‘Helvola’ water lily. This dwarf water lily is at home in my 4′ diameter container pond. It also tolerates a little shade, which is good since my pond receives only morning and early afternoon sun.

I’m starting to feel a little pond envy. My next-door neighbor installed a lovely pond with a waterfall a couple of years ago, and the musical splashing carries over to my yard and makes me wish for the view as well as the sound. Now my neighbor behind our house is putting in a pond, or so it seems from the backhoe work going on back there. Where my little container pond had seemed quite sufficient before, now I’m pining for pond square footage. Talk about keeping up with the Joneses!

Echinacea ‘Sunset.’ This coneflower is just beginning to open. I’ve been eagerly awaiting this flower—a new variety I’m trying out. I’ve also planted ‘Sunrise,’ but it hasn’t set any buds yet.

Purple oxalis. I recently posted a photo of its lavender flowers, but the variegated leaves are quite pretty in their own right.