Mid July and still growing

We've still seen almost no rain, and today we had temperatures in the 90's! That's really hot when you're this close to the sun! I think we are likely breaking some records for high temperatures. Even the wildlife is seeking refuge from the sun and heat under our porch.

Following are some pictures of my flower garden on July 17th, just a little over a month from the June posting. The garden color was predominately purple and now some white and yellow flowering plants are adding a much needed contrast. This is about the time that the blooming will really begin.
The Lovage is over 6 feet tall, and the Sibirian Catmint is well over waist high and is so big around I had to cut it back today to keep it from suffocating neighboring plants! Who would have thought I would ever have to worry about plants getting too big and full!? The Maximillian Sunflowers at the back of the upper garden are waist high and you can't even see the Iris anymore, which turns out to be alright since the Iris have finished blooming.
I'm noticing I need to reposition some plants next spring...the large Delphinium is blocking the Virginia Creeper and Silver Lace Vine from getting adequate sun to really take off. They are completely hidden behind the Delphinium (hence the ladder for them to grow up). There are many others that need some shifting around...yeah!

Delphinium...can't even see the Virginia Creeper or Silver Lace Vine growing directly behind

Finally, more than purple blooms!

I also have weeds or maybe not? I put down so many seeds in May and June, seeds and plants new to me, that I'm not sure what is what out there. So, I'm pulling what I'm certain are weeds and then watching and waiting. This wasn't a good year for seeds...so hot and dry.

Baby's Breath grown from seed

I wasn't sure whether the soaker hoses would do an adequate job of watering but they are keeping the ground underneath the mulch wet and nothing has dried out completely. On really hot days like today I find the Lovage, Siberian Cat Mint and Cone flowers limp with leaves hanging on the ground, so I water them with the hose and they bounce back. I am definitely buying more soaker hoses next year so that every area has one. Makes watering so much easier.

The sunflowers have really made a growth spurt! I have strawberries bearing fruit and the rhubarb looks like it could be pulled next year. I thought my potato plants didn't make it, but I see I have 4 healthy plants.

The sunflowers were sown from seed a month ago and are now waist high. Will it stay warm enough for them to reach maturity?

As we near the end of July I have to remind myself that summer and the growing season isn't over.  I head back to work full time in a week. I only have the remainder of this week to play and enjoy my gardens and then I am only a gardener on weekends.

Hoping August will bring us some rain!