Frustration

Why are the periwinkles dying? Seriously, they are supposed to love our weather. Maybe I am not stressing them enough. They grow on my mother's patio where they get no TLC for heaven's sake. I planted a few replacement plants last Sunday and they are not really thriving. This is the point at which new plants don't seem to take hold very well. I know the philosophy is try things and if they don't work, yank them out and put something else in. But that only works when the new plant thrives. Pardon my frustration. I have one empty spot where the 4 o'clock seeds have been a disappointment so I am not giving up. I know bedding plants by now are stressed most places so I am only looking at nurseries to improve my chances of success. I think I also will add some root stimulator when I plant them. I don't as a rule do that with bedding plants but strong action is required.

I have some oriental lilies coming up but they have a long way to go. They were in the bargain bin so I am not sure what kind of show they will put on. Maybe not much until next year.

Glorious Morning

It's inspiring to sit outside this morning, in an incredibly comfortable adirondack chair (www.kcadirondack.com) and enjoy a slight coolness after such a hot stretch. The gardens are looking beautiful so it's a great view. I am sitting with my cat Zoe on my lap (that never happens - it must be a magical morning) and trying different settings on my camera to see which will give me the best depiction of the garden view. The first here is the auto setting. I then tried foliage and backlighting.


As for my garden, I had to remove the last lobelia plant. They all have expired now. Such a shame because I do love that color. I also had to remove a couple of dead periwinkles, which surprised me because they are usually sturdy choices. I have to say that the various begonias are winning so far.

Feeding

I am not as conscientious a gardener when it gets hot and mosquitos get busy. However, this year I am trying to be more kind to my flowers. As part of that commitment, I also am on a schedule to feed my plants every two weeks to see if that makes a difference. Despite the heat and humidity already this morning, I fed every pot and all the bedding plants. I expect to see the most difference in the bedding plants as many of the containers already have slow release plant food in them. As part of my effort, I also am trying a different fertilizer - Miracle Gro for Blooming plants. The spring planted violets are done now. They lasted a long time, though, due to the cool, wet weather. I already had placed new plants next to them in the pots to smooth the transition.

Tiny Holes

Once again, tiny holes are appearing all over my hosta leaves. I thought it might be slugs but I put out my anti-slug stuff and that doesn't seem to have had an effect. I never see the creature but it doesn't enhance the beauty of my hostas. So far, all the hostas are thriving. I am giving a little TLC to a couple of them. One that was robust last year has about 4 tiny leaves and I am trying to encourage it back to health. It was suggested that it might be having to work too hard to get moisture as it is under a large tree so I am giving it supplemental water. But really, after the first year I was hoping hostas would be virtually maintenance free. So holes and thirst? I have been misinformed, I believe. However, as they are pretty and good plants for shade, I will continue to nurture them.

Scorching!

I have had to water pots in the morning and the evening as we continue to teeter around the 100 degree mark. Most things recover with watering. I think the Lobelia have cried "uncle." They are such a beautiful blue but the tiny flowers do not like the heat. I admire anyone who can keep them thriving in this heat. But the good news is that so far, they are the only casualty. Obviously the impatiens are stressed but I went light on them this year so fewer to baby. And if these temperatures are any indication, I am glad I did.

The smartpot plants are doing quite well. They are planted with Moonflowers and I am excited by the idea of keeping them thriving to bloom time. Something that hasn't happened the last several years. I love the big white blooms in the twilight and the fragrance.

Challenging Heat

With temperatures in the high 90s this week, my garden will get a real test. So far the begonias - both Dragon Wing and the basic bedding variety (I probably should find a better description) are holding their own. After careful consideration, the two varieties make up the bulk of my planting. I have a few impatiens in pots and some dianthus scattered in the beds. I am pleased with the look of the newly renovated bed in the yard so far but it needs to fill in more. The lilies we planted are barely out of the ground. In another year, they likely will be in full bloom at this point.

I am very disappointed so far with the cannas. Those started from tubers are barely up. They ones I bought already at prime size are holding up well in the pots.

Coming next, an update on the pots.

Planting Is Done!

I believe I have all of the gardens planted. Again I am having on begonias because I want to see some success. Then I will become for adventuresome. I am prepared to pull out anything that isn't working instead of feeling sorry that it isn't thriving. I am seeing the first shoots from the caladiumand the canna roots. The moonflowers are starting to peak out of the soil. Very exciting. And the pansies have not started to fade yet.

Smart Pots

I am experimenting with a new type of pot I read about. The Smart Pots (www.smartpots.com)are made of fabric and come flat. You fill them with soil and plant them and then can put them inside a pot, arrange them on a patio or set them in the garden where they will draw moisture from the ground. I have placed two in places in my garden where I have trouble with tree roots, making it hard to create a good growing environment but where I would like to add a plant. I also like the idea that they fold away flat. They are a little tricky to fill as they keep wanting to collapse. In this pot, I have planted moonflowers. I love moonflowers but since moving to this house with all the trees, I have not been able to get them started. So a two for one experiment - testing the Smart Pots and attempting a new location for moonflowers.

Planted!

The renovation garden has been cleared and planted with some annuals and some oriental lilies. We had to move some hostas so they may not be happy. Hopefully they will just be glad to be able to breathe without all the honeysuckle taking the light and the air. We planted begonias and dianthus. Both seem to be very tolerant of our weather and my gardening skills and will provide some color while I contemplate what enhancements to make with perennials in the fall. As you can see, the plantings look very sparse but I am hoping water and food will provide a decent showing. I found out the area gets less sun than it used to as the trees have grown so I had to re-think a few of my ideas. This is when your imagination really has to be strong. Otherwise, you feel that you went to a whole lot of work and it doesn't look like anything. Stay tuned.

Dragon Wing Begonias

After much success with these beauties last summer, I am planting them again to add color when it gets so hot that impatiens begin losing their luster even with constant watering. I have again planted the deep red blooming begonias in pots but also branched out and planted them in a planter in front of our front door. I am excited about the possibility of that bed having some actual punch. The hostas have been nice but the color is a welcome possibility. I also bought a couple of the dragon wing begonias with pink blooms for pots. Maybe I will like them as well as the red.

The garden before any work. Half way through removal of the honeysuckle.

Hacking through the Honeysuckle

I started pulling out the honeysuckle that has crossed over from my neighbor's yard and engulfed one of my gardens. For whatever reason - mosquitoes, heat, something - I gave up on the garden last year. But I am trying again. This is a space with enough sun to grow something besides hostas and other shade lovers so it's my opportunity to expand my selections. Yeah!

So Much Rain

With all the rain the past week, I haven't been able to start my renovation or to even plant in the garden that I restarted last growing season. But then again, we aren't supposed to be safe to plant in Kansas City until Mother's Day and that's another week. I have however been buying a few plants. I am primed once the ground dries out a bit.

A New Year, A Clean Slate

It's spring and time to start contemplating what to plant in my pots and my garden so I have beautiful flowers by the time it's too hot to even consider doing anything but sitting and looking at the beds. I am determined to succeed. I already have planted some pots with my favorite for Kansas City summers, begonias.