Nearing the end of August, I find that, more than ever, my mood shifts from one of "Wow, my garden kicks ass!" to "Wow my garden is a pile of poop."
Because there are always a boat-load of improvements that need to be made and many of them involve moving plants around which I can't really safely do yet, I'm forced to just grin and enjoy the imperfections.
And do the deadheading.
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My wheelbarrow is full, more often than it's empty. |
But even though many plants are finishing up, others are just getting started.
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Kaffir Lily (Schizostylis Hesperantha coccinea) |
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All my red hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) are finishing up when,
out pops a dark burgundy-black beauty! |
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Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum) with a Phlox (P. paniculata) |
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A red Hardy Lobelia is beloved by both me and the bee!
(L. x speciosa 'Tania') |
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This pink hardy Lobelia is also a pretty thing. |
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This Lobelia is planted below my towering Seven-Sons Flower which,
I'm afraid is what the bees prefer. |
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The sound of bees buzzing near the Seven Son's Flower (Heptacodium miconioides)
is deafening. And lovely. |
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I cut my Tamarix ramosissima back hard and lookie the blossoms! |
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My Rosa 'Jeanne LaJoie' is blooming again. |
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Salvia 'Amistad' is gaining girth. |
And now for some garden shots.
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Red Four O'Clocks, Pink-flowering Sedums and Daboecia cantabrica 'Waley's Red' |
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Fuchsias and Thalictrum 'Hewitt's Double' |
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And the same area from the opposite angle
The peachy colored blossom is Canna 'Freckles' |
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Sedum spectabile 'Autumn Joy' is about to color up. |
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Kind of messy here.... |
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One of my new rusty finds this summer... a small vintage cultivator
and Coreopsis 'Mercury Rising' |
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Here is one of the three watermelons on this humble bramble of a bush.
The record-breaking heat has been good for something. |
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The 'Tri-Star' strawberries have really done well this year.
The secret, we've learned, is to not let the soil dry out.
Don't ask me about our water bill. |
How is your gardening mood?