Tuesday, August 10, 2010

My Poor August Garden

Hello Everyone! Am I the only one that has
been waning as the garden wanes down?
I think I need a vitamin E shot or just need to
start Spring over again. LOL!

This time of the year as Fall gets nearer I start
dreading the dying of the flowers and what the
weather ahead will be into winter instead of just enjoying
what is left to bloom yet in the garden.
Seems like I always get a little down at this time of the year.
I enjoy the Fall colors of the leaves and its flowers, don’t
get me wrong, but my mind just is geared some how
to go from August right into winter cold and snow.
I know its my problem and not yours. LOL!
Plus this has to be the hottest summer we have
had for a while but I still am not going to complain about
the heat because of nightmares of last winter.
Even the annuals this year are starting  to look worn
and faded out from the days of heat and high humidity.
The hikes twice a week this summer have left my
daughter and I a little melted on some of those humid,
92 degree days. I am huffing and puffing, red in the
face and then some kids go flying by me jogging and I
want to trip them for all of their energy and stamina. LOL!
To be young again and know what I know now, as the
old phrase goes. 
{Heavy sigh}
Oh well, on to my poor August garden……

BeckyDaisy_Pink

The Becky Shasta Daisies are about done now. There are a few
more buds coming on where they have been trimmed back
and dead headed. The poor pink double blooming impatiens
behind them are looking faded out and may be getting too
much heat and sun to their liking.

BlueIce_RedNicotiana

The  Blue Ice petunias and red Nicotiana have had to have
a drastic cutting back and the planters look worse than I ever
remember for this time of the year.

Anemone_QueenCharlotte2_Aug9

But there is hope in a few new blooms. The Anemones
are starting to bloom and Queen Charlotte is spreading
like crazy and looking pretty in the shade.

 

Anemone_PartyDress_Aug9

But poor Party Dress Anemone is missing some
of her foliage and has shredded leaves from an attack
of beetles. I wish I had taken a picture of the beetles
because I had never saw them before or had a problem
with these ones before. The truth is that I was so
aggravated upon seeing her covered with them and the
damage they had done that I just ran to get the pesticide
to kill the things. They also defoliated my white anemone
too. Those won’t be eating them anymore.
{Insert Clint Eastwood spaghetti western music for effect, LOL!}

Bellflower_White_Aug9

The white and blue Bellflowers are getting a few
new blooms since they were cut back. I will take the
few blooms, grasping at any color now for the beds.
Never try to take a picture of a white bloom in direct sun.
Will the old and forgetful excuse get this picture by you?
Talk about a glaring white Bellflower.

Caladiums2_Aug9

The Caladiums are still looking pretty in the
shade bed beside the front porch.
I am over the “they were suppose to be white and green”
thing now. (Or maybe not )

Dahlia_Seed_Figaro

The dahlias that were grown from seed are still blooming.
This one is from the Figaro seeds and has a double bloom
where the Victoriana’s were single blooms..
Seems that most of the seeded ones that sprouted this
Spring are yellow or white. Is there something about white
and yellow seeds or do they just package more of these colors
to the mixed seeds?

Dahlia_Edinburgh_Aug9

Edinburgh Dahlia is still blooming with its bright, big blooms.
I will not show a shot of the plant because it happens to have
a bed in the middle of it that the little black kitten thinks
is his very own.

PottingBench_TakeOver2 

It is bad enough that they like laying in the flower pots,
amongst other things they tried to do there that I will not mention,
but the three little kittens have taken over my potting bench.
Do you know how many times I have had to straighten up
that pot with the junk and fly swatter in it? A smart person
would have just moved the whole mess rather than keep putting
everything back or used the flyswatter on the kittens. LOL!
Please do not upset the geranium pot!

Dahlia_MaryEveline3

This is a new dahlia for this year. Meet ‘Mary Eveline’.
I just love her wonderful blooms besides she was only
half price this spring.

Dahlia_MaryEveline4

Mary Eveline wanted a profile shot.
Okay maybe I did.

Delphimium2_BlueBird_Aug9

The Blue Bird Delphinium has gotten a new stem
of blue blooms for me. I am saving seeds to grow some
more for the garden. Cannot never get enough of this color
of blue  in my garden.

FancyDress_Petunia_Aug9

Another picture of the Fancy Dress petunia showing yet
another of its different variegations on its blooms.
This petunia has been one surprise after another this summer
and maybe that is a good thing.

 

Gazania_BigKiss_WhiteFlame_Aug9

Gazania Big Kiss White Flame is just now taking off
good. It took forever to get to blooming and I have two
others from seed that have not bloomed yet. Maybe by
Fall they will bloom (or not).
This could deter me from trying to grow them from seeds
again in the future. They are reminiscent of my all summer
until blooming experience with Stock flowers last year.
What a waste of good container space and soil they were.

 

Marigold

What is wrong with this picture?
Besides the fact that I am not a lover of Marigolds I mean.
Well yes, they do grow anywhere but people they just
flat out stink.Just maybe not as much as Datura do though. Yuck!

Marigolds3

What is wrong is that they were suppose to be French
Vanilla Marigolds with white blooms. For the white I could
have put up with the stink, and I could except even the yellow,
but, oh, I hate the color orange and this one is plain ugly.
Another mix up to add to the many surprises this summer
that have showed up in my plant world.

Nepta_Aug9

Now the one plant that has just gotten better this summer
through the hot, dry and humidity is this Walkers Low Nepta.
It is even putting up with the yellow clay on the garage banking
so now I am wondering if in the end it will take over the world
since they will grow in my dirt. Scary.

PEntas_BS3_Aug9

This is the first year that I have grown Penta’s and I am
really liking them and so do all of the little winged critters.
Maybe I like them more because they are taking up the slack
in the planters just now .

Pentas_BS_White

The white penta is just starting to bloom after a slow start.

SweetPea_Aug9

The Sweet Peas just have a few blooms left. The blooms
were few and late this year because of some garden person
who is always moving plants decided to move them after they
painted the garden shed. Not naming names though LOL!

 

Pulmonaria_DianaClare_Leaves

Diana Clare Pulmonaria wanted to show off her frosty
textured leaves. I love this flower so much not only for its
weeks of blooms in the spring but for its wonderful foliage
all summer long.

 
Limerock_Rubt_Coreopsis_Aug9 

Coreopsis Limerock Ruby got another flush of blooms
after her hair cut. I really love this coreopsis and I will
have my fingers crossed this winter in hopes that she
is a little protected in her spot in the bed and will survive
to come back next year.
One can always dream or save the seeds.

AdonisPhlox_Aug9

The Adonis pink tall phlox has a few smaller blooms after
it was deadheaded. I have had to fight mildew on the phlox
and Bee balm all summer.It has been a very bad summer for it.
The Bee balm looks so bad that I am thinking of moving it to the
woodland bed and do something different in that bed.
Plants that do not grow well are finding themselves demoted
and living in the woodland bed. If it keeps going my woodland
garden is going to be HUGE!

Monarda_Petite_Aug8 
In fact the only bee balm that I have that has not gotten
mildew is the Pink Petite which keeps getting blooms as it
is deadheaded. It may end up being the only one left in that
flower bed by next year. I did forget though  that I just planted a new Raspberry monarda there and I am watching it for signs of mildew on its leaves as it gets settled in. Does anyone grow
this Raspberry one and does it suffer from mildew too?
I hope I do not have to move it to the  woods.

Petunia_BlueIce_Aug9

So there is still some faded colors and a couple of new ones
in the garden but it is looking sad in the garden around here
and drooping fast now along with this gardener.
To you who have still wonderful blooms because you have
planned your gardens much better, well, I am just jealous
and will have to enjoy your blooms.

Until The Next Time
Happy Gardening Everyone,
Lona

24 comments:

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Lona ~ I think your August flowers are beautiful. The photography is wonderful. I would be sad too, living where you do, knowing that this years' garden is about over. Enjoy the beauty you still have and start planning your garden for next year.

August heat and humidity is horrible and we still have September to go through too. This morning though, while working in my main garden I felt a hint of autumn coming, even though I was sweating, there was just something in the air to let me know it was on the way.



Hugs ~ FlowerLady

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Lona,ditto on everything you said. We are just melting again this week - the humidity is terrible.

Your flowers look great and that Fancy Dress petunia is a must look for next year. I could barely stand to go out and water today.

Eileen

Terry said...

I know how you feel, but there's still so much to enjoy in the garden before the snow flies! Gotta enjoy it before it's gone! LOL

Bren Haas said...

yes it is super hot Lona... but you know if we keep giving the garden some love today she will surly bounce back up in September!
I love the new dahlia you shared. I'm totally into those this year and I am going to load up next year after seeing how easy they were to start in my greenhouse and enjoy early summer big blooms.

Wonderful shares - your garden makes OHIO proud!!!

Anonymous said...

Dear Lona, I understand what you mean about feeling sad as the drama of high summer comes to an end. But, for me, I do so love the quieter days of September when everything takes on a mellowness and the frantic pace of summer is left behind. You have so much colour in your garden still and the Dahlias are looking very good indeed. Personally, I always look forward to the arrival of the Japanese Anemones which I think to be so beautiful.

Sunita Mohan said...

For a garden that is supposed to be worn out, yours is filled with gorgeous blooms. Imagine what it would be like with the vitamins, though! ;D

debsgarden said...

Lona, I am jealous of all your blooms. And I am so sad because the pulmonaria I loved is melting away with the heat and humidity! I hope it will return again! That is what often happens. Plants look great in spring and early summer, only to perish in July and August. i love fall and am eagerly awaiting its arrival. Plants and people both perk up then!

BTW. I would never take a fly swatter to those cute kitties!

Jane Doe said...

You have so many flowers blooming and they're all so lovely, but I the pink anemone, Queen Charlotte, is so dainty and sweet. I recently took a photo of one and I had no idea what it was, so thanks! I learned something today!

As for summer, it's been so hot, I'm ashamed to admit that I'm ready for autumn in all it's Indian summer of blazing colors.

Have a wonderful evening!

Jeannie B. said...

Well!!!! What a wonderful garden you have with all those pretty flowers and yet say you have few blooms in this August heat!! I love your flowers. My sister lives in Cleveland and she says she needs the winter to rest. She couldn't keep up with a garden all year round. Me, I am so happy to have anything in bloom!

A Garden of Threads said...

I am also waning this time of the year, my lovely petunias in pots are giving up. I have even put two hanging baskets in the compost. The summer flowers are all finished and the fall sedums and ornamental grasses have not flowered yet. I find this a difficult time in the garden I am tired of the heat. Take care and happy gardening.

Darla said...

I love the fancy dress petunia! We are entering the transition stage of gardening aren't we?

Balisha said...

Oh, how I wish that my garden looked so good.Enjoy the heat today :) Balisha

Joe Todd said...

Talk about hot. I don't even want to golf in this LOL.. Finally picked the last of the peaches going to make some peach butter today. I was going to go down to Clear Creek but I think it is to hot.. Maybe this coming Ohio winter will be mild.. One can hope

Happy@Home said...

When I lived in Michigan I felt the same way about fall coming because we all knew that meant a long winter. Here in NC the summers are so hot and humid that I can't wait for fall.
Your flowers look beautiful to me. Your photography is stunning.

Kimberly said...

Lona, perhaps the garden is starting to droop in the big picture (afterall, it is hot out there!) but your macros are spectacular! That Mary Eveline dahlia is truly beautiful!! Nice new addition!! I'm also a fan of Gazanias. So brilliant and cheerful!

Patsy said...

your flowers that are in bloom are just lovely.
I wanted to ask you about my Gayfeather it is not in bloom now any I supposed to cut it back?
Patsy

Annelie said...

You crack me up.
I'm sitting here sweating and see the youngsters before me that you describe jogging by in the heat. I laugh because the evil thought of tripping them widely entertains me.
And I love how you just flat out say that you don't like marigolds and find the orange ones flat out ugly. Can't help it, but I find it refreshing with people who speak their mind.

Best,

Annelie

Anonymous said...

Lona, I know exactly what you mean. We've had such a hot, dry summer here that many flowers that would normally still be blooming are done, and those that are blooming look tired and droopy (which makes me feel exactly the same way). I think we get spoiled in June and July when we have a sense of our gardens as coherent compositions. The trick to enjoying this time of year is probably to get back to that tunnel vision of early spring, when you just ooh and ah over the thing that is blooming and ignore the rest! -Jean

RURAL said...

I hear you, I think we gardeners need constant change. And we are always looking forward to seeing the next "big" thing. Now it is the change in the weather....

Jen
Muddy Boot Dreams

Stephanie said...

Hi Lona, love to see those gazanias. I have brought home one (nope didn't start from seed) last month. The flower spent so fast. After a rain the plant is now down to just leaves ;-( Btw, sometimes we have yellow gazanias here. They look as wonderful.

I notice you have a pretty red nicotiana there. The little flower looks really cool in front of the petunia. Love your anemones also... the pink is so sweet.

Noelle Johnson said...

Your garden is just lovely and doesn't look like it is waning. I love the pink anemone. Orange is not my favorite color either. I bet the white marigolds are beautiful....maybe for next year?

Anonymous said...

Hi Lona-dear, Catherine was just lamenting the same thing--the waning mood for gardening. I believe it comes with the territory and is a passing phase and with the weather you've had, who can blame you for being tired? I'm tired just thinking about it.

I love that the Jap. anemones start blooming later. Mine should be popping soon too. Beautiful shot of the Queen. :)

I know what you mean about the Caladiums. Not what you expected but stunning nonetheless.

Love your potting bench and Blackie is just adorable sitting there all high and mighty just waiting for you to love on her/him. You just keep that fly swatter relegated towards the flies. Cats are a lot like kids and just do what they gotta do. :)

All the photos look great despite the heat and exhaustion of their caretaker. Even though I'm not a diehard fan of the typical petunias I especially love the 'Fancy Dress.'

Take care. I'm wishing you a cool-down for your remaining summer days.

Bonnie said...

Even with the heat your flowers are amazing!

Lynn said...

Your garden is gorgeous. Especially your echinacea and Anemone. The almost 100 degree temps here is baking everything and I am so looking forward to cooler temps.