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The flowers of spring are gone and summer is upon us! Houston is turning into a lush overgrown jungle of green with all our torrential rains. Our plants here at Ravenscourt are hanging in there but some are not too happy.  Last week in Toronto at the annual Garden Bloggers Fling they were just starting to plant annuals. It looked so bright and cheery with everything in flower. I think they are a season behind us : ) Below you see one of the gardeners dressed in period costume planting out the annuals in the mosaic garden at Parkwood Estate.Parkwood Estate, Oshawa a National Historic Site established in 1919 as the family home of General Motors magnate R.S.

Parkwood Estate, Oshawa a National Historic Site established in 1919 as the family home of General Motors magnate R.S. “Sam” McLaughlin

Here are my fellow flingers at the vibrant garden of Marion Jarvie a popular instructor at the Toronto Botanical Garden. Jarvie Garden, Thornhill And one more so you can see the variety of plants and colors!Jarvie Garden, Thornhill I did find a few blooms in our garden to share with you today. The sky is overcast and there is a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico that may be headed our way. I say no, please Nature send it to California! Here is a wild sunflower we let stay in our raised veggie bed. wild sunflower at Ravenscourt Gardens Volunteers. Sorry the pictures are not very clear today…the sky is dark and cloudy. And I am taking these between rain storms.Mexican wild petunia ruellia caroliniensis, a volunteer that has decided to mix in with our Sky Pencil hollies.

Mexican Wild Petunia, ruellia caroliniensis, a volunteer that has decided to mix in with our Sky Pencil hollies.

Psychotria nervosa 'Little Psycho™' a dwarf coffee plant.

Psychotria nervosa ‘Little Psycho™’ a dwarf coffee plant. It has been here over a year and this is the first time it has flowered. It is growing in light shade and seems quite happy.

A fun shot of our back garden birdbath. It has been refreshed with rain water for 2 months now.

A fun shot of our back garden birdbath. It has been refreshed with rain water for 2 months now.

Red Shrimp Plant Justicia brandegeeana at Ravenscourt Gardens

Here are a couple of blooms on our Red Shrimp plant , Justicia brandegeana Common Names: shrimp plant, false hop, shrimp bush Family: Acanthaceae (acanthus Family)

Indigofera kirilowii (Chinese Indigo) loves the southside of our house that had nice mid-day sun. It has been blooming for a couple of months now.

Indigofera kirilowii (Chinese Indigo) loves the south-side of our house that had nice mid-day sun. It has been blooming for a couple of months now.

Hydrangeas that lived in a pot on the porch for years and finally got planted. They are super happy!

Hydrangeas that lived in a pot on the porch for years and finally got planted. They are super happy! And another bit of old fencing. In the background you can see the arbor and the Green man plaque on the fence.

Belize Sage, Smooth-leaf Sage Salvia miniata. I find this one very hard to photograph. It is right out my office window and attracts lots of pollinators.

Belize Sage, Smooth-leaf Sage, Salvia miniata. I find this one very hard to photograph. It is right out my office window and attracts lots of pollinators.

As I go thru the gate to the front garden I see this very cool vine growing up on to my bakers rack. I think I will leave it : )

As I go thru the gate to the front garden I see this very cool vine growing up on to my baker’s rack. I think I will leave it : )

Looking down I spy little pale flowers on the liriope. Some years they are deep purple. I don’t know why they are so pale this year. flowers on liriope Below is the first coneflower I have planted that didn’t die; and it actually bloomed!Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench Eastern purple coneflower, Purple coneflower Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench, Eastern purple coneflower, Purple coneflower, Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Terra Cotta Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium 'Terra Cotta'

Terra Cotta Common Yarrow, Achillea millefolium ‘Terra Cotta’ in the background are Blanket flowers.

Gaillardia aristata 'Lucky Wheeler' Blanket Flower

Gaillardia aristata ‘Lucky Wheeler’ Blanket Flower

The tiny flowers on the Jewels of Opar are very hard to photograph. This is a really fun plant. It died back to ground last winter but came back in full forces as soon at the weather turned warm.Variegated Jewels of Opar, Fame Flower Talinum paniculatum 'Variegatum'

Variegated Jewels of Opar, Fame Flower, Talinum paniculatum ‘Variegatum’

Frosted Violet Coral Bells Heuchera 'Frosted Violet'

The flowers on the Frosted Violet Coral Bells, Heuchera ‘Frosted Violet’ 
are equally hard to photograph. I did not plant either of these plants for the flowers but it is funny how similar they look.

Another little volunteer that I am leaving. I love the delicate blue flowers. Commelina cyanea, commonly known as scurvy weed, is a perennial prostrate herb of the family Commelinaceae

Commelina cyanea, commonly known as scurvy weed, is a perennial prostrate herb of the family Commelinaceae.

Blue Chip' - Butterfly Bush is still blooming and will continue through most of the summer.

Blue Chip’ buddleia – Butterfly Bush is still blooming and will continue through most of the summer.

Iris Neomarica caerulea 'Regina', or commonly called the Giant Apostles' Iris

Iris Neomarica caerulea ‘Regina’, or commonly called the Giant Apostles’ Iris are still blooming to our amazement. The variegated leaves are from a plumeria. There are a few other plumeria tucked into this row of Giant walking iris. Here is a link to a great post on another walking iris.

Cat with squash blossom, Viola at Ravenscourt Gardens

Here is our cat Viola with a volunteer squash blossom.

Moonbeam Coreopsis, Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'

Moonbeam Coreopsis, Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’ one of the plants in our urns.

That’s it if for June at Ravenscourt Gardens. For more bloom day pictures click here to go to our host May Dreams Gardens and see all the bloggers posting their June flowers.

Happy Gardening…and stay high and dry Houstonians