Bloomin' Tueday

It's Bloomin' Tuesday time again at Ms. Green Thumb Jean's blog !  While not a lot is blooming in my beds, in my trips through NE, IA, MN, SD & ND, I was able to capture a couple of pictures of the changing from Summer to early Fall.

A Sunflower field in South Dakota - look how far into the horizon it goes ~

Baled hay in South Dakota ~

My phlox are still going strong, keeping the butterflies happy ~

I haven't been able to get a photo of the Ruby Throated Hummingbirds at the feeders or flowers, but I did catch this female resting on the clothesline ~

A couple of years ago, I bought a Quick Fire Hydrangea.  The first two years, it did nothing but leaf out.  Last Fall, I moved it to a sunnier location, and I'm glad it decided to bloom this year and hope next year is even better.  The description says 'late Spring blooms of gorgeous, large, white pyramidal-shaped flower heads.  Flower color changes as Summer passes, starting white then changing to pink and maturing to red.'  

 This first photo was taken July 11 ~

And here is it now ~ 

I have my doubts as to if it will change to red, but I am pleased that it at least bloomed this year.  I usually go by the '3 strikes and you're out' rule, so it has been saved.  I'll be interested how it does next year.

Thank you to Jean once again for hostessing Bloomin' Tuesday .

Bloomin' Tueday

It's Bloomin' Tuesday on Ms Green Thumb Jean's blog and since it's been a while since I posted, I thought I'd join in.

My flower beds are winding down, but there are a few new faces.

Moonflower 

Naked Ladies

Euphorbia ~ Bonfire

This hosta is one of my later blooming ones.  It's white flowers smell like Easter Lilies ~

Here is some foliage that is adding color.  

Japanese Bloodgrass ~

I especially like my new foliage that I got from Sue this Spring.  Two of my starts are doing nicely.

Painter's Pallet~

And now that the squirrels have given up on my Impatiens, they are looking much better.

My Annabelle Hydrangea has now turned to green.  I hope to get the blooms cut and stick them in a wreath.

We were in Monticello, IA last week again and I got more great photos of their community garden.  I hope to publish them next week.

Again, thanks to Jean for hostessing Bloomin' Tuesday!