Six on Saturday: July 11

We had a much-needed break from the 90s this week. Even temps in the mid- to high-80s with lower humidity felt comfortable compared to the high 90s with 80-90% humidity. But alas, all good things must end and the 90s are coming back next week, although thankfully it's not forecast to last as long.

We also received nearly a half-inch of rain yesterday and the garden really benefitted from getting a drink.

My gladioli started blooming this week. I love them, but so do the deer. Seeing other Six on Saturday participants sharing their gladioli last week prompted me to spray them with deterrent so I get to enjoy the blooms. It's also lucky I took this photo before yesterday's rain, because I didn't remember to stake them and they're looking a little worse for the wear today.

The first (and only so far) zinnia also bloomed this week. Zinnias are a must-have plant for me and I can't wait for more to start blooming.

The butterfly delphinium (Delphinum grandiflorum) are having a good year and I enjoy their brilliant blue color. They also look striking with this Firefly Fuchsia yarrow.

I'm not sure which mallow this is, but it cracked me up to see it for sale at the garden center for a pretty penny when it just pops up in my garden.

The wild petunia (ruellia humilis) also started blooming. I have to cage it to protect it from the deer, a common theme in this garden, no?

This balloon flower is one of the oldest plants in my garden. There used to be two, but only this one has survived. It was looking pretty desperate last year, but has enjoyed all the rain we've gotten this year.

That's my six for this week, visit Garden Ruminations to visit more gardens from around the globe.

Six on Saturday: Natives in bloom

We had a little break from the extreme heat last week and it was "only" in the high 80s rather than the mid 90s and above. The humidity also dropped, so while still hot it wasn't completely miserable.

But it's back in the 90s for the weekend, of course, so the only gardening I'm doing is early or late. Currently, I have the most native flowers in bloom at once in my garden, led by the coneflowers.

 
For years I avoided white coneflowers, like the White Swan coneflower (echinacea purpurea alba) above, because I thought they'd be lost in front of my white house. But after growing them once, I can't imagine being without them.

The tall larkspur (delphnium exaltatum) is starting to bloom. This is another favorite native in my garden because not only is it pretty, but it also reliably attracts hummingbirds. It's so tall that's it's hard to show the blooms and foliage in one photo though.

The mountain mint (pycnanthemum virginianum) attract lots of pollinators, is deer resistant, plus it does well in my dry native bed that is near a silver maple that hogs the moisture.

Next to the mountain mint, the swamp milkweed (asclepias incarnata) is also in bloom. Strangely, it does better in this dried bed that in the medium to moist back bed. Unfortunately, though, I haven't seen any signs of monarchs so far.

This spiderwort, newly purchased this year, has been reliably blooming since I planted it in May. I just love the vibrant blue color.

That's it from my garden this week. Visit Garden Ruminations to see what else is in bloom from gardens around the globe.