We did get more rain this month, but it was not enough to match the many days of temperatures over 100 degrees F. I am hoping still for more rain to keep the plants healthy and growing.
Stats
Gardening Zone: 7a
May High Temperature: 106 degrees F
May Low Temperature: 73 degrees F
Precipitation: 3.59 inches
Wildlife
Last year when I planted this perennial bed, I merely wanted to add plants that have long-lasting blooms and to attract some more butterflies and hummingbirds.
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| Perennial Bed |
Little did I know that those plants would attract many of these beautiful visitors. On any given day at any given time, there are anywhere from five to 16 butterflies in this perennial bed. The Tiger Swallowtails make up the largest number.
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| Tiger Swallowtails on Buddleia |
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| Red-spotted Purple Butterfly on Joe Pye Weed - Eutrochium purpureum |
The hummingbirds like the gladioli and the agastache. The butterflies like the buddleia, agastache, and the echinacea. And the other pollinators like them all.
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| Ruby-throated Hummingbird on Gladiolus |
Other visitors to the garden find whatever they need in the surrounding area.
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| Common Whitetail Dragonfly |
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| Polyphemus Moth |
what's blooming
I pruned some of the hydrangeas and made some bouquets out of the blooms.
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| Hydrangea Blooms |
Soon there will be moonflowers...
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| Moonflower |
The clematis seed heads are open wide and reaching for the sky.
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| Clematis Seed Head |
The Black-eyed Susans have come out right on time.
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| Black-eyed Susan |
Limelight Hydrangea is blooming.
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| Limelight Hydrangea |
I bought two of these hydrangeas recently, but they were not marked. I found them at Home Depot which is supplied by Bell Nursery. The nursery staff were not able to help me identify them.
Does anyone know what variety this hydrangea is?
-stems are burgundy
-prefers shade
-blooms are round, mophead
-blooms start out as white, then turn to shades of white, green, and purple, then green and brown
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| ? Hydrangea |
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| ? Hydrangea |
In the garden:
Swiss chard, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, squash, beans, okra
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| Bell Pepper - California Wonder |
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| Okra |
I have not had as many squash bugs this year. I often see birds in the garden, and I suspect they are helping with the pests.
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| Crookneck Squash |
One squash hid under the leaves off in the corner and grew large with a very bumpy texture.
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| Crookneck Squash |
And I have lots and lots of tomatoes.
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| Mixed Tomatoes |
In the herb garden:
basil, Thai basil, lemon grass, sage, parsley, chamomile, tarragon, oregano, dill, cilantro, thyme, savory, lavender, rosemary, apple mint, chocolate mint (mints are in pots)
The herb garden has really filled out, and there is lots to harvest.
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| Herb Garden |
completed chores
sowed next round of bean seeds
continued edging planting beds with empire edging
fed pepper plants with Epsom salts
fed tomato plants with compost and bat guano
pruned tomato plants
pruned hydrangeas
trimmed coreopsis
deadheaded blooms
chores for August
sow next round of bean seeds
sow fall crop seeds
continue edging planting beds with empire edging
deadhead blooms
clean out bird nests
prune back English ivy
Note: I have been incredibly busy as of late and have found myself barely able to keep my head above water. Although I have tried very hard to keep everything on my plate, I find that I must manage things a little differently for a short time so that I can find a bit of sanity. So, I will leave you with this post for this month. I plan to return on the first of September for another post and hopefully with my regular posting schedule. Enjoy gardening and enjoy your August!
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Helen of The Patient Gardener hosts End of Month View. This monthly meme is where garden bloggers share their garden views for the end of the month.
Also, Town Mouse Country Mouse hosts First Views. This monthly meme offers an opportunity for garden bloggers to share their garden first views for the month.
© copyright 2012 Michelle A. Potter
Your garden seems like heaven and its visitors resemble little angels! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Asha Ram. I think they are angels. :)
DeleteSage, you have so many varieties of veges and flowers in your garden! I love your Limelight, I bought it in June and now it's blooming! About the unnamed hydrangeas, I think the second one is Grandoflora paniculata.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nadezda. The Limelight hydrangea is one of my favorites. It is a dependable performer...and so beautiful.
DeleteLovely pictures of your visiting insects and birds. I am always envious of anyone who has hummingbirds. Your garden is looking very healthy despite the heatwave. We are deluged with rain over here - very unusual even for a country renowned for it!
ReplyDeleteIt is so odd to me that your part of the world has so much rain this year, and we are suffering from drought. Weather is such an enigmatic phenomenon. Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteThe moth is so beautiful and looks like it has wings of velvet and Hummingbirds always amaze me... love the photos!
ReplyDeleteThey do seem to have velvet wings. It is amazing. Thank you for your kind words.
DeleteBeautiful photos as always - it is amazing just how much you have going on in your garden - enjoy your break away from blogging.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Elaine. I did enjoy my break. Our gardens keep us busy, don't they?
DeleteWhat a wonderful photographic inventory of everything in your garden at the moment. I have come to the conclusion that I like the wildlife that visit my garden even more than I like my garden by itself. All these visitors bring my garden to life!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rosemary. I vacillate between being in awe of the garden and being in awe of the wildlife. I suppose it all goes hand in hand. I would not like one without the other.
DeleteI can understand balancing life with blogging..you will be missed. I cannot believe all the ripe veggies and lush flowers...we are bone dry and very little growing. I do have okra though :)...I adore the clematis seed head picture...it is a stunner. The critters are amazing too! See you in September.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words, Donna. I do remember you having a period of being overwhelmed last year. It is nice when someone understands. I do have some areas in the garden where things are doing well, but there are certainly areas that have not done well. My monarda in two different beds never bloomed. I think it was because of the dryness. I water the beds periodically, but that was not enough, I suppose.
DeleteGosh I'm so impressed (and envious) of how green everything in your garden looks despite (as you said 100+ temps).
ReplyDeleteIt's been an incredibly hot summer here in Middle TN too, but more than the heat, the problem is the lack of rain. We finally got a couple good storms in July (thank goodness!) but it just wasn't enough to make up for ZERO rain in June, and the last couple of weeks have been pretty much rainless too...
I'm out there watering religiously twice a week trying to keep things alive in full sun, dense clay soil. Sometimes I pop out for a quick supplementary water when everything is wilting and curling and crying out for help (like this afternoon).
So...yeah...envious of your garden!
I completely understand, Aaron. Although I have some areas that are doing well, there have been areas that have suffered. I have had a lot of fungal issues this year, more than in previous years. It must be the dryness combined with the humidity or my watering them when they are stressed. This will certainly be a summer I do not want to be repeated. Let's hope next summer's weather is kinder to our gardens.
DeleteDitto what the others said. Very impressive harvest--especially considering the heat! Stay cool, and enjoy your time off. We'll look forward to your return in September!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Beth. I did enjoy the time away from blogging. I wish I could say it was a rest period, but it was more of a catch-up period. I hope the rest will come later in the year.
DeleteOh, don't I know about hectic! But I'm so glad you took the time for a few garden glimpses - and it's so wonderful to see all the butterflies.
ReplyDeleteSee you in September!
It was nice to take a break from blogging for a bit. I was able to catch up on many things. Thank you for your kind words, and I hope your days are not too hectic, right now.
DeleteTake care of yourself and your lovely garden. I look forward to hearing from you again in September.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Mary. I hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend.
DeleteYour pictures are always so lovely! Though I rarely comment, I do stop by regularly to look at them, so I'll miss you. I certainly do understand, though, that the time spent writing these blogs is time we aren't spending in our gardens!
ReplyDeleteI hope you do not mind that I put a link to you (and to the First View meme) in my latest post.
Thank you, Kimberley, for your very kind words. It is great to be back. Although I needed the break to catch up on some other things, I missed blogging and connecting with people like you. And thank your for the link. I will check it out later. Have a great weekend!
DeleteI'm so impressed by all your veggies, Michelle. The heat and drought has definitely taken a toll on my garden--usually I'd be picking lots of green beans right now, but they're just not producing as they usually do. Your mystery hydrangea might be 'Lady in Red'; I'm not sure of that, but I know it's a popular one that many of the stores like Home Depot sell, and the red stems made me think of it.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are beautiful as always, but I especially love all the wildlife--Polyphemus is gorgeous! Enjoy your time off; looking forward to seeing you in September!
The veggies have held up, for the most part. I have had a bit of rust on the beans and some fungal issues with the tomatoes, but they have snapped back. I have to ensure I water in a very balanced way. The fungal issues seem to crop up when they are stressed, and I give them too much water. Needless to say, I am looking forward to fall and fewer of these problems. Thank you for your kind words and for the ID of the hydrangea. That may just be what it is. It is not blooming now, so I will watch it next year and see if the blooms match. The blooms that were on them at purchase were sort of multi-colored and muted, but that may be because of the soil pH.
DeleteStunning photographs, as always, Michelle! It is obvious you put a lot of work into your garden. Enjoy your break from blogging! P. x
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pam. It is a lot of work as you well know, but I love it.
DeleteWhat beautiful photos! I especially love the hummingbird and the moth!
ReplyDeleteIt has been incredibly hot here as well. Thankfully we are now getting some rain, even if it is in the form of furiously bizarre lightning storms. I'm impressed with all you've gotten done - it's been so hot I barely even feel like going into the garden to harvest the veggies!
I know the feeling. I go out early in the morning when it is cooler and try to get a lot done before the heat sets in. We have had a few storms recently, so that has helped with the dryness.
DeleteOh, the squash looks so yummy. Makes the squash I bought in the Co-op I bought the other day very jealous.
ReplyDeleteMichael
Sometimes veggies from Co-ops are good and sometimes not. I hope the next batch of veggies are better. I love growing my own, but I cannot grow everything. It can be disappointing.
DeleteLovely to see how your garden is growing in. Unbelievable veggies - ours in Seattle are a wash with our cold temperatures. We hit 90'today for the first time this summer!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen. Despite these hot and dry conditions the veggies are holding up. I do water them, and I have had some fungal disease issues, but they are surviving. I hope for all of us this weather improves.
DeleteYour agastache looks just like Joe Pye weed. Agastache has a different shaped bloom. I had no idea gladiolous attracted hummingbirds! Learn something new everyday. :o)
ReplyDeleteYou are right, Tammy. My mind must have been thinking Joe Pye Weed, but my fingers decided to type agastache. :) I have noticed that hummingbirds are attracted to many blooms of which I was not aware. Just a week or so ago I saw them repeatedly sip nectar from the lavender blooms of my rosemary. I am glad I have what they want.
DeleteWow! Rich harvest. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Indrani. I love my veggie garden.
DeleteSuch success with the ornamental garden and the edibles, a perennial border isn't all that easy to achieve, yours is looking great.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Alistair. It is a lot of hard work but very rewarding. The raised beds make it a lot easier than it could be.
DeleteI hope you are enjoying your time away from blogging. The post you have here is filled with beauty and bounty.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks, Donna. I did enjoy my time with some visiting friends, but there was a lot of work I had to catch up on.
DeleteYour pictures and blog are awesome! I'm speechless!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sadun blogi. I really appreciate your visit.
DeleteI will surely miss your posts...I find so much joy in reading your blog. Words are not enough to describe how wonderfully you blog about every aspect in gardening and nature. A true heart of a gardener you are an inspiration to me. I will never get tired of visiting this site. Although you'll be away for a month (in blogging), I'm sure you'll get to spend more time in your garden. Love those big red tomatoes, a good source of lycopene!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Mariepaz. Your words have certainly touched me, and I am thrilled that you find so much value in what I offer. I missed blogging but had some things that needed my attention and blogging does require a lot of time. It is nice to be back, and I look forward to catching up with your posts as well.
Deletehello Michelle, lots of lovely things in your garden, I love your wonderful wildlife, what a lovely unexpected addition to your new perenial bed, I hope your busy is good busy and you find time for a little rest and relaxation to enjoy your garden, I have not been reading blogs so much during summer as I spend more time in the garden, your tempertures alone would tire me as I don't like hot, take care, look forward to hearing from you next month, Frances
ReplyDeleteThanks, Frances. I got a lot of work done, and now I don't feel so behind anymore. The heat gets to me as well. I must do my garden chores in the early hours of the morning. Thank you, again, for your kind wishes.
DeleteI completely understand about the swirl of life coming into conflict with blogging. I hope you are are well -- and many thanks for the gorgeous photos of your garden and its visitors. It helps to make August bearable.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kevin. It was a nice break, and I got a lot done. Thank you for stopping by, and I hope September is kinder to your garden.
DeleteThank you for taking the time to do the review. I learn so much from them.
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome, Susan. I am glad you like them.
DeleteHello Sage!
ReplyDeleteYour garden is SO beautiful. I especially loved the photo of the clematis seedhead reaching for the sky! And the contrast between the yellow swallowtail and purple buddleia. Have you ever done an article on taking pictures of butterflies? Cause you are a master. So great to visit your blog again, it's been too long.
Thank you for your kind words. I am glad to see you here and blogging again. It has been too long. That might be a good idea to do an article on photographing butterflies. Thanks for the idea.
DeleteGlad to hear you are taking time for yourself this month. I just came back from three weeks of time off (both from home and blogging) and it was such a treat. Thanks for advising what plants the hummingbirds like in your garden. I find I have the birds visiting occasionally and looking for plants but nothing to offer. Luckily I planted both Agastache and gladiola this year so hopefully next year I'll have more established plants the birds can help themselves to.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marguerite. I am glad you enjoyed your time away. It is good to take a break now and then. You seem to be planning your garden so that you will have lots and lots of wildlife to watch. Delightful!
DeleteBeautiful photographs, I like to admire such fantastic views. I am greeting
ReplyDeleteThank you, ZielonaMila. The garden has come a long way since the beginning.
DeleteYou've captured the moth in all its beautiful colours. I like the container with the pair of cherubs.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much. That moth was so interesting, and I was so thrilled to find it.
DeleteI still remember when that garden is being built, and now it is already teeming with life! You might not be able to get the desired rains because most of the waters are poured endlessly here with us, that many places are still flooded even if the people dont want them anymore. But we also have lots of butterflies, although our species are so different, just like also our plants.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Andrea. When I look back on those photos of the garden in its early stages, it seems so long ago...but it wasn't. I am glad we put forth the effort to make it a place where it is easy to garden. The weather this year has been very strange. I hope next year things are not so much to the extreme.
Deletewelcome my butterfly blog- t.pepita Finland
ReplyDelete