heat (Hurricane Isaias likely will add rain as well. I hope everyone along the U.S. East Coast will stay safe).  Despite the shortcomings of this season there are always discoveries in the garden to brighten one’s day.

This is my first time growing cerinthe. One plant began flowering this week.  After admiring it in others’ Monday vases, I decide to try it.  From a packet of seeds, I ended up with just half a dozen plants, which actually I had expected to have purple flowers and foliage. Rabbits nibbled away for a while but lately have left them alone.

This is the sole surviving plant from a packet of alyssum. Bad bunnies!

The garden has a lot of dragonflies. I have tentatively identified this as Bar-winged Skimmer.

This young, tiny anole found cover quickly when I tried for a better photo.

Cleome flower heads seem to float above the meditation circle.

Dahlia ‘David Howard’ has proved to be my most reliable dahlia. It has great form and color.

I spotted Easter Tiger Swallowtails multiple times this week but they did not linger long. This one was tempted by the saliva.

Coneflowers continue to brighten the garden. This one volunteered in the meditation circle.

With a name like August Beauty one might hope this gardenia will rebloom soon. This week three fresh flowers appeared.

I do not remember planting this gladiolus but was happy to have the companionship.

I have not seen many Horace’s Duskywings this year. I believe this one is my second—dining on a spent verbena bonariensis.

Crepe myrtles are the prettiest in years in my neighborhood. Blooms are mostly out of reach.

Ocolas are plentiful around the lantana. This one is particularly worn.

Rabbits nibbled away as the rudbeckia emerged. The plants finally pushed upwards and bloomed under protection of a rabbit spray made from concentrated botanical oils, a gift from a neighbor.

At one time I planned a red border, but never followed through after drought set in that year. I like this red salvia up close but it is not very showy from afar. Hummingbirds do find it but seem to prefer the Black and Blue salvia.

This Silver-spotted Skipper found a sweet delicacy, Lathyrus latifolius (Everlasting sweet pea).

Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy the weekend.