Midsummer Blooms

This morning I peeked out the window in my pre-coffee daze and spied a deer leisurely snacking on my tomatoes.

I very nearly grabbed the camera, but in that split-second decided I was *not* going to give that deer any more fame than he is already getting from his infamous nibbling. 

Dirty Deer apparently gets his fill in the vegetable garden, so he hobbles his overstuffed belly back to the woods before he can reach the cottage garden. That is the silver lining!

I think these brightly-colored flowers are blackberry lilies...I alternately call them blackberry lilies or candy lilies. They were a passalong from my mom's garden, and get lovely rich-glossy black seedpods after they flower.

The Pink Delight butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) is in full bloom. I pruned out several of the lower branches in early summer, and that must have made it skyrocket. It's huge! We often see hummingbirds flirting around from blossom to blossom if they aren't feeding on our homemade hummingbird nectar.

I just adore Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata), especially the David variety. It doesn't mildew like so many other kinds of garden phlox...it just keeps looking better and better! I can't wait until the clump gets clumpier. :) 

I gravitate toward softer colors in my garden...and midsummer colors often tend to be brighter and bolder. Even my Top Fives of Six list shows blooms in pinks and purples. (What it doesn't show is that the Top Five plants that are blooming are the ONLY plants blooming! haha!) 

I noted in my garden daybook that next year I ought to plan for a Soap Opera midsummer garden. I need an extra push to plant the bright and bold - sunflowers, black-eyed susans, zinnias, yarrow, red-hot pokers, etc.

What is your favorite Bold & Beautiful midsummer bloom?

Linking up today to Fishtail Cottage's Cottage Flora Thursday!