Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Lessons Learned

As much as we have complained about the rain and the heat this year, it has certainly been a learning experience.  I have a new appreciation for plants that do not need to be pampered and they are not always the ones that I thought would be in that non-pampered category.


Blue Paradise Phlox reblooming after deadheading


Perilla


Sandra Elizabeth is worth having in the garden this time of year.

It was certainly worth replanting the hayracks.  They are filling in quickly in this hot weather.

All of my waterwise plants have done great, but I am happily surprised about the sturdiness of the impatiens and coleus.  Believe it or not, the dahlias that were shriveling up in my hayracks and containers are coming back to life in the veggie garden.  They obviously were not getting enough moisture in containers.  Most of the petunias have done well except for Pretty Much Picasso (this petunia has been a loser for me), geraniums suffer in this intense heat and too much rain. 

This is one of the dahlias that I transferred from the containers to the veggie garden.


The only blooms I have had on nasturtiums this year

As I have said before, the containers that I put together with potting soil and Soil Moist are doing much better than the pre-planted containers from Costco or Home Depot.  It is not possible to add soil most to these store bought containers and because of this they are the ones that suffer in the heat. 


I love this verbena that came in a hanging basket.  I don't remember seeing this for sale by itself.

Mossing the containers on the top and the hayracks all around has definitely helped these containers survive.

I am ready to give up and let nature take over, but at the time of year when I would be ordering bulbs for the fall planting, I am like the mad waterer trying to keep everything alive.  This is a summer I will not regret giving up, but I may change my mind in January!

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Eileen, As gardeners it is true that we learn all the time but, each year,the weather conditions always present a new challenge. Is this the fun of it all?!!

Dave@TheHomeGarden said...

I can sympathize! Without those drought tolerant plants around my garden wouldn't have anything alive right now. I'm guiltily looking forward to fall and cooler weather.

Becca's Dirt said...

Beautiful blue and pink phlox. The hayracks look good and filled in nicely. What a beautiful dahlia. Love the coloring. I'm like you ready for the close of summer and get ready for fall.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Edith, you are correct, next year could be a very cool summer and we will be complaining about the weather again.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Dave, I know you are even hotter than we are. It is almost impossible to work outside.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Becca, I am pleased with the hayracks and glad that I replanted them. At least I now know what will grow well in there next year.

Eileen

Lona said...

Hi Eileen. Your hayracks are looking so pretty again. I love verbena but this has been a bad year for it in my garden. I have the Blue Paradise phlox on my list of 'to gets' since I am crazy about phlox. Does it have a fragrance? I hear thunder rolling in so maybe it will cool off some.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Joey, Blue Paradise is very fragrant. I talked to my friend in South Carolina today, 98 degrees today. They can barely come out of their home to water.

Eileen

meemsnyc said...

We could use some rain here. All we get is hot 90+ degree weather! Your flowers look amazing!

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Eileen I have sent you a quick e-mail about smaller Joe Pye cultivars : )
Joy

garden girl said...

Your garden is lovely in spite of the heat Eileen. I agree - mulching containers helps a great deal, and moss is an ideal mulch for them.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

memsync, we are into that heat also. All I do is water.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Joy, Thank you so much. Our cable just came back on so I was able to get your email and the blog.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Garden Girl,

I can barely stand to go out and water! I sure know now I could not stand to live in a hot place year round.

Eileen

Unknown said...

Eileen your flowers look great in spite of the heat. You must be doing everything right. I, too, have found a couple of flowers that are keepers (annuals) for next year as the rain didn't hardly bother their looks at all whereas Petunias just seem to look horrible after the rain. I'm making a list and with pictures!!!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi RainGardener, I would love if you would share your list at the end of season.

Eileen

joey said...

I think we are all members of the 'Mad Watering' Club, Eileen. This has in many ways been the hardest summer ever tweaking the garden through record breaking heat and so blessed when we see hardy souls survive. In spite of the challenge, I hate to say goodbye to summer :(

Diana LaMarre said...

Amazing how fast those hayracks filled in! Loving that Blue Paradise phlox. I must try to find some of that.

I am with you on the heat issue--fall can't come quick enough for me.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Joey, I am sure we have so much to doo outside but can't last out there past the watering.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Zoey, Blue Paradise has been my best looking phlox through all of this heat.

Eileen