Decided What To Plant in my Bare Spot

I took Dianne's suggestion and bought some Lobelia 'Queen Victoria' (red cardinal flower). I stopped at the local nursery after work today to see if they had any and they did. They only had small 4" pots and the plants looked a bit dried out, but I bought 2 anyway. We don't have many places to purchase plants in my town, so I have to take what I can get. I especially like the dark purple foliage. The two I bought are not in bloom, but the flowers should be scarlet red.

I have not planted them yet because I just got home from getting my nails done, so I can't be digging in the dirt for at least a couple of hours. I get my nails done every other Tuesday. By the next day I am already digging in the dirt! I do wear heavy latex gloves, but still I always get dirt under the nails. It is very difficult to have decent-looking hands when you garden.

I had a full day today. Got to work at 6:15 a.m. and left at 9:00 a.m. to go to a meeting with my boss in a town 1.5 hours away. We got back to our hotel at 3:00 p.m. and I ran home and changed my clothes and went to the nursery and then to the nail salon. Finally got home at 5:15 p.m.

I see all the plants are in need of water, so I have to do that yet tonight. It was so much easier and more fun to get all of this done when I was not working every day.

While I was at work today we got a little rain storm with some pretty high winds. It did not last more than half an hour. It has been so long since we have had rain that I forgot the havoc it can cause with the plants. I came home to an overturned pot on the deck and this mess of fallen flowers around the basement windows. Luckily there are only 3 or 4 areas that look this bad.

One Man's Junk Becomes My Treasure

I acquired a new container when my boss decided to do some basement cleaning. Can you believe he was tossing this little wooden slatted beauty? I like it because it is unobtrusive and a nice height. He never throws anything away without asking me if I want it. He is quite a treasure-trove of goodies.

Hostas in Rockwall Garden

The hostas are doing well in the rockwall garden. I have not sprayed with the deer repellent in almost two weeks, so will have to remember to do that in the next day or two.

Drumstick Allium

A little while ago I posted a picture of this with green drumstick alliums. They have now turned their pinky-purple color.

Isn't It Beautiful?

No, not the flower itself--the RAINDROPS on it! Yes, it is finally starting to rain. I am settling in for the afternoon to hem some pants I bought today. There are two problems to being short (I am 5'1"):

#1 - I have to hem everything I buy
#2 - You have to eat less because there is no place for the extra pounds to go

Number 2 hit hard today. I bought some capri pants in a petite size that I normally buy. When I got them home, they were too tight. Must be all that ice cream I have been eating.

Variety is the Spice of Life

It seems like many of us are in the mood to change our gardens. Recently I was reading Sandy's blog and Kasmira's blog and both were doing the same thing I did today--digging up, moving, throwing away...all around changing things. It happens to me every year. I just walk thru the gardens and suddenly decide that I cannot stand it another minute.

That happened at 6:30 a.m. this morning as I walked by this area. I grabbed my shovel and dug out all of the orange daylilies in this area. I filled two wheelbarrows. It was a hot, sweaty task as we had 93% humidity this morning. . . still no rain...but I am confident that Dianne is still doing her "rain chant" for me and it should be coming later this afternoon.

So Now What Do I Plant in this Big Bare Spot?

One Load on the Compost Heap

Rudbeckia Hirta 'Autumn Colors'

I bought a new black-eyed Susan last week. It is Rudbeckia hirta 'Autumn Colors'. I have masses of black-eyed Susans, but they are all just the yellow variety. These colors just caught my eye.

Coleus 'The Flume'

My coleus chair is beginning to look nice. I planted a new (new to my area) sun coleus hybrid called 'The Flume'. It is one of the 'proven winners' selection, described as "bold, saber-shaped foliage with bright burgundy and a green border with a brilliant pink center." I like it quite well, although I do hope it gets about a foot taller. It says it gets from 12 - 24". So far it is a bit less than the 12".

Magical Change

Do you remember the bright orange poppy area I posted in early June? Click here to refresh your memory. Then look below to see this same area this morning. It is now totally different - all pastels, silver, pink and white (you can't see the silver Artemisia in this pic). This area gets no extra water or care. I just cut down the poppies and it turns to this all on its own
(I might pull an occasional weed or two).


Aren't perennials wonderful?

I planted this bee balm last fall. I think it is called petite pink delight. This is as tall as it gets. I hope it spreads like most bee balm does. I really like it and would not mind having a lot more of it.

Early Saturday morning on my walk.

We still have not had a drop of rain and it has been near or above 90 all week. I have watered only the areas in the gardens that were desperate. I just have too much to water it all. Right now every area is desperate. There is a slight chance of a thunderstorm tonight and 50 percent chance tomorrow. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Today I went to 'Art on the Bay' which is an arts and crafts show on the shores of Lake Huron. I did not buy a thing and really did not even get any good ideas for projects of my own. I used to do a lot of artsy crafty things, but in the past few years I have done nothing much expect for quilting.

I also did a little tidying up in the rock wall garden. I even moved a couple of hostas and a heuchera. This is really not the best time to do that, but I never pay attention to when the most opportune time is.

The deck plants are doing well. I have spent all my free time the past week making sure they got water, deadheading, etc. I am really tired of watering. They need to be watered right now, but I think I am going to gamble that it will rain tonight. I just don't feel like dragging out the hose and water buckets. I am sure the ligularia is out there sulking like crazy because it has not been watered for more than 24 hours. It is a real PAIN to keep them happy.

Don't you think the foliage on this canna is wonderful? I must say, I love this plant. Even if it never flowered, I would plant it for the foliage alone. Speaking of flowering, I wonder if it ever will bloom this year? Still no sign of a flower stalk.

I am really liking the foliage contrasts in this arrangement -- Persian Shield, variegated morning glory, dusty miller and coleus. These are two pots side by side. Wish I had more time to blog, but have to get to work.

Something to look forward to this afternoon.By the time I get home from work this dahlia should be fully open.

Look at this--the ligularia I planted last month is blooming! I have been dragging the hose to this area every other day and it has paid off.