NOT standing alone

The plains coreopsis in my wildflower bed has gotten a little out of hand this year, to say the least!

This is what happens when I don't get them thinned.

They're pretty, but they totally overwhelm the other flowers.

I like the "mutant" ones that do kinda stand alone amongst all the yellow:

And some have even managed to stand 'alone' alone.

Or amongst the coneflowers.....

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

.... which, interestingly, didn't have the yellow edges last year. Can flowers actually cross species like that? A botanist I am not.

Corn update and prettiness along the way

This was the corn status on July 5th. It's been growing fast in the heat we've had. The corn had recently been sprayed, so I didn't let my little measuring assistant go into the rows.

Currently blooming in the wildflower bed:

And in the yard:

I've never seen so many buds on the day lilies before. I guess they've enjoyed all the rain we've been having.

Morning glory

When I went out to check the garden yesterday morning, I just couldn't resist going back to the house for the camera. The wildflower bed is full of these plains coreopsis.

And look at the buds below. Potential for tons more!

So pretty!

There are still plenty of bachelor buttons, too.

And just a few coneflowers that appeared mysteriously last summer.

Kind of an odd-looking flower, aren't they?

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

I tossed out some new seeds in a couple of bare spots this spring, but despite plenty of rain, they only produced a couple of zinnias and marigolds. And they're not blooming yet.

From the wildflower bed

The pink baby's breath has now been pretty much taken over by the blue of the bachelor buttons.

Although there is getting to be quite a bit of the plains coreopsis now, too.

I've only found 2 clarkia plants that have come back from last year.

And there are a couple of coneflowers like this that I didn't even have last year. I don't know where they came from!

The vanilla ice sunflowers reseeded themselves from last year, too. I don't think they're quite as nice as last year's though. They're certainly not as tall. But they still are nice.

And that's what's out there for now, except for some white godetia that don't photograph well, and besides, the only ones that were blooming just got chewed off by... SOMETHING. Rabbit? Woodchuck? *sigh*