Garden Photo of the Day

Lee’s Garden in July

Lilies and other blooms of high summer

various foliage plants around an in-ground pool

Today we’re off to the Mohawk Valley in central New York State to visit Lee’s beautiful garden.

It’s midsummer, and I do believe we have a “bloomfest”! At times I’ve seen easily over 300 blooms at once. We’re heading toward the peak, with many buds remaining and the phlox and Maximilian sunflowers yet to start their show. Lots of colors, BIG hand-size blooms, and lilies towering over 7 feet tall! In a previous post (Lee’s Garden Through the Eyes of an Ant) I showed all of the plants starting their push, and now those little lilies that looked like mini-palm trees are 6-footers of a light pink.

I’ve gone through 75 bamboo sticks (which are virtually invisible) and a number of “lumber sticks” (which aren’t invisible); the lilies taller than 4 feet love to be supported due to the weight of the blooms. I even used two expandable tarp poles to string-support the 7-foot red lilies along the rear of the vegetable garden. A storm came through and that wasn’t enough. I almost lost a few to breakage down the stem, but I quickly got some paint sticks and duct tape and made splints. Gotta do what ya gotta do!

close up of lots of pink and red liliesTowering lilies (Lilium hybrid, Zones 4–8) carefully supported

close up of white lily and purple clematisA piece of lumber keeps this trumpet lily standing up.

various summer flowers next to a stained glass windowBright flowers under stained glass

close up of two asiatic liliesAn Asiatic lily with dark petals

bright yellow and pink flowers in the gardenBright rudbeckia (Rudbeckia hirta, Zones 3–8) and coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea, Zones 4–9) mix with lilies.

deep pink lilies towering over yellow flowersSeven-foot-tall lilies are carefully supported with a line of string.

various foliage plants around an in-ground poolLooking toward the pool, which is surrounded by flowers

view of pool and plants that surroundLilies and more blooms around the pool

fascia board on the back of the garage painted with various flowers of all colorsThis picture shows the first and probably only painting I have ever attempted. I painted the entire fascia board on the back of the garage with every imaginary flower that I could think of. I painted “panels” from 1 to 2 feet in length and called that a session. I’d come off the ladder and take a break. I’m surprised that I didn’t run out of ideas for flowers.

I certainly hope people enjoy the pictures, maybe tickle their thought-processes in a way that keeps them thinking forward with a vision of their own. My wife and I are quite pleased with my continual effort to make the next year even better. She says that I succeeded. Why disagree with her?

 

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Comments

  1. [email protected] 07/31/2023

    Beautiful lilies.....i am trying to put more in my garden!

  2. User avater
    treasuresmom 07/31/2023

    Those lilies are so pretty!

  3. user-7392754 07/31/2023

    Beautiful!!! I love all of the lilies!!! The stained glass and painted fascia really add to the scene! You have quite an artistic eye!!!

  4. User avater
    cynthia2020 07/31/2023

    The lilies and fascia board painting are really something! I can understand about needing supports for top heavy plants, too. Thanks for sharing!

  5. Tz_Garden 07/31/2023

    Very pretty garden, the lilies and the painting are wonderful. You should definitely try another painting! tzgarden.blogspot.com

  6. User avater
    cynthia2020 07/31/2023

    By the way, I just noticed if you can post here, you can post at https://www.finegardening.com/discussion-forum

    Like if anyone has a single flower photo they would want to share at:
    https://www.finegardening.com/forum/blooming-now-in-our-garden

  7. btucker9675 07/31/2023

    Wow - my eyes are filled with colorful happiness! Your garden and your painting prove that your wife is correct: You succeeded!!! Thank you for brightening up our Monday.

  8. User avater
    simplesue 08/02/2023

    Beautiful! Love it all!

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