It’s starting to feel like the height of summer is here.  We have plenty of plums and peaches that our neighbors and friends have shared with us.  They are fresh and sweet too.

Best of all, the flowers I planted in my mom’s garden has finally started to bloom now.  This is my first time growing Dahlias from seeds.  They don’t really have a floral scent to it.  I think they are really pretty, especially the ones with stripes.

But unfortunately all the Gladiolus bulbs I planted in late spring didn’t make it.  The leaves just turned brown after I thought a bud was forming.  When I went to touch it, the leaves just fell off the bulb.  Gladiolus has always been very easy to grow in the past.  Maybe there is a gopher that’s been eating my bulbs?  Oh well, better luck next year.

Since these flowers are so easy to grow, next year I want to try growing these bigger Dahlias.

“Mixed giant Dahlia.   Dahlia hortensis. 3-4 ft. Hardy Annual/Tender Perennial.  Spectacular as a mass planting, these giants provide a delightful abundance of color and flower forms. Blooms the first year if started early indoors. Dig up tubers in the fall for planting the following spring. Perennial in Zones 8-10.” Info and photo from Seeds of Change.

The Zinnias I planted were not as pretty compare to last summer.  There were a few big pink ones, but they didn’t have much petals and the color was not so vibrant.  My favorite one is this bright orange Zinnias.  These seeds were from Renee’s Garden, “Grandma’s Bouquet” Heirloom variety.

I was also happy to see there were plenty of bees and a hummingbird visiting the summer flowers.  It’s always nice to see everyone is out enjoying nature.

And these succulent vines are also blooming with tiny bright pink flowers.