Spuria iris, lemon verbena planted

Yesterday planted six spuria iris along the back of the big bed; supposed to reach 5 ft high -- and not supposed to bloom the first year, so since they are said to bloom Sept-Oct. I think (hope) I have only a year to wait. The instructions say fertilize 'em heavily, stop watering if they go dormant, and they love alkaline clay soil. So bless 'em, they should be happy here.

The varieties are: Protege, Hasarya, Art and Soul, Olinda, Megagold and In Depth.

Also today -- in the hundred-degree heat -- we planted two tiny sprigs of 'Tuscan Blue' rosemary and two good-sized starter lemon verbenas, as a souvenir of the Italy trip. Jason loved the herbal tea we were served at the guest house in Tuscany; our hostess showed him the plant and told us it was called 'lippia,' but struggled to come up with its English equivalent. A little Internet searching after we got home revealed it:

Also purchased yesterday 3 bags of corn gluten. Since we can see weeds going to seed in the yard it's clearly time (also the sign outside theGreat Outdoors said it's 'Corn Gluten Time'!) This will be our first year giving it a try and I don't know if we'll need all three bags.