The aphids came first on the hibiscus in the planter on the deck.
And then invaded the Mandeville vine near the hummingbird feeder.
I sprayed them with Captain Jack's Dead Bug Brew with not much success.
It's organic and would kill the aphids for two days, but they would return on the third day
and the plant would fail to bloom again. The hummers would not use the feeder near the vine
and the birds seemed to stay off the rails of the deck.
I need to find something better or get rid of these plants!
They are double trouble with their pests and the way they deter my favorite visitors.
Then Arthur came up the Atlantic seaboard and missed us with a direct hit, but
drenched us with humidity and winds and some rain to begin the
Fourth of July weekend.
The grass was like sandpaper in texture and color, but the rain
brought the grass back to a soft, green carpet again.
The garden looks fresh again with the new buds and blooms of mid-summer:
The sunflower is free of pests--for the time being!
The hydrangea is starting to bloom but may need a soil acidifier to brighten the blue.
I really like this delicate blue that develops from a cream and greenish center.
The fairy wings Epimedium is growing well behind the garden bench.
Its delicately colored petals look ready to take off.
I appreciate that some plants have found the right spot in the garden to fend for themselves.
The hollyhocks are budding and blooming.
They don't seem to have the rust I've found in previous years.
It's still early in the gardening year. I'm sure the rust will appear.
I am not going to fight it this year. Aphids and Arthur have taken the fight out of me!
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