Summer heat

The colors of the blossoms of early July in my garden reflect the weather. In shades of red, yellow, orange, and purple, they are hot!

The swamp hibiscus 'Texas Star' sets the tone.

Which is reflected by the Turk's Cap 'Big Momma.' This plant, which usually blooms twelve months of the year for me, died back to its roots last winter and is only now beginning to bloom once again.

The yellow esperanza, aka "yellowbells," always dies back to its roots in winter but comes back strong and blooms all summer and autumn.

Its cousin, the mahogany esperanza, is not that well-established yet. It was only planted last year, but it provides sporadic blooms.

The Clerodendrum philippinum 'Cashmere Bouquet' provides these bouquet-sized blooms all summer long.

Yellow cestrum is also a dependable summer bloomer and a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies.

In several beds around the garden, these old species cannas send up their flame-like blossoms.

Some plants, like the wax begonia, carry the red hot theme right through to their leaves.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima 'Pride of Barbados' is a heat-loving plant that is in its glory in summer in my garden.

Planted for summer color, the cosmos is beginning to provide it, while in the background the prairie coneflowers bloom on.

The crocosmias could well be named the "Plant of the Week." They are at their best just now.

Summer phlox, Phlox paniculata - I love these bright pink blossoms.

And nearby the phlox is the wonderful crinum 'Ellen Bosanquet,' brightening a bed along the north side of the house.

 Crape myrtles, that staple of southern gardens, come in many shades of hot pink in my garden. 

This is a light one - though not the lightest. There is one paler.

This one is a middle tone.

And this one is darker still.

Over it all hotly shines my happy little sun!