The struggle for beauty

Inner beauty is important.............................in the garden we usually look for outer beauty. It is often fleeting and we must capture it immediately before it's gone. So, the roses disappointed this Summer (see yesterday's post) but there is always next year. Meanwhile, this morning as I walked the garden bounds, distressed to see so much plant life struggling in the heat and drought conditions, there were these beauties showing off their amazing colors as if to say, " roses we aren't, but goldenrod, mandevilla, morning glories, petunias and hydrangeas we are........and gorgeous too".

The "Fireworks" goldenrod is just starting to add some color along the back fence.

See the terrible state of the grass..................what grass say you?

These "Flying Saucer" blooms are huge.

The gazebo has supported this mandevilla all Summer..........now the blooms are cashing in!

Can there be a Morning Glory more blue than this one?
These were the best white petunias - strong, with ruffled edges, ever blooming in a pot. And here.................one of a few late blooms on the "Endless Summer" hydrangeas. A little smaller but still pretty - living up to their very appropriate name.

Hope you enjoy this little morning stroll around the garden. My neighbor called earlier and said she doesn't want a hurricane of course, but a nice tropical storm would certainly perk up the gardens! This has been the hottest, driest August ever in our part of North Carolina and next week the temps. will continue in the nineties, whew!

I'm off to look at Fall displays at the craft store, pumpkins, russet leaves, chrysanthemums, perhaps that will have the cooling effect!