Love Those Begonias

While gardening in hot, humid Kansas City presents its challenges, the various forms of begonias area joy. They seem to thrive in sun and shade, can handle dry conditions and bloom profusely. Where my impatiens ( in deep shade) seem to faint by afternoon despite being watered in the morning, the begonias are happily spreading their charm.

In the last couple of years, I have become a fan of the dragon wing begonia especially. I particularly like the one with deep red blooms. It flourishes in pots and in the ground. While I don't have any in full sun, I have them in half day sun and in deep shade and both are glorious. Adding a diamond frost euphorbia from Proven Winners makes for a beautiful pot.

I often have pot envy as I drive by flourishing pots at commercial establishments because they don't have the one plant that isn't doing well amongst some that have gotten a bit too large. I attribute this largely to constant maintenance by landscaping companies that can switch out plants with full size specimens as problems develop. None the less I would love for mine to look that good all the time too.

I am always on the alert for a pot that I might be able to replicate in my yard. In the meantime, the begonias keep me sane.

What happens to my garden every July?

While my gardens continue to improve each year, there always comes a point - this point - when the reality of Kansas City summer takes its toll on my garden. Through the years I have moved more and more to plants that Kansas State University has proved durable in our heat and humidity and yet I still have unexplained failures. Last fall I completely redid my sun garden taking out all the plants, amending the soil and purposely planting this spring. I say purposely planting because in the past for this particular garden I have tended to plant a potpourri of selections that I found enticing in the garden center but without a plan.

Having been deliberate in my selections this spring, I am disappointed that the marigolds have not flourished and are in danger of dying. The sweet pea seeds came up with gusto but have now dwindled to nothing. And that is just a few of the problems.

My yard is mostly in shade so through the years I am getting closer to success in the shade gardens but this sun garden is a challenge. I thought it would be the easy one. I know gardening involves a lot of trial and error but I had such high hopes.  All of my selections indicated in the postings at the garden center that they would thrive in "our area." Perhaps that does not include my yard.

I started a garden journal complete with pictures this year so this is just more to note. Stay tuned.