Today is Friday.  And like most Fridays I spent the morning running after my two year old, wrangling the monstrous heap of laundry, and tackling other houseworky type chores.  After a few hours of all that fun, we'd both had enough.  So I packed up the kid and we were park-bound when I spotted a flash of yellow peeking out from underneath the mass of perennials.

There it was, a rebloom of my one and only sunflower that took this year.  I cut back the spent bloom of the sunflower weeks ago, not even thinking there was a possiblity of another round.

And look, more buds! 

I'm taking this as a sign of good things to come.  Any surprises pop up in your garden lately?

This weekend was a gardener's delight to be out doing what we do best - getting our hands dirty!  The weather was absolutely fantastic:  highs in the low 80's, sunny and breezy.  Doesn't get any better in my book.  It's hard to believe we were caught in the midst of a sweltering heat wave for much of July, and now in mid-August, I couldn't dream of more pleasant weather.  No sense in trying to make sense of it, just enjoy!  The days of being locked inside, central air conditioning chugging along trying to keep up with the 110 degree heat index are over (for now)!  Woohoo!

And to top it off, we weren't running all around this weekend.  I actually had time to spend at home, working on projects and working in the yard...it was fabulous!  Needless to say, my garden is no longer snarling at me with tarnished blooms, spindly stems and gnarly foliage.  It is looking so trimmed and well-kept that nobody would ever know just days ago it was overgrown and weed-infested.

I should have taken before and after pictures, but I think I was too ashamed.  Here's the first round of clippings from the front sun-loving perennial garden. Now times that by three or four...I know.....bad, right?

Once the garden was under control, I was able to take note of all the splendors it has to offer right now.

I adore this blackberry lily (Belamcanda chinensis).  The sherbet orange blooms flickered with magenta are the perfect foreground to zinnias and deep sangria hue of the persicaria spikes.

I love the way the blooms are tightly twisted before they unfold...so interesting.

 Happy zinnias are in full force and add pops of color to the front border.

Zinnias are great additions for bare areas in full sun.  All I did was scratch in a packet of Renee's 'Cool Crayon Color' zinnias into the soil, water and watch them grow.  Super easy, which falls right in-line with my casual gardening style.  Added bonus:  the blooms are so proliferous you won't feel guilty cutting them to make a gorgeous bouquet!

Speaking of easy-to-grow-from-seed annuals and stellar cut flowers, the cosmo's foliage is thickening and the flowers are starting to open.  My favorite variety this year are these bubble gum pink double flowers called 'Rose Bon Bon.'   I love to watch them sway in the breeze like ladies dancing with ruffled pettiskirts - so adorable. 

Showing resistance to July's heat and drought, 'Knockout' Rose continues to punch out scads of hot pink blossoms - a true fighter (puns totally and shamelessly intended). 

This massive Sedum 'Autumn Joy' is bursting at the seams with buds. 

Hopefully it's spindly legs can withstand the top heavy blooms once they open.   This particular sedum is long overdue for a good dividing.  Just one more thing to tack onto my never-ending fall to-do list.

Finally, there are still some dainty flowers remaining after I hacked away at this aggressive porcelain berry vine.  The flowers aren't that interesting, but their arrival reminds me that the glossy blue and purple berries will soon follow - a welcomed arrival. 

Oh, and one more thing...the not-so-August-like temperatures prompted me to sow a pot of Renee's Wine Country Mesclun Mix.  Sad to think fall is around the corner, but at least I'll have an array of fresh greens to keep the spirit of summer alive.

I'd love to hear from you:  how did you fare in the garden this weekend?