Thursday, June 12, 2008

Trying to Beat the Heat



I know I said post before last I would try not to put so many pictures on each entry, but I just can’t help myself. Yes, I have done it again. The pictures will be slowing down soon anyway as we approach fall. Jamie and I first concentrated on spring blooming plants, this year we worked on summer blooming plants and next year we will work on fall. So ya’ll just hang in there a little bit longer while I subject you to more images of the blooms from our garden.

The sun has been relentless the past couple of weeks and all the plants have really taken a beating. The two maples in the front yard and one of the dogwoods have a few crispy leaves on them where the battery went bad in the water sprinklers and we didn’t catch it in time. They aren’t dead, but they look like they’ve been in a war. I guess I should be thankful they are still alive, but I just don’t like them looking so tattered. Most especially when I spend the greater part of my free time perusing beautiful gardens online with flawless plants that look nothing like our pitiful trees. For once, I wish someone would post some pictures of their mistakes so I could confirm I’m not the only one that does it. Every now and then I would like to see a wilted shrub or a tree with half the leaves on it burnt to a crisp.

Last night we finally got some rain for the first time in weeks. It wasn’t a lot, but right now I’ll take whatever we can get. It’s been so dry I didn’t even bother to cut the grass last week. It was crunchy last night; hopefully it will be showing a little more green this afternoon. Well, why don’t we move ahead with some of the pictures and what better way to start than with a daylily?


‘Chorus Line’

Chorus Line


Last winter I was visiting a friend’s garden and while I was there I found some seed pods on a trellis so, naturally I reached up there and pulled some them off. I had no idea what they were and since the actual gardener was gone no one could identify them. I planted them in the hopes that they might be Black Eye Susan vine. They turned out to be morning glory vines so I’m just going to snatch them up.


Morning Glory


‘Frances Fay’

Frances Fay


I got these mums from Lowes when they were half dead last year for 19¢ a piece. They’re so large this year they look like small shrubs. I have really enjoyed them this spring.

‘Frosty Jeanette’

Frosty Jeanette


‘Fragrant Treasure’

Fragrant Treasure


Jamie and I started a collection of cannas this past spring. We currently have 29 different varieties. I don’t think we will be adding anymore to the collection. They’re pretty, but I’m not as big a fan of them as I am the daylilies. If you happen to like them I highly recommend Horn Canna Farm. They range in price from $1.25 to $1.75 and you get large healthy tubers. The less expensive is the standard and the more expensive of the two prices are considered the Collectors Choice.

‘Tangelo’

Tangelo


‘Striped Beauty’

Striped Beauty


‘Joan Senior’

Joan Senior


‘Indian Shot’

Indian Shot


‘Little Girl’

Little Girl


‘Green Wyoming’

Green Wyoming


‘Irving Hepner’

Irving Hepner


Here are some glads we planted last year. We’ve considered planting more, but I’m sort of torn because the bloom time it so short lived. I suppose we could tuck them here and there.

‘Atom’

Gladiolus


‘Chicago Mist’

Chicago Mist


‘Janet’

Janet


‘Kwanso’

Kwanso

10 comments:

Annie in Austin said...

Go ahead and put on the photos, Randy and Jamie - it's fun to see the flowers. Twenty-nine kinds of cannas? You guys really are plant collectors!

The 'Striped Beauty' is outstanding. I've seen 'Joan Senior' daylily off and on over the years...you caught a perfect bloom of this classic in your lovely photo.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Randy said...

Annie, you are always so kind with your compliments. Thank you so much for being a regular visitor to our blog. To me, part of the greatest joy of gardening is sharing it with others.

Phillip Oliver said...

Man, I could post some ugly photos from our garden right now. LOL Maybe I will do that!

I don't have many cannas but I've been looking for "Panache" that Pam Harper wrote about in her book "Time Tested Plants" (I highly recommend her book, I have discovered so many wonderful plants from her). Plant Delights has it but I refuse to order from them - they are overpriced and I had a bad experience with them many years ago. Anyway, I was hoping the nursery you linked to had it but I didn't see it listed.) I really like "Indian Shot" too.

Anonymous said...

It can be so difficult being patient while a garden is growing and filling in. Seeing established gardens doesn't help, either. I know it seemed like years before my garden finally grew up and looked like I had envisioned it would be, but remember a garden is never finished. Your daylilies and cannas are lovely. At least you have some wonderful blooms to tide you over until the rest fills in, which it will and before you know it.

Jan
Always Growing

Wayne said...

My favorite here is Kwanso. I love the double Daylillies. Do you have any Spider Daylilies?
And love the pics, keep em coming!

Randy said...

No spiders yet Wayne, but only because we haven't seen any to buy yet. :-)

Anonymous said...

Wow, that Chicago Mist paired with the Japanese maple foliage is stunning.

I'm looking out the window at some seriously wilted plants right now. Our month-long, 100-degree heat wave with no rain is taking its toll on Austin gardens. Just because I haven't showed the yucky stuff doesn't mean it isn't here. It just isn't as inspiring to take photos of. ;-)

Robin's Nesting Place said...

Please don't apologize for the photos, they are all spectacular!
Lovely GBBD post!

Anonymous said...

I'm loving those little mums! Gorgeous!

Randy said...

Pam,
It comforting to know I'm not the only one with fried plants. Whew!

Robin! Glad to see you checking with us again!

Sandy, that side entrance into you garden is INCREDIBLE I love it!

I aplolgize I'm so late responding, but I ran into a major virus issue. I'll tell you more about that soon.