The Balloon Flowers are starting to bloom again!  And it's time to start sowing seeds indoors for the fall.  I started with Bachelor Button seeds from dead blooms out front.  Not all seeds germinate so I put multiple seeds in each of the 40 cells.  I also planted 24 Sun King Hybrid Broccoli seeds. Lettuce to follow in a week or two.  Bees absolutely love the Purple Heart Jew!  Caught one in the photo below.  The Gerbera Daisies are hanging in there … but daily watering is a must in the 95 to 99 degree August heat!

I've been buying White Wedding Zinnia seeds from Burpee for a number of years now.  I planted 60 seeds on April 19th indoors under grow lights.  I should have transplanted the young seedlings into the garden by May 31st.  I didn't do so until July 5th … as I was just a bit preoccupied picking tomatoes & cucumbers as well as caring for my daylilies.  They looked awful when I planted them … very spindly … with the bottom two layers of leaves all shriveled up.  But with some tender loving care (adding a mixture of cow manure & organic mulch to the soil before planting) and daily watering with several feedings of Miracle Grow, they're looking pretty good today … should have a thick blanket of white blooms in the next 7 to 10 days.  The Zinnias are surrounded by a border of Bachelor Buttons whose little purple blooms will begin to show up soon.  see pics below.

Oh … and as long as you keep them well watered, the Gerbera Daisies continue to bloom in the 95 degree plus heat.  I cut back the Purple Heart Jew … as you can see … it just came back stronger & thicker!  In the morning, the bees are all over their tiny pink flowers.