This newly blooming Gaillardia ‘Goblin’ represents my garden this July Bloom Day—hot! I love plants like this blanketflower, which shrugs off our unremitting heat wave and dry conditions. It may not cool things down visually, but it seems more honest that way. After all, it’s summer in Texas, the Death Star is at full operational strength, and we need all the heat-loving, cheery flowers we can get.
To see what’s blooming in gardens all over the world on this date, visit May Dreams Gardens.
All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
I am also nurturing orange in my garden this month. Love the Gaillardia!
Comment by Susie — July 15, 2009 @ 1:11 am
Hi Pam,
You can give some of your sun and heat to Sweden. Now it has rain for 10 days…not fun at all.
I have flowers in orange to but it not for any help, the sun is missing anyway.
Ken
Send rain, please, Ken. Sun and heat are being sent your way. —Pam
Comment by Ken from Sweden — July 15, 2009 @ 1:20 am
I have Gaillardia turning up the heat in my garden too. The funny thing is, I planted it to bloom in winter. Ah, well. Sorry about the Death Star, but hey you’ve got that pool now! That’s a thought–have you put the trampoline next to the pool? You could use it as a diving board.
We have kids, Chuck, so the trampoline is as far away from the pool as possible so as not to tempt them to try such a thing. ;-) —Pam
Comment by chuck b. — July 15, 2009 @ 1:21 am
I love the gallaridia, it grew wild in the dunes where I once lived in SC, and boy yes they can take the heat. I hope you get a break from your weather.
Comment by Les — July 15, 2009 @ 4:36 am
Love the Gaillardia! (They remind me of Texas as well!)
Comment by Janet — July 15, 2009 @ 5:30 am
This is a great photo of gallardia. I know it is a tough plant but can you believe I can’t seem to get it to grow?? A friend of mine has it growing nearly wild in a very inhospitable space. She says I am too good to it. hmmmmm
Comment by Lisa at Greenbow — July 15, 2009 @ 5:47 am
Pam you are so right, Gaillardia doesn’t seem to be bothered by the weather at all. We got ‘Oranges and Lemons’ this year and it’s doing so well I hope we find several more for the new bed. ‘Goblin’ would be a great addition.
Comment by Randy — July 15, 2009 @ 7:45 am
This is great July summer bloom. The colors are so hot – two of my favorites. -Jackie
Comment by Jackie (Ellie Mae's Cottage) — July 15, 2009 @ 8:29 am
Never was a big fan of Gaillardia, but in your garden, if it is blooming in spite of the death star, then it is a great flower!
Comment by Carol, May Dreams Gardens — July 15, 2009 @ 8:40 am
Austin was on the news last night for the heat and drought torturing you all. So sorry, will wish for cooler temps and some good soft rain. Love that the Gaillardia will bloom no matter too. We love it and let is stay most of the places it has self sown.
Frances
Comment by Frances — July 15, 2009 @ 9:32 am
I feel for you all in Texas, suffering in the heat and dryness. I hope you get a break from it soon.
Comment by Mr. McGregor's Daughter — July 15, 2009 @ 9:39 am
Great looking blanket flower, sorry about the hot weather you’re having for some reason it’s been a cool July here in Chicago hopefully some of it will blow your way.
Happy GBBD!
-Cathy
Comment by Cathy — July 15, 2009 @ 10:00 am
ooo I like this – can it take some shade, or does it need to be in full sun?
It can take a little shade, Kelly. But the more sun the better. —Pam
Comment by Kelly Jennings — July 15, 2009 @ 10:42 am
This is one of my favorite flowers Pam. Yours looks great.
Comment by Linda at Meadowview Thymes — July 15, 2009 @ 10:47 am
Gaillardia is new to my garden this year…I bought seeds during our Spring Fling Austin visit to LBJ Wildflower center…and they have bloomed their heads off! You couldn’t ask for a better plant to handle the summers you all are having. I hope it breaks soon for you. gail
Comment by Gail — July 15, 2009 @ 11:08 am
Good choice to keep goblin all by itself. It’s such a striking flower, but it doesn’t often combine all that well with the blooms of anything else in my opinion, and is best left on its own. Such a distinctive flower color, you don’t really need anything else blooming when the Goblin is going.
I see your point, Ryan, but I’m just not that restrained in my own garden. I’ve got the gaillardia planted with bulbine (supposed to be the orange one, but it turned out to be yellow instead–argh), orange narrowleaf zinnia, and a couple of agastaches. But the majority of that bed is composed of cool foliage to temper the orange : artemesia, acacia, miscanthus, Yuccas rostrata, and aloe. —Pam
Comment by ryan — July 15, 2009 @ 11:37 am
I love little Goblin! It does indeed reflect this July Bloom day.
Comment by Linda Lehmusvirta — July 15, 2009 @ 11:57 am
I live in the burbs between Denver and Boulder CO, so I know hot, too. I love my xeric gardening and the blanket flowers are showy this year.
Comment by VickieB — July 15, 2009 @ 1:24 pm
At least something looks cheerful! Goodness knows the gardeners in Texas haven’t cracked too many smiles this summer. Bring on El Nino!
Comment by Cindy, MCOK — July 15, 2009 @ 1:51 pm
Gaillardias are missing from my garden this year so I’ll just enjoy yours. The hot colors certainly represent your weather pattern well. I sincerely hope relief comes in the form of gentle rains and cooler temps soon. Happy Bloom Day, Pam!
Comment by kerri — July 15, 2009 @ 9:25 pm
I think we’re 25 degrees cooler than you are right now, but the gaillardias are going gangbusters here, too. I agree, it’s a great plant!
Comment by lostlandscape(James) — July 15, 2009 @ 9:26 pm
Happy bloom day! Stay cool!
Comment by Town Mouse — July 15, 2009 @ 9:49 pm
I love that gallardia – and I love the sun – but we haven’t seen too much of it this summer here in Massachusetts. I hope my Texas daughter brings some heat with her when she comes to visit.
Comment by commonweeder — July 16, 2009 @ 6:56 am
That blanketflower is gorgeous.
Comment by Heirloom Gardener — July 16, 2009 @ 9:37 pm
oh i love that gailardia! just beautiful..:) you always have such gorgeous pictures, thank you so much for sharing once again! love it…
Comment by cat — July 18, 2009 @ 9:50 pm
Love your new stock pond, Pam! That photo of the red dragonfly is stunning. Beautiful, beautiful photo. Now I want some acreage so I can have a stock pond. Guess I better move to Texas where I can afford it. Can’t do that here in Northern Virginia (especially not in a townhouse backyard)!
Comment by Cindy Dyer — July 23, 2009 @ 11:05 pm
I planted gaillardia seeds about ten years ago and they have been taking up here and there throughout my garden. I have been pleased to find that most of the plants have been flowering in red-orange instead of the red-yellow. The ants seem to be loving yours!
Comment by Sylvana — July 25, 2009 @ 12:25 pm