Garden Update

An Evolving Waystation

The garden has changed quite a lot since June.  Because of a low spot, in spite of leveling, and because of extremely hard rains, we lost coreopsis, yarrow, and yellow cone flowers.  We’ve put in more lantana to finish the season; it can take the moisture. (below) 
Plants were placed originally according to their predicted heights, but Mother Nature doesn’t read the tags, and some ‘short’ plants are quite tall!  The phlox, although blooming for the third time, is shorter than expected.  The butterflies don’t mind the varying heights of the plants. 

The plants that have done well are the butterfly bushes, lantana, penta, Arizona blanket flower, zinnia, Joe Pye Weed, and Blue Balloon Bluebeard, although we haven’t seen a blue blossom yet!  Hydrangeas, verbena, and purple salvia are also doing well.
My wonderful helper, Ben, has done most of the work in the garden:  planting, mulching, and keeping it looking great.  His ideas have been very helpful:  choosing each stone, he laid the stone border and put the pine straw next to it, which is a lovely finishing touch.