Thanks for all your comments on my recent blog posts. I had my second cataract surgery last week. Everything went well, but I haven't quite got back into my normal routines, including replying to your comments and keeping up with your blogs.
I'm currently doing drops of multiple medicines in each eye four times a day and taping a big plastic patch over my latest eye at night. It seems like when I am not doing that, I'm watering the garden.
We only had 1.26" of rain in May and a mere .35" so far this month. Storms just keep slipping by — which is what I expect will happen with tonight's predicted rain. We've had temps into the 90°s and down into the 40°s in recent days. My Epimediums are getting crispy and my lovely Eucomis froze.
More strangeness in this strange spring. Hosta 'Sagae' (above) has leaves growing adjacent to the flower bud at the top of the stem. Don't think I've ever seen this before. Hosta 'Inniswood' in the background.
Despite the erratic weather the garden is looking quite good. I'm not allowed to lift over 20 pounds or bend my head lower than my heart, which means I can't do much in the garden. Certainly not putting in shrubs and hauling my pair of Haws 2 Imperial gallon watering cans around. Can't wait until I get past those restrictions at the end of this week and can resume normal gardening activities.
That garden path is fabulously green and lush, even if the Hosta is displaying a certain level of peculiarity. I don't think I could ever have too many of those beauties.
Best of health and continued recovery. It'd be such joy to fully engage in the garden again.
Posted by: Chavli | Sunday, June 18, 2023 at 09:49 AM
Thanks for the update. The garden will wait for you, though it may offer a little punishment for its perceived neglect. Gardens can always be updated - eyes can be a little trickier.
Posted by: Barbara H. | Sunday, June 18, 2023 at 12:01 PM
Good to hear the surgery went well - recovery sounds like a pain. My husband is scheduled to have both eyes done later in the summer and he is not patient with meticulous routines. Fun to come!
I have a couple older variety hosts who do that tuft of leaves by the (lavender) flower. Maybe some kind of reversion in your case?
Ceci
Posted by: Ceci | Monday, June 19, 2023 at 06:34 AM
CHAVLI — Eyes are doing well and I am doing some weeding and deadheading.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Monday, June 19, 2023 at 10:26 AM
BARBARA — Eyes are doing well. Can't wait until mid-July when I can get a new prescription and have reading glasses that really let me read, compared to "readers" from the drugstore.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Monday, June 19, 2023 at 10:27 AM
That last shot, absolute gorgeous! Here's hoping the days speed by and your return to normal is easy.
Posted by: danger garden | Monday, June 19, 2023 at 12:29 PM
DANGER — Thanks, I was rather taken with it myself. It's nice to have plants that don't require always being on your knees to see them or attend to them.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Monday, June 19, 2023 at 01:16 PM
Yes, your garden looks great. :) I think you got more rain than we did in May (still, not enough when we usually get 4" in May and 5" in June). And now this dry spell with hot weather this week...argh. I'm glad your cataract surgery went well. Here's to continued speedy recovery.
Posted by: Beth@PlantPostings | Monday, June 19, 2023 at 02:52 PM
BETH — It's amazing how many rainstorms are forecast and just keep passing us by.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Monday, June 19, 2023 at 03:02 PM
Glad you are almost past the restrictions and can get gardening again. It has been very dry here too, basicaly less than half an inch for all of May and June. The soil is so dry. How strange that your epimediums are turning crispy as ours usually do well for a month or two without extra water. I wonder if it has to do with the extremes in temperature or if they just aren't as used to dry soil as ours are?
Posted by: Jerry | Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 09:20 AM
Oh, I do hope your eyes are healing up - my Dad is having cataract surgery on Thursday. Your garden is looking beautiful!
Posted by: Tracy | Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 10:34 AM
JERRY — I find it odd that the Epimediums are unhappy as they have been in the garden for years. The ones that seem most bothered by the current weather line the driveway. So it may be the mix of reflected heat and light plus dryness.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 05:13 PM
I’m glad your surgery went well. Mine was 2 weeks ago and it was wonderful to get all restrictions lifted after only 1 week. My doctor said the incisions are now so small that things heal very fast. Modern medicine at its best.
Posted by: Christine | Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at 09:33 AM