Catching up with my garden

I hate to leave my garden in June even for a lovely family reunion. All I could think about as we drove away was all the blooms I might miss, to say nothing of the storms and wacky weather that might happen while I was gone. I brought my potted plants onto the deck and filled up a bunch of watering cans so my neighbor could easily douse the plants if we didn't get any rain while I was away. 

We were gone 8 days and got a little over 2 inches of rain, so clearly we are still in this extremely wet weather pattern. The leaves on my beautiful new dwarf columnar Carpinus are starting to turn yellow and I think it's from being in a pot sitting in a saucer that keeps getting full of rain water. I'm going to plant this tiny treasure in the ground now rather than later in the season, which I hope will help it maintain its youthful vigor.

The kids had a great time playing in the garden while I was away. This is the downside of moss gardening: someone is always looking for grubs and other bugs under my velvet carpet.

Somebody jumped off the highest fence onto the Kirengeshoma after they'd dive-bombed the Synellisis (shredded umbrella leaf), leaving both of them bowed to the ground. Then they kicked up the pine needles from one end of the path to the other — after they'd dislodged one of the old logs marking the edge of the path. They do go crazy when I'm not around to yell at them.

I'm going to dig out and discard all my Stella d'Oro daylilies and redo this street-side bed. I was concerned that the daylilies I want to retain might bloom and be done before I got back. I need not have worried as they are all just starting to flower. 

I've been putting big id tags close by the flowers I want to move into other locations, so I will know who is who if there are no flowers to guide me. I'm hoping to attack this redesign project next week, unless we hit temps in the 90s again. There are a lot of problem plants that have found a home here like that baby black walnut tree (above) that all need to be dug out as well. 

Most of my Asiatic lilies are just beginning to open, including this variety called 'Apricot Fudge'. Its flowers are described as more rose-like than lily-like and I think that is true. I loved the images of this in the catalogs and online. But I do not like it in person at all. I guess I'm not too old to be taught a lesson about the difference between pictures of flowers and the plants themselves. 

 

 

Comments

[Kristin]

I'm looking forward to seeing it in person tomorrow! I did a quick run through my MIL's garden, but they live just above a wetland, and the mosquitoes are terrible.

[Barbara H.]

I'm glad your flowers waited for you. We've had a rainy but hot and humid summer down here. I'm grateful for the rain but the weeds are taking off. I, too, want to move some plants and also plant some in pots but have been holding off for fear of a dry summer. I might have to just go ahead and do it.

[Peter/Outlaw]

Those darned kids really did a number on your garden with no one to yell at them. It's nice that you didn't miss out on the daylily blooms. Eight days away from the garden in the summer is a long time!

[Rae Kaiser]

Where are these kids parents? Or maybe they don’t care. 😥

[Lisa at Greenbow]

It is difficult to be away during summer. Everything grows and goes so fast, especially the blooms. Those darned kids. They will be sorry now that you are back.

[Beth @ PlantPostings]

Oh, I know what you mean about leaving the garden--any time during the growing season! This year isn't too bad because if the ample rain, but still.... Anyway, I'm glad you didn't miss the lilies and the other beautiful blooms.