Another Month of SIP Flowers

Santa Cruz Mountains

Last month it seemed safe to be out, this month not so much. Flocks of tourists at the beach and in the mountains make enjoying the garden at home a favored option. 

Cosmos, a summertime favorite, appeals as much to bees as to humans. Their bright colors, vast pollen output, and self-seeding talent lures both insect and gardener.  

If pruned at the end of May, classic English roses produce massive quantities of blooms again in July. Their scent is just as enchanting as their form. Maybe more so.

A poppy we’ve never seen before sprouted this year from the Beekeeper’s Mix that I always plant. Tiny and pale, its quirky magenta center surprises and delights. 

Our Rose of Sharon tree produces quite a show every year. Despite mossy bark and severe pruning, it blossoms profusely. Ecstatic bees disappear into their folds.

Our neighbors host a similarly prolific Rose of Sharon. Each single blossom changes color from pink to purple to blue as it ages. Easy to grow, but hard to keep compact.

The most lovely posthumous gift ever. Our friend’s children asked if we wanted their mom’s roses. This wild rugosa rose is one of many ways that we remember Joy.

An unknown flower sprouted from the Beekeeper’s Mix this year. Small and subtle, yet extremely prolific, their flowers appeal to hummingbirds and bees alike.

Back to where we started at the Bachelor’s Buttons. An unusually large quantity sprouted from the Beekeeper’s Mix. The solitary bee—not a honeybee—approves.