We’ve been having intermitent rains so the lawn and gardens are lush. The weekend is predicted to be dry so we may get the grass mowed. Here are my six on the second day of summer.
- The monarda is in bloom. This one was called Raspberry Wine. It is prone to mildew but I love the color of the blooms.
2. I experimented with agapantha last winter. Some were in the ground and some were in a pot outside. The potted plant froze to mush and went into the compost. The plants in the ground froze to the ground but came back and I have three stalks getting ready to bloom.
3. My self-seeding cleomes are beginning to bloom in a garden in front of the house. Some are still growing in the gravel drive next to this bed and may get transplanted if I find the time. The volunteers required thinning and moving some to bare areas. I love that these come back every year.
4. Some vegetables in large pots are thriving. Several baby zuchinnis are visible as are Tiren paste tomatoes — a new variety I raised from seed. I have one whole bed at the local community garden devoted to tomatoes. Last year’s crop was a bust so I am hoping for a better yield this year. I always lose my zuchinni’s to borers so maybe the plant in a pot will fare better.
5. I have seven pots of red twig dogwoods growing roots for fall planting in my “wet” garden. They had been rooting in water since I cut the dogwoods back in March.
6. A flowering stalk on a Bottlebrush Buckeye. This one is going to be planted in my friend and writing partner’s garden. It will colonize and I have no room for it.
That’s my six on this first Saturday of the summer. #lovemygarden. The SoS meme was started by The Propogator, a UK gardener. This is the link to the rules if you’d like to join in. I learn something every week from the gardeners who participate.
That may be my favorite color of monarda, Mala. Very pretty!
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Superb monarda! Like March, I love its color.
I am pleasantly surprised that your agapanthus has already recovered with flower spikes while it was “dead” this winter. Mine must wait 2 or 3 years well protected not to lose too much their leaves and after they bloom. Maybe a great spring helped
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Red twig dogwood can really get aggressive. I cut back a bunch of it two winters ago. I am pleased that it did not regenerate as quickly as expected. Much of it was removed. It was just too jungly. We want some to stay where it looks good, and for the quail. Otherwise, It is just more work than I need. It is the native sort. As compelling as the garden varieties are, I will not be tying any here.
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It’s one of the things that survives in the section of my garden that oftens stays wet. I agree it is jungly, but the red twigs are nice in the winter when there is little other color. The first time I rooted some and planted it, the rabbits ate them all to the ground.
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Most of ours that were actually planted are along a stream that gets rather swampy. Ironically, they were planted for quail, but quail avoid damp spots.
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I SO want to try monardia, of any color, though.
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Our humidity on the east coast makes it very prone to mildrew and it looks draggy by mid summer. I should think it would do well in CA.
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I remember that they are more popular farther south. I do not know why they are not as popular here. I have seen them, but never bothered to grow any just yet. Yes, they are happy here.
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