The garden is gradually gliding, as it always does when summer matures from midsummer into late summer, into a state of bloom-exhaustion. Who can blame it? It certainly works hard at presenting a bright, cheerful face all summer long. And now it's time for the garden to begin taking a bit of a rest. Not the long rest to come with winter, but a well-deserved pause before the late-summer bloomers erupt into blossom.

While the hydrangeas for the most part have had their day, the lace-cap is just beginning. Lilies and Monarda, sunflowers and phlox are still reasonably fresh looking,though they're clearly on the wane. Roses have sent up some of their last blooms, but this region is in a state of drought, so all growing things are stressed.

This is the first year I can recall that our ligularia hasn't bloomed; in fact it hasn't progressed from its modest first appearance to its late-summer robust persona; quite pathetic.

But the echinacea are right on track and so are the Black-eyed Susans and other garden stalwarts. Plantain lilies have almost finished their bloom, but for a few of the more modest sized ones still fresh.

No complaints, really about the state of the garden pots, they're thriving still, though it took time for the begonia bulbs I'd overwintered and planted in the backyard pots to attain maturity, this year.

Morning glory vines have done very well, much better than our clematis vines, truth be told; their bright blue floral heads greeting us each morning set the tone for the day to come.