The dog days of summer are definitely here. Sirius, the dog star, is reportedly in the sky July 3 – August 11 this year. Dog days last a bit longer in South Florida – through September at least. My dog, Fiona the greyhound, is enjoying baking in the sand until it gets too hot, then she looks puzzled. I am puzzled by how much she enjoys this!
I enjoy the small details in the garden that thrive in summer. Native Portulacas pop up everywhere. I keep some and pull many of them out as they are prolific reseeders. This one is called Kiss Me Quick (Portulaca pilosa)
Heliconias, true to their name, enjoy the heat. This is Heliconia psittacorum.
Our native Salvias (Salvia coccinea) flower readily with just a little water.
The Chicken Gizzard plant (Iresine herbstii) is showing its colors. I am wondering if I should cut it back.
The Zin Master Zinnias have been providing cut flowers twice a week. I have been enjoying these by the kitchen sink. Bringing the garden indoors is a Sirius pleasure.
That’s all from my garden this Saturday. To join the worldwide garden tour visit Jim at Garden Ruminations.
Happy Gardening!!
The Shrub Queen 
The Chicken Gizzard plant has such wonderful contrasting colors.
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That Salvia is so pretty, I have featured 2 Salvia this week. They are quite an extensive family.
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The variety of salvias is amazing. I think all of us grow them.
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That seems hot for the dog. Those salvias are the best and never fail me. Your zinnia vase is really eye catching. You must have planted lots of them.
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The dog is very particular about when she sits. It’s funny she will put her nose out and go nope if things aren’t just right. The salvias are the best..it seems 12 is the magic number for zinnias.
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I have the same iresine plant but mine is full dark red. Do you know if the plant will flower and what the flowers look like? It’s its first summer and the plant is benefiting from both the heat of my greenhouse and the drip system : the best!
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I bet the Iresine is loving your drip system. I sent you a link to the flowers.
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👍
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We are feeling the dog days here too. Your zinnias are a lovely mix of forms and colours. I should have sown some this year as they would have loved all the rain we’ve had!
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I bought some more zinnia seed!
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Fiona enjoys her sauna! 😉
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Lovely zinnias, just can’t grow them here, too wet and not enough sun most years. Nice to see yours flourishing.
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Thanks, Noelle. it has been a good zinnia summer.
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Rhody tries to do that also, on hot asphalt! If it is too warm, I pick him up and put him inside so that he can not do it. He gets annoyed. It seems dangerous, and even if it is not, I can not imagine how it could be a pleasant experience for him. Heather does it also, but not when it gets hot. I just moved a pair of Heliconia psittacorum to a shelf outside a window here, like a window box. They are only foliar so far, but I happen to like them for their foliage. I do not know what cultivar they are. They are from Brent’s front garden.
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