The first 'Grandpa Ott' morning glories have appeared:
Bee balm (Mondarda) is a native perennial that prefers boggy locations but does fine in ordinary garden soil too. My colony of pink bee balm was a pass-along plant that has thrived, largely ignored, for years.
Speaking of bees, this bumblebee is going berserk on the blooms of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa - actually the genus has been changed to Actaea but that makes the name no fun at all to say). The bloom spikes are about 6' tall. I positioned these so the afternoon sun shines through them.
Probably the most common daylily in North America, the tawny daylily (Hemerocallis fulva) is everywhere, especially by the side of the road; clumps often sprout a mailbox. They're super common, but I like them.
Orange is the least popular color in the garden, but I think it mixes well, especially with blue and white - just not pink. (School-bus yellow is the color that I have trouble with; it screams too loudly for attention.)
Early July around here is usually the second big burst of color after spring.
