Six on Saturday: July 4 edition

The pollinators love the coneflowers, including this red admiral butterfly

It's our sixth day in a row in the 90s, but today's high is a relatively cool 90 compared to the 97 with a heat index of 105 we've had for the past two days. I've done little in the garden besides run out to water pots and a few newly planted flowers. Luckily we've had plenty of rain so far and it rained on Sunday before the heat hit so for the most part the garden hasn't faired too badly. More seasonal temps in the 80s are forecast for the next week.

First up is my current favorite in the garden. The breadseed poppies have been blooming for a few weeks and I love seeing the variety that blooms from an heirloom seed mix I purchased a few years ago.

Here is just a sample of the variety of poppy colors and forms. I get a lot of joy from seeing what is new each day.

The beebalm and shasta daisies in the front bed are always buzzing with bees.

The firefly fuchsia yarrow started blooming this week and I love the pop of bright color it brings and how it fades to various shades of pinks as it ages.

I'm always pleased and amazed that this L.A. Dreamin' hydrangea survived another winter in the unheated garage and transformed from a sickly looking pile of sticks to being full of blooms.

For several years I avoided yellow flowers in the garden because they don't fit my standard color scheme, but then I grew some rudbeckia and how can you not love these sunny, happy blooms? Unfortunately the deer love them too, so I have to cage them.

And last but not least, the mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) is in bloom. This native has so many positives: pollinators love it, deer don't and it has a lovely long bloom time.

That's my six for the week. Visit Garden Ruminations to see what else is in bloom in gardens around the world.