Chores Between Moons

The May10 full moon was the Flower Moon.  The June 9 full moon was the Strawberry Moon.  Both were visible from the garden at nightfall.  Between the two full moons, there are lots of garden chores.  Here's a list of what I've accomplished in that time period (and each year at this time!).

• Set up soaker hose.  Monitor water with a rainfall gauge.  My frog does this for me!
• Deadhead the bulb flowers. Let the leaves die back.  Trim them when they wilt.  Early this year!  Tulips and Daffodils done.
• Pull weeds as they crop up.  Wait for a day that is not too wet or too dry to gently remove them.
• Pinch back summer-flowering perennials for control of their height:  Montauk daisies, asters and sedum.
• Hoop the peonies before they droop.  Caught them in time before the heat!
• Prune or deadhead spring-flowering plants: Iris, Siberian Iris, Lady's Mantle (to control size), Forget-Me-Nots, Pansies and Violas.  Also the shrubs:  Weigela, Deutzia, Lilacs, Flowering Quince.

• Divide summer and fall blooming perennials. This year I divided the Nepeta or catmint, the Montauk Daisy, some Yarrow and some Tickseed.  I also divided the Bleeding Heart (spring-bloomer) this year after it bloomed but before the leaves died back. It wasn't doing well but a young plant had started nearby that I gently cut out and relocated.

• And then there is pest patrol.  I have battled Gypsy Moth caterpillars and aphids already.  There is a feral cat drinking from my bird bath--but there are no more chipmunks digging holes and the rabbits left the tulips alone this year.

These are all photos from previous springs

that appear on this blog's archive.

Same old chores, but also same beautiful displays.

I love the May-June garden

despite all the work!

It's 90 Degrees Again!

The poor peonies and poppies were just blooming when the heat rose quickly. The buds literally burst apart and the blooms were not long-lasting. I did get a few shots that show their late spring beauty.

A lot of waiting--and a very short show!

Gorgeous Day

It's a small garden but it gives me such joyous moments.

Our stand-alone condos are close together

but the patio feels private surrounded by plants.

This morning the Siberian Iris are resplendent against the greens

of foliage and background trees.

The mountain laurel are just blooming.

All five bushes look great this year.

It may help that we have pulled out of a two=year drought.

Back in the shade under the deck

the Violas are popping up in the gravel

near the fairy garden.

Froggie is loving it today.

Rain is coming in by noon

and will last through most of the week.

Good for rain-deprived plants

wanting to rejuvenate.

Memorial Day Weekend

It was rainy and the parade was canceled.  The garden continued to create moments right through the rain and cold.

Only one Bleeding Heart bloom.

I should move it out from under the deck for more light...

The 'Miss Kim' Korean Lilac is exuberant this year.

It has struggled for years.

The Lady's Mantle always looks its best on a rainy day.

The old-fashioned yellow Iris

and the False Indigo

are blooming 

from the buds 

featured a week ago.

I put the fairy garden items out

but the girls can re-arrange them 

however they want.

It's their secret garden!

I planted up the third container with yellows

including Thunbergia 'Arizona Glow' 

(sometimes called Black-eyed Susan Vine),

Superbells 'Dreamsicle' and

Supertunia 'Limoncello'

and Coleus 'Alligator Tears'.

I hope this yellows container will bring as much pleasure on a hot August day

as these Spring bloomers did on a rainy Memorial Day.

And Now for the Reds Container

Hummingbirds are keenly attracted to red as evidenced by the color of the feeders made to attract them.  This container will take advantage of both the plants and the feeder.

The main idea (or thriller) in this container is the 'Dark Red' Mandevilla hybrid which will grow up the trellis.  I love its velvet-like petals and its shiny leaves.

Two Fuchsias ensure more hummingbirds (according to the Hummingbird Society).  I chose Fuchsia 'Gartenmeister' and Tassel "Dark Salmon".  I think the photo below is 'Dark Salmon'.  I took the labels out to do my research for this blog!

This red container planting also uses a 'Diamond Frost' Euphorbia as a filler.  I mentioned it in the previous posting as the purple planter also contains one.  Having the same filler links the two containers to make them harmonious even though they focus on different colors.

The other filler provides contrast to the deep green of the Mandevilla vine.  Coleus Flame Thrower 'Salsa Verda' is a deeply cut, intensely lime green coleus.  It is a heat lover and grows in a dense mound.  It also connects to the color of the 'Lemon' Licorice Plant in the purple planter.

And the spiller in this pot is white Cabaret Calibrachoa. These are sometimes called MillionBells or  SuperBells as planted in the purple container.  They self-clean and do not need deadheading like Petunias. 

This white one has a lovely yellow center.  Many of these plants are considered new with great improvements over plants available a decade ago. I hope with the new plants and planters, I can avoid lichen on the deck as mentioned in the previous post.  Keep you posted!

Time to Fill Those Containers

I bought new containers this year.  We've had trouble with lichen growing on the Trex deck surface from my over-planted containers in previous years. I know, I know:  lichen is not supposed to happen on Trex, but it is--and I cannot get rid of it either.

The containers are Viva Self-watering rolling planters from Gardener's Supply Company. These planters are their exclusive product, but are available through Amazon (but not Prime).  I really like them so far: size, mobility, water tank, color (white).  I'll rate them at the end of the season too.

I tried to buy plants that attract hummingbirds. One planter is filled with mostly reds and the other is mostly purples.

The purples include Salvia 'Sallyfun Blue Emotion' and Vermillionaire 'Large Firecracker Plant'. Both are magnets for hummingbirds!  They are resistant to hot weather, drought tolerant and do not need deadheading.  Great for my desert-like deck in August.  The blue spikes are the Salvia. The red lipsticks or cigars or firecrackers on the plant at left is the Firecracker Plant.

The other purples include AngelMist 'Spreading Dark Purple' and Archangel 'Pink'.  Both are Angelonias or Summer Snapdragons. They remind me more of mini-orchids or foxgloves.

The last purple flower is Superbells 'Evening Star' with its amethyst purple edges and yellow heart throat bordered with royal purple. It does not like wet roots so we'll see how it works in the self-watering container.  It also can be clipped back to promote more blooms.

I added Diamond Frost Euphorbia as a filler. I love its lacy mound.  It reminds me of the Baby's Breath in my grandfather's old-fashioned garden bed in the 1950s.

And for a splash of complementary color, I also planted 'Lemon Licorice' Licorice Plant that will hang over the side and provide a chartreuse color to contrast with the purple.

More photos later as the planters thrill, fill out and spill over.  Hummingbirds included, I hope!

More on the red planter tomorrow.

A Real May Day

No rain
Not 90 degrees
No Nor'Easter winds
Just sun and clear skies and seasonable temperatures.
Aahhh!

The grass is green.

The azaleas by the bird bath are in bloom.

The False Indigo is about to bloom.

The blue is incredibly vivid when they first burst out of bud.

I hope I can catch it this year!

I got out the fairy village but will

wait for the granddaughters to help me set it up.

The 'Miss Kim' Korean Lilac

is full of buds this year.

It blooms later than the French lilac bushes.

The Siberian Iris have a few buds hidden in the leaf blades.

The peonies are ready to pop also.

Lots of small buds (like last year)

which didn't do much.

But we're ready for June to "bust out all over."

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

to all gardeners

and garden lovers.