Spring 2016 Arrived

With 5 inches of snow, but it melted quickly today.

The tete-a-tete daffodils survived.

But those are the day lilies that are higher.

What will happen to them?

Maybe I can prolong the life of this one!

The reds planter still has some color -- and a mum I added last week. Maybe I can keep it going on the front porch for a few more weeks? The sun is going south fast and may provide enough light and heat in the afternoon. Stay tuned...

Good-bye planter boxes

Three freezes in a row this weekend will end the growing season. My planters on the deck worked long and hard to keep color and bloom and nectar for the hummers this dry summer. Well, I watered them with two gallons of water per day and used some fertilizer and pruning to keep them going.

Hummingbirds Still Around

September 17 and our pair of hummer are still sipping!

Labor Day Blooms

Another heat wave begins with 90 degrees and increasing humidity. About 4 p.m. I went out to the garden bench to see if I could photograph any butterflies. There was not a single butterfly or bird to be seen or heard. I did see some bees in the Liriope in the shade near the hose reel.  I've been watering with the soaker hose twice a week since rainfall is 5 inches below normal. The planters and hanging baskets have needed water twice a day on some hot days recently. Still, I was able to find some bloom and color this late in the garden season.

Watering for a Friend

I am watering planters and pots for a neighbor and fellow gardener.  I couldn't help notice some of her color combinations and textures this afternoon when I watered her hanging planter.

Fuschia of Campion pops against Lime green of a Hosta.

Lavendar spikes of Liatris blend with pink disks of Echinacea--

and contrast with a pop of yellow

to match the honey bee.

The other worldly shape of Cleome against dark maroon, solid leaves of Bergenia

Maroon Heuchera, paprika Yarrow and a red glass hummingbird feeder

form a triangle composition.

The spherical balls of Globe Thistle in steel blue punctuate spiky, green leaves.

The lemon yellow Hemerocallis, the pink Echinacea 

and pale violet Hosta blooms

could be a watercolor painting!

It's great to experience someone else's garden

and discover all its offerings in color, texture and placement.

First Bouquet of the Summer

It's lovely in the garden, but there's enough blooming now to take some inside too.

Love this time of year.  It's why one gardens!