It’s that time of year when everything in the garden is starting to fade.
Our Endless Summer Hydrangeas have transitioned from their vibrant, spring blues to the softer, summer shades of green. . .
We’ve been hot and dry this summer and it’s been a challenge to try to keep things watered.
My toad house looks like I feel with our August heat. . .
that summer seems Endless. ;)
I deadheaded and harvested some hydrangea blooms to encourage new flowers.
Endless Summer Hydrangeas usually put on a second flush of flowers, blooming right through pumpkin season until frost, which is typically mid-November for us. You wouldn’t normally think of pairing blue hydrangeas with pumpkins, but you can enjoy a ‘Just Because’ Arrangement, here.
I’m looking forward to raking season. . .
And cooler temperatures of fall.
There’s always a surprise or two in the garden. . .
Like a single clematis bloom appearing two months after its normal bloom time.
How’s your garden growing this summer?
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I hate to think about the flowers fading, but I know that will bring cooler temps. Our 4H fair is this week and the hog exhibitors including 3 of my grandsons were unable to run the hogs thru the auction ring because of the heat. I love the bird house.
I look forward to cooler temps but so sad to see my flowers fade away…. Your pics are beautiful!!!
Fading flowers here in Ohio too. We have had abnormally high temps this summer. Always around the first of August I remove some flowers from my beds and containers. It’s an in between time for planting, too early for mums and other fall flowers. I’ll make a trip to the nursery to look for some replacements. Still a lovely post!
Your beautiful pictures take my breath away! Literally, a small gasp escapes as I view them. You are a blessed, gifted lady and I thank you for sharing your talents.
So lovely, as always. Would you share where you found the cutest toad house in the whole world, please?
Thanks Mary! It belonged to my MIL from her gardening days :)
I’m actually beginning to see a lot of fading too, Mary, hydrangeas included. My big surprise in the garden this week was realizing the bunny I’ve been seeing as an apparent resident in my garden has actually been using my teak, slatted lounge chairs as his pergola! He’s living under those chairs between mowings (droppings prove it)! Have a great weekend. We’re forecast for rain today – one less day of watering and getting bug-bitten. TGIF.
Smart bunny Rita! Send some rain our way please :)
Mary, Your hydrangeas are fading so beautifully! Your grays, greens and purples are such a soothing and cooling color combo for these hot and humid days. I remember your low lake level from last summer and hope you don’t experience the same this year. My garden is looking pathetic this year! A late frost intercepted the memo to the hydrangeas in our town that this was the year to bloom! I’ve added some flowering perennials but they’ll look better next year, I hope. In the meantime I am enjoying your photos! Linda
Mary, I am exhausted from so much watering! We have had so little rain that everything looks tired and wilted (kind of like me). I love the faded look of your hydrangeas, they have that dreamy appearance! Always gorgeous photos! Pam @ Everyday Living
Awwww Mary, you always manage to put a smile on my face as I read through your posts. Thank you so very much for that…xx! My hydrangeas quit blooming altogether, but I have high hopes for next year, for the oak leaf variety that my youngest son planted for me. I do have a whole row of daisies that are still putting on a show. Happy weekend to you, your hubby and Chloe and Gracie!
Love the colors…just plain pretty!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Oh, I’d say your garden still looks lovely. Mine, not so much. The heat has taken a toll this past few weeks. Not many blooms to be found on anything other than the plumbago and golden thryallis, and I’m already raking leaves. Bring on fall for me! ‘-)
Your hydrangeas are refreshing. Love the soft colors. Seeing the Persian Shield reminds me I need to reintroduce that plant to my garden. Usually it comes back after a freeze, but didn’t a few years ago. I replaced it with something else, but I miss the wonderful color and texture.
Hoping the days of summer are not endless!
I think I enjoy hydrangeas just as much when they start to fade, the color change is magical, and a subtle nudge to the coming seasonal change. I love the way you styled your rake with the blooms! You work magic with even fading a spent flowers :) Wishing you a weekend full of raindrops…
Jenna
My garden is burned beyond. This is the worst year since I have been living here in 30 years. It gave much happiness seeing your beautiful garden with flowers. Your photo’s are always so amazing.
I would do a rain dance and then in my garden in my nightgown if it would only rain LOL.
I cannot wait for Fall, my favorite time of the year.
Mary
Your hydrangeas are still beautiful Mary, I love the slight tinges of pink and blue! August is a difficult month for me too, but we’ll get through it… I was out looking at early Halloween this morning:@)
I love garden surprises too! That is unusual for the clematis! I’m enjoying my fading hydrangeas too. Our heat is also terrible!
Your watering can and little wheelbarrow looks so cute full of blooms in your bench vignette. Cute stool, birdhouse and tray!
Have a great weekend. Hope you get some rain.
Your hydrangea look like my hydrangea!! I have Nikko Blue but think they “faded faster” than ever. We’re up to 19 inches of rain in six weeks…your turn will surely “be coming!!” franki
So pretty to see all the lovely shades of green in your photographs, and your charming frog makes for smiles. Thank you Mary.
Mary, the soft, faded colors of the hydrangeas work so well with the beautiful chip-y greens around your shed! So easy to be around, and a beautiful harbinger of the coming Fall. Wonderful, pictures.
Very Hot and humid for MI this summer. In the high 80’s and 90’s great beach weather, but since I still work, I can only go on the weekends, can’t wait for Sunday after church. Tomorrow is housework and some yard duty. Flowers still doing o.k., but taking a lot of watering. My (2) hydrangeas did not bloom! Makes me sad. Maybe they needed more fertilizer. Love yours. Very beautiful Mary.
Great inspirations, I keep a watch on your posts via facebook and I am always delighted with the beauty of what you put on. Kind regards, Agnes
Your flowers are gorgeous! We have been very challenged this year in terms of water…NO RAIN at all! Here in Northern NY it has been insanely dry and HOT!! So, our gardens have suffered! We sure are looking forward to cooler temps and fall weather!! I don’t know if anyone else has been having issues with your blog or not…but I am on Blogger and I have you listed in my sidebar…but your photo is HUGE compared to all of the other ones…very strange!! I have tried removing it and relisting and it still comes out looking unusual. Any ideas? I know you are on WordPress. Hugs to Chloe and Gracie!
Hi Jeanne, Hope you and I both get some rain soon… I’m beyond ready for fall! Thanks for letting me know about the size issue, I’ll have to contact WP support and see if they have any ideas. Doggie kisses to Chloe & LadyBug :)
Things are JUST starting to fade here too. I only had ONE hydrangea bloom this year except for my 4 limelight hydrangeas whichj are at their peak right now! They are FULL of beautiful blooms! I hope I can dry some successfully! I am looking forward to Fall but NOT to winter at all. It has been very hot here too. Too hot to even sit at the pool, you have to be IN it:) Things coukd be alot worse though I know!!! Oh, guess what? We FINALLY got a Hobby Lobby up here!!!! I couldn’t get there fast enough:):):)
So beautiful….mine are fading fast too, but I do love the shades of their fading phase….Such beauty in every phase of the fabulous hydrangea.
Your garden is always so pretty. Mine has taken a hit this summer — even the tropicals are complaining. I’ll be ready for fall when it finally shows up around Halloween!
The lighting, the colors, spectacular!