Spring Visions, Summer Realities

16 years ago

The black and blue salvias were a great disappointment. They grew large, and attracted hummingbirds, but the blooms just didn't show up well from a distance. I guess direct light from 9 to 2 just wasn't enough. The ancient at Rainbow Gardens tried to tell me they wouldn't do well, but I thought I knew better. The cigar plants also had to come out. Way too leggy, along with the betony. Never saw a hummingbird go near the cigar plants. I've replaced them with firecracker plants, which are growing rapidly, but haven't bloomed much yet. Time will tell. The Philippine Violet has become something of a brooding giant, towering above all else in the bed, but disdaining to bloom. I read it blooms well in October. It had better. The cedar sage and calylophus are taking a rest, after blooming their hearts out. The big surprise was the Blackfoot daisy, now well over a foot tall and a yard wide. It has bloomed profusely, and shows no sign of slowing down. The Mexican heather is doing well, as is the bicolor iris. The plumbago, as expected, is outperforming.

The dwarf Chinese fringe plants I put in are holding their color well, but I see that some of the regular fringe plants in the neighborhood are turning a sickly lime green. The new altheas are blooming well, and growing nicely. The pavonia is blooming, but is afflicted with powdery mildew, which I expect will be an ongoing hassle. Three of the four bamboo roots I dug up alongside a country road have rooted well, and are putting out a lot of new growth.

Haven't been here much of late, owing to my Ahab-like obsession wih the Great Striped Bass. Hope your toil is being rewarded.

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Comments (4)

holleygarden Zone 8, East Texas
16 years ago
I have yet to plant some of the plants I bought. "Plant murderer" keeps running through my head.

My asters are in too much shade. My new althea has completely defoliated. Not sure if it needs more water, or less. My asiatic lilies were a beautiful surprise. My camillias haven't died. My azaleas, as usual, are unhappy. I just don't have what it takes with them. I keep trying, but I've never had happy azaleas.

My new roses look good. I'm a little worried about the goldenrod I planted. It came as part of a planting 'package' and I started to throw it out, but DH said go ahead and plant it. Do you think it will become an invasive weed? My catmint looks great, my blanket flowers are gorgeous, and my coneflowers look fantastic.

My garden always looks better in my dreams. Maybe one day the vision and the reality will align. That's the goal, anyway!
pjtexgirl
16 years ago
Yellow plants just aren't working for me this year.My coreopsis was invaded by flea beetles by the bzkillions. I ended up having to use it as a trap plant and toss it. It was the yellow in my plan so the beds were very dull. My Esperanza died in the cold despite my efforts to protect it this winter. I think my copper canyon daisy is in too much shade as it has thin blooms. My heirloom tomato hates me. My pergola is going to have to be reinforced on one side to support the giant rose I put on it,but at least we have a couple years to get around to it.
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Lynn Marie
16 years ago
Hmm. I planted a bulb bed that was supposed to have something blooming all year long. It is a dirt garden now! Usually marigolds are great in this heat, but this year they've been a disappointment. Maybe because they are YELLOW???
piksi_hk
16 years ago
The earliest blooms were the orlaya grandiflora which self-sowed everywhere and now there are zillions of seeds ready to be harvested (anyone need some?). Of course, the bluebonnets were lovely.

Esperanza is tall and lanky, no blooms yet. Had several NOID lilies bloomed and had colorful surprises.
The coneflowers and black-eyed susans are still in bloom.
A surprise bloomer is the rudbeckia triloba but it came up in the wrong place - one of my new favorite. The spiderworts bloomed and is now starting to bloom again. A few of the lovely gloriosa lilies bloomed.
And now the crinums are heating up...white, pink, and dark pink.

The scabiosa sown from seeds, only two came up, has died.
Sowed numerous variety of seeds but few came up...so disappointing: marigolds, zinnias, sunflowers, etc.

Pulled up two cherry tomato plants that were turning brown.
The other veggies are struggling.