Reunited (with the garden) ... and it feels so good

We just returned from our annual week's vacation at the family cottage on a lake in Connecticut ... but I'm holding off on THAT post for now. I love my kids and all, but I need a break from them. Instead, today's post is all about what I returned home to out in the garden.

The second I stepped out of the car upon arriving home, I attacked the task of watering full throttle. It was a super dry week and all of the plants were begging for a beverage or two. After their thirst was quenched, I had some time to check out how things had progressed since I had left. Here's what I discovered:

Phlox paniculata 'David' is in full bloom and smells amazing:

I was even smart enough to cover up it's ugly legs (I had a joke in here originally about the cover up of legs but no matter how hard I tried, it came off creepy):

I recently relocated a few Caryopteris (Bluebeard) 'Sunshine Blue' to a more prominent location but did so in the dry summer heat. I was happy to see they haven't wilted under the conditions:

I am anxious for the late summer blooms that were hidden the past few years:

For whatever reason, no plant reseeds worse that this one as I have seedlings all over the yard. I need to remember to not let the seeds mature this fall:

I love Lobelia siphilitica (Blue cardinal flower) and the blooms are so close:

I smelled the blooms of the Clethra (Summersweet) 'Hummingbird' before I actually noticed it in full bloom and I friggin love it:

As do the bees:

I planted a few Physostegia (Obedient plant) 'Summer Snow' last fall and they are thriving; some times it's so damn easy:

I know I'm a broken record, but I love me some Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed) 'Gateway'. It is so imposing, in a good way:

Yeah for me, I actually successfully grew some annuals from seed, and they are still alive:

Oh yeah, the ornamental grasses still are rockin and rollin:

Miscanthus 'Variegatus'

Chasmanthium latifolium (Northern Sea Oats) 

Miscanthus 'Gracillimus' 

Pennisetum 'Karley Rose'

But the absolute coolest thing, was finding these three little guys nestled in an arborvitae. I made sure to disrupt as little as possible:

It's always fun to get away from the garden for a while and then return to see what has transpired. Good times indeed.

The vacation post will be delivered soon along with a post on two new trees I just had added.

Garden on my friends!

John "ONG"