The Ditch Lilies are up higher than I recall them being at this time of year. As I eyed them this morning I panicked for one split nansecond ( Thanks, Charlie Sheen!  He cured himself in a nansecond, you know. )  worrying whether or not I should be covering them overnight and then I realized, they survive beautifully in the wilderness and they would be this tall in the wilderness.  They know what they are doing better than I do.

 

I started researching how to prune the Althea.  I planted it last spring.  Oh. My. Gosh.  Swinging a pick axe in the bright sunshine is not for the faint of heart.  I had to break up the clay soil somehow, though.  I learned that I will probably do only a light pruning since the plant is a  young'un. Althea is a relative of the Hibiscus family and is known as Rose of Sharon. Granny had a Rose of Sharon in the garden.  Hers was lavendar.  Mine is called red but the blooms are a medium raspberry color.
 I learned that the Rose of Sharon of the Bible is actually a pungent Crocus type flower, not my shrub.  And I learned that Sharon is an area in Israel.  It's true what they say: you DO learn something new every day.

 

Granny with a bouquet of her roses.  I still have the vase shown in this pic.

One of the Hibiscus family blossoms.  I have a Confederate Rose pic around here somewhere.  I just have to find it...

 I love the Hibiscus flowers.  Rose of Sharon, Confederate Rose and Brazilian Roack Rose are all related to the Hibiscus. I have some Brazilian Rock Rose seeds sitting in the garage.  I hope to get them potted up this season.  Along with my Stargazer Lily and my Ranunculus.