Front Flowerbeds: Pockets of Pretty

 

With the unusually hot June and July we've had, the front flowerbeds have started dying off in some places. It's easy to tell which flowers are the more self-sufficient types!

I have tried to get out and water once or twice a week, but for some that hasn't been nearly enough.

So I have little pockets of pretty here and there.

Hey, I'll take it!

 

Mums started blooming early, and the coneflowers certainly don't mind the heat.

My potentilla is as tough as nails--don't let those diminutive dainty flowers fool you!

The purple bellflower, which hasn't done much for the last 2 years, finally perked up and started filling in its spot.

We've got a glimpse of phlox, a little bit of salvia, and those coneflowers in the background.

See, from this angle it's lovely! 

I'm not sure what's going on right here FRONT AND CENTER, but the dead corkscrew rush and dying peony are not what I want to see in the spotlight!

 

This is a strange angle, in an attempt to get a picture of my William Shakespeare rose blooming again.

This pocket is more interesting than pretty, with the coneflower heads and dried drumstick alliums.

This salvia, which I'm fairly certain is the 'Rose Queen' variety, is kind of a thug. However, it's so pretty and long-lasting, that for now I'm letting it do its thing.

The seedlings are easy to pull out come spring. 

Lamb's ears with dead columbine.

Just keeping it real.

Oooh, look!

We found another little pocket of pretty!

Burgundy guillardia in the front with a few more coneflowers in the back.

Heat? What heat?

[Water? What water?... wait--that's my cue!]

Despite the catmint blooms being mostly seedheads by now, the bees are still determinedly going about their business. Next year I will probably cut it back much sooner.

Ah yes. The 'Quickfire' Hydrangea.

A little loveliness all by itself.

 

Vegetable Garden Glory Days

 August is high time for the vegetable garden.

Everything is green and lush and billowing.

Also, the gardener is still watering and even weeding, on occasion.

 

Overview

 

This view out my kitchen window every day made me so satisfied.

That's a lot of goodness going on out there.

 

Starting from the top left: 

Basil has gone to seed without me drying any.

However, I was able to freeze some.

Tomatoes producing enough for fresh eating.

 

So many marigolds!

They became a Wall of Cheerfulness that just keeps going and going.

I love it!

 

Not pictured: my pole beans, which did not climb the poles as they were supposed to (even with help from me!)

 

Middle terrace:

 

We've got a few a pumpkins hiding under there: some minis and some just small.

 



 

The cosmo jungle.

You are looking at the reason for such small pumpkins, right here.

I love it so much, I decided to keep it.

There also a few zinnias in there on the left.

Also, there are onions hiding amongst the jungle foliage.

 

Cucumbers still going, but production slowing down.

Zucchini also slowing but going.

 

 Bottom Terrace (minus the kids' gardens):

 

oregano and zinnias

One of these days I'll get a photo that truly represents how many bees are on the oregano when it flowers. Many, many bees. Also, wasps, including these very scary-looking 2-inch long all black ones.

Bean patch.

This is a mixture of purple, yellow wax, and regular green beans.

Good for daily snacking.

 

Yay beans!

Carrots bushing out and looking good.

Sweet potato actually flowering!

It's pretty, and it's huge and bushy.

The rest of the potatoes are about done, but I'm going to wait to harvest them for awhile longer.

We should have at least another month before frost hits.

Back Flowerbed, Mid-August

 

This, friends, is the face of neglect.

This poor flowerbed needs some attention and has not gotten it for several weeks.

 

I've watered it...occasionally.

It has been hot and smoky and can I whine a little more?

 

This post can serve as my checklist for what needs to happen out there.

 

Still haven't cut off the dead rose branches.

Also some serious weeding needs doing.

More weeding.

Cutting back those dead poppies would also help.

Despite everything, look at this!

My Abraham Darby rose is in bloom again, as are the penstemon and yarrow.

 

In another week or two the sedums will be blooming, which will help spark this area more, as well.

 

Perhaps this week I'll make it out there for a fall tidying-up session.

Then I can post some "after" photos. :)

The Kids' Gardens, Late July

These have been fun for the kids.

When friends come over, they're so proud of their little gardens, and have to show the friends everything they're growing. Warms my heart!

 

My daughter's garden:

The flowers have pretty much taken over here.

Not that she minds.

She does have a few peppers growing in that cage, and a carrot or two in amongst the rest.

 

My oldest son's garden:

Lovely snapdragons, plus potatoes taking over the world, and a few peppers.

He also has a few beans here and there, along with a carrot or two.

 

Youngest son's garden:

Peas gone now, but still some carrots and beets to pull up and snack on.

 

Now that the main garden is producing things there's aren't (especially the beans, tomatoes, and cucumbers), their interest in their own little plots has waned a bit. But they still enjoy going out and seeing what they have growing--and picking things if they can.

Late July Vegetable Garden

Everything is filling in and getting bushy.

We're harvesting beans, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

...And the occasional beets, carrots, and onions.

Love it!

 

Bottom terrace:

(kids' gardens will be in a separate post)

 

Oregano, beans, beets, carrots, potatoes

 

Middle Terrace:

 

cucumbers & zucchini

 

cosmo jungle

You can just barely see the big, fat onions peeking out in front there.

They don't seem to mind the takeover.

 

Pumpkin flowering amidst the jungle.

 

Mini pumpkins and beans

The peas were still limping along, but I pulled them out.

The pumpkins needed some space to run into that wasn't covered up with cosmos, anyway.

 

 

 Beans in front, new beans coming up on the left, pumpkin vines behind.

And of course, those glorious marigolds up top.

They are so bright and cheerful!

 

Top Terrace:

Basil is going to seed, with marigolds right in front looking amazing.

The tomatoes aren't very tall, but are producing several small fruits consistently.

Another view of marigolds and basil.

The cosmo jungle, from the top.

So beautiful!

Trouble in Paradise

So this rose has been dying off branch by branch.

First they shrivel, then they get dry and crispy.

I would pull the whole thing out, but at the same time, it's putting on strong new growth that looks healthy. I guess I'll prune off the dead ones and see if it makes it.

Beautiful Lilies

From the back flowerbed:

 

'White Heaven' lilies

'Hall's Pink' daylily, with yarrow in front.

A little closer look.

This color combination wasn't planned, but I love it!

Now I'm thinking about how I can plan for some more just like it!