July provides plenty of color in the garden. Beds, borders and patios explode with color. Despite the maintenance and watering I have to, I like to take time to enjoy my favorite views of the garden. Petunias, coleus and geraniums are putting on a great show on the patio. Seated there, I can enjoy the vista of the perennial borders that lead to the folly. (Follies are structures that the English use as garden focal points.) In the shade of my folly, houseplants enjoy their summer vacation. The parterre has more of a French feel to it, with symmetrical beds containing lavender and roses. Under and iron arch, daylilies hug a large central pot surrounded by a cluster of smaller pots. Dianthus, petunias, marigolds and tall ageratum fill the center pot. Another big pot nearby is planted with more of the same, as well as dark leaf 'Gypsy Queen' celosia. The butterflies love the dianthus. The shade patio is my favorite retreat on a hot day. The pots there contain begonias, impatiens, coleus, asparagus fern, spider plants and elephant ears. I think of the vegetable garden as a butterflies and bees garden. Of course, there are warm season crops that are thriving, but there are also many, many pots of colorful flowers to lure the pollinators. When butterflies are flitting from flower to flower, it's a great view. You can read more here: https://www.9news.com/article/life/home-garden/proctors-tips/gardens-explode-with-floral-fireworks-in-july/73-649abec3-be39-4717-9ff5-ffa761dcad35