Survival of the fittest in our garden at the cottage

Here are some of the shots taken over the weekend at our cottage of the flowers planted last year which I started from seed. It is really tough to know if they will survive with the possibility of not having rain when we are not there.

These were Iris's that never bloomed in town and are just a bunch of show offs at the cottage

getting the deck ready for summer visitors 

Here are some of the new annuals that I planted and just in case it doesn't rain I used crystal that expand and release water to the plants while I am not there. 

My peonies being opened by the ants which I might miss if I am not there this coming weekend

my chives amongst the bleeding hearts 

                                          Good old reliable bleeding hearts.

                                      Hosta's and chives which have been there now for several years

one of my poppies which I started from seed last year getting ready to open on Saturday 

Here it is again open the following day....can't wait to see the rest of them

 Path way down to the lake. Most of the hosta's have been eaten by the deer.

These are shots taken on June 24th. Most of the poppies have bloomed all but one last one which was yellow. My peonies have bloomed and dropped pretty much to the ground. My clematis was in full bloom. What a score 2 years ago at a garden center for $7.00. My gaillardia which I started from seed 2 years ago has taken and now I have my very first bloom.

Here are some of the shots of the annuals which have survived on their own. I added these crystals which absorb water and slowly release them to the plants, otherwise I would come back to dead plants.