The Heat Wave

It's awfully hot for June. It's also very, very dry. According to the paper, the drought in Columbus is mild compared to the rest of the state. That's hard to believe! We did have a storm last week, and received 3/4 inch of rain here in my town. While it was a lovely thing, it was hardly enough. The garden has mostly thrown up it's hands in surrender. The first flush of roses is over, and there are only random blossoms. Here are a few of those last blossoms, for now anyway.

Don Juan climber

 Tahitian Sunset

Zepherine Drouhin

Oranges and Lemons

In their place are daylily blooms,

 Little Grapette

Pandora's Box

various coneflowers,

 Coconut Lime

Ruby Star

Pow Wow Wildberry

and the bee balms.

 Monarda Cambridge Scarlet

Monarda Grand Parade

Now the butterfly bushes don't mind the heat and drought. Although I must admit that the bicolor blossoms always droop in the mid day sun, but they perk up later.

 Bi Color Buddliea

Unknown Buddliea

I've got a few other flower friends who don't mind the heat. The various hyssops don't even blink. This first one, I started from seed last year. A real triumph for me.

Sunset Hyssop

 Golden Jubilee

Anise hyssop

And this Gay Butterflies milkweed I started from seed last year actually has a few flowers on it! I'm always excited when I have good results from seed.
 
 Now this one is a new one on me. So far, so good. The blooms seem to last a long time, and they are unfazed by the heat and dry weather. It's called Lysmachia Beaujolais.

The creeping thyme growing as a ground cover through my arbor never complains about the heat either. And you can walk right on it!

 The hot and dry weather doesn't seem to be keeping the butterflies away. They aren't bothered one bit!

Red Admiral

Swallowtail

I guess I'd better go drag the hose around the yard like I do every day. I love summer, but some rain would sure be nice!