The Parking Strip & The Driveway: 8/2/16

I only took a few pictures of the driveway, so figured I'd throw those in with the parking strip pics.

I'm feelin' like the food isn't doin' all that hot this year.

But maybe I say that every year around this time.

We're starting to get one or two tomatoes at a time now, so that's super exciting.

But no cucumbers yet, only two baby zucchini, and one of my basil plants is dying.

The green beans are comin' on hot and heavy, though, as well as the runner beans out back, so I made my first batch of refrigerator dilly beans today.  With dill and garlic from the garden even!

2 1/2 pounds made three quarts, so that'll be fun to bust into those in a week or so.

Anywho, here are just a couple pulled back views.

It definitely has filled in.

And a flower picture for good measure.

This is Angelonia.

Now, down to the parking strip.

The Echinacea and Pineapple Sage combo is winning for me right now.

Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' is definitely in full bloom.

As is the Phlox.

I'm still diggin' it, but the Echinops 'Veitch's Blue' isn't as happy this year as it was last.

Phygelius 'Moonraker' is blooming again.

There's 'Otto's Thrill' again, bloomin' its little heart out.

The Gladiolas are so, so pretty, but what a serious pain in the ass to keep staked.

Clearly I need a better method.

A perennial red Lobelia.

Every year I say this, but I think this Crocosmia was mislabeled.

Supposedly, it's 'Canary.'

Annnnd, I had myself a little retail therapy in the perennial sale section at Fred Meyer when I ran in for milk.

I got a Milkweed, aka, Asclepias curassavica.

Echinacea 'Balscanery' Double Scoop Cranberry.

They had SO MANY of these in different colors.

It was damn near impossible for me to decide.

I almost went with Bubblegum, but the Cranberry won.

And Clematis integrifolia, which I've never grown before.

I should have gotten one of all three colors, dang it.

I also got one each of the two different Pineapple Sages to put in down there.

I love my other two so much, I figured, why not.

And there ya have it.

Have a fantastic weekend and a great next week.

We're headin' out on a family vacation.

This time we are NOT coming home with a puppy.