I might have landed in a little hot water for volunteering my mother's garden as a possible candidate for a future garden walk. I told her that she can always say "NO," that they can't force her to participate.

Can they?

One of the problems is that her garden -- the show piece being a wildflower garden that fills the ravine -- looks best in spring, not in mid-July. Wildflowers are early bloomers!

I had the July=Blue of Project Spectrum in mind on this year's tour. There's no arguing the true blue hue of Virginia Bluebells and Forget-Me-Nots (some of those early spring-blooming wildflowers), or even some lovely Morning Glories, but it's decidedly more of the "violets are blue" hue in the garden at this time of year.

There were a variety of gardens, from wooded and sprawling rural-ish, to orderly and subdued suburban, to compact and effervescent urban. I found some unusual items growing in the garden...

 
...of the whimsy variety!

I want a yellow chair! This simple, colorful grouping was one of my favorites! I just love all the color.

 
Time's up! That's all for now.