I had better research more tropical plants, and I do like tropicals, but I never thought I would be thinking of them as a major part of my gardening. Take a look at the dahlias that I planted in the veggie garden - lush and large because they have a deep reservoir of water to draw on. The ones in the baskets and hayracks look pitiful.
Both of these dahlias are in the veggie garden. The rest that I pulled out of the hayracks still look pretty bad!
Daylilies have weathered it all, rain, heat, humidity. I have ordered some early and late ones to plant for next year. I am also going to order more oriental lilies as they bloomed beautifully not even noticing the extreme weather. I will not do hibiscus (annual) next year, very expensive, but did not perform bloom wise in this heat. Next year may be different but I am going to be more global in my plantings so that I don't have a garden of drooping plants.
This is Sandra Elizabeth a late daylily about 30" tall with a 6" flower. I have ordered more of these to plant for next year.
Caladiums on North Side
Lemon Twist Coleus
My double and single Knockouts have not appreciated this weather, but the Rainbow Knockout is going strong, another reason to plant this wonderful rose.
Rainbow Knockout
I need to get back to my garden clubs, we need to discuss this summer and our successes and failures.
21 comments:
Just beautiful, Eileen... despite the weather, the flowers look fantastic. I will have to search for the coleus and the Rainbow Knockout rose. My pink Knockouts are doing really well, but they loved the excessive rain here on our sandy soil.
I agree with you, tropical plants would have been the right choice this year, too bad we don't know in advance!
Beautiful Eileen! That first Dahlia is a knockout! ;-) I love the bright colors in it.
Things are looking good in spite of your weather. It's sure been a strange summer here.
Hi Eileen. Well I get today off from watering. Woken by several thunder and lightening at 5 this morning but it just makes it more steamy outside today. I love the first dahlia. The petals and the colors are so pretty.
Your lily is lovely too. Does it naturally bloom later or is it just late this summer? Tropical plants would have certainly loved this summer so far.
Lemon Twist Coleus is beautiful. I've never seen this one. Pretty dahlias. Gardening this year has been different hasn't it. It has had it's challenges. Some I haven't done so well with. There's next year.
Thanks Karen, my pink Knockouts are in a border with many other plants. They haven't done as well as other years - I think it has been very wet over there.
Eileen
Thanks RainGardener, I did say no dahlias ever again, but maybe I could just plant a few in the veggie garden.
Eileen
Hi Lona,
We had some very heavy storms again this morning, and the air is so thick and muggy. The daylily is normally a late one that I got free with an order a few years ago from Oakes Daylilies. It is a favorite because all my other ones are done by now.
Eileen
Becca, you're right that is why we love gardening because we always have a chance to correct our mistakes.
Eileen
Dear Eileen, I really do feel for you having to battle such extreme heat. It must be exhausting and is clearly taking a toll on several plants. As you say, the daylilies are extraordinarily resilient. Yes, order lots more for next year!!
Hi Edith,
I am feeling right now like I should have a garden of cactus and daylilies. How boring that would be.
Eileen
I am ohhing and ahhhhing over that Lemon Twist Coleus--what a great color!
I am also loving that first dahlia.
I know Zoey, I can't believe that coleus got so big. These coleus really like the heat and rain.
Eileen
Sandra Elizabeth just bloomed in my garden as well. This is the kind of plant that gratifies. It's awesome!
Looks like more success than failure, Eileen. I'm in awe and amazed of your garden blogging journal!
Allan, I never paid any attention to the bloom times for daylilies until this year. I used to see them coded in the catalogs but just ordered what I liked. I will certainly be more tuned into this in the future.
Eileen
Thank Joey, and I can only come right back at you for your expert camera and cooking skills. I love the way we bloggers learn from each other - it's like a never ending workshop
Eileen
My dahlias have blown over in the heavy wind! Sigh.
Well, here in "sunny California" it's cold. Like cold! It's been an ungodly 50 degree summer and the thought of the kind of sun your are getting in your garden is making me jealous!
I haven't seen any of the Rainbow Knockouts yet. Your coleus is pretty, every year they seem to develop beautiful new colors.
We are only about a hundred miles from Chicago but somehow missed out on the severe storms. We had eight inches of rain in two days but it was a gentle rain.
Marnie
Hi Marnie, the severe storms were around I88 and south of there and far west. The Rainbow Knockouts are not easy to find even in my area. I ordered about eight of them bareroot from California about four years ago. They did just great.
I did see them at Home Depot this year but not tons of them. I think they have a much nicer shape than the double Knockout and bloom much more and longer.
Eileen
Hi Dirty Girl Gardening,
I can't believe it is cold in California! But, I am not sure you would want all of the storms, heat and humidity. I feel like I am in the deep south.
Eileen
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