Whew! With all this rain, I’m in a race against the weeds and the reseeding flowers that are crowding their neighbors. But I still find a little space here and there to tuck in something new. The butterfly garden is coming right along. The cosmos are blooming, the first of the butterfly weed opened this morning, and the pentas are ready to go in the ground. I am seeing hummers at the red honeysuckle and the bush salvia. If only the weeds would disappear, I’d be a happy gardener, indeed

Nigella, with one of the rarest blue colors, much like a bachelor’s button. Brought this back from a trip to San Francisco.

Rose Campion-an heirloom plant that I got from my great Aunt Maude over 30 years ago. It can be invasive, but I like the magenta color enough to overlook that.

Planting pentas just for the butterflies. Of course, it doesn’t hurt my feelings to look at it either.

My shade garden in the back yard is also a water loving garden. It helps that the fountain splashes water on the plants all day and all night.

Blue Mammoth hosta was one of my first hostas. It is over 5 feet across. Has done exceptionally well with all this rain.

The mailbox clematis hasn’t bloomed well for two years. The oak tree above it has spread so much that it keeps the clematis shaded. The blooms are nice, but the plant is very lush.