August weather in June

The weather is a bitch.  Hot and dry, dry, dry.  It has been awhile since we have had any rain, and its not looking good anytime soon.  I spend a good amount of time wandering the garden with a ridiculously long garden hose.  This task is quite therapeutic to me, with the exception of three things.  Fighting with the hose not to crimp, tangle or be dragged over a plant and kill it. 

 I use a soaker hose and water the base of each plant rather than a sprinkler.  I also try to water in the morning or evening.  I only water young plants, anything in containers, and some perennials that show signs of severe drought.

Here is the newest flower bed.

 The Moon plants are full of buds.

Probably one of the easiest flower bed extensions I have ever done.  Let the seedlings take over the sparse grass and move the rocks.  I seriously have only pulled about 5 weeds out of this bed.  I think the new plants are hiding them nicely.

 Magenta Bee Balm looking lovely beneath the Rainbow Butterfly Bush.

 I want to mention, with all the bee balm and butterfly bushes around the garden and two hummingbird feeders, I have not seen one Hummingbird.   I take that back.  I have seen two hummingbirds, but none since the flowers started blooming and the bird feeders were filled.  It might behoove them to return.

 I moved the Brugmansia to the back patio to protect it from the hot afternoon sun.

The Alaska Daisies are not taking well to the dry conditions  I have watered her twice, and she looks like she could use another drink.

 I still have no idea what this plant is.  The sad reality is, I remember planting it.  It has reproduced and I enjoy her, but what is she?

 This is a closeup view of the foliage.

 More Hydrangea are blooming.

 And the Endless Summer Hydrangea is still standing in her majesty.

Since the weather has been so hot, I thought it was smart to move a few plants.  Part of my gardening style is too do things when I think about them, instead of waiting for a time that would be better for the plant. In any case, I moved a few things recently.

The Banana tree needed to be divided.  I had never divided a banana tree before.  Hell, I never had a banana tree survive a winter so this is all new territory.  I read up on the subject went for it.

I put a few here.

 And a few here.  I have my doubts that these will survive.  Not being a negative Nancy, I do not think I got enough of the root from the mother plant.  But we will see if they defy the odds.

 That night, I researched some more on the subject and discovered a few things.  The one of most importance, if the baby bananas (pups) are drooping, cut off the leaves.  Well here is what the transplants look like today.  

 I also transplanted the three tall Porcupine grasses in the background.

 

A few new blooms since my last posting.

Double blooming Lily

 First timers to the garden. 

 My favorite Yellow Day lilies.

Stars and Stripes Mandevilla

 Almost Black Lilies

June

Life has been so busy since my last post, its time to play catch up once again.   

Our Endless Summer Hydrangea seems to be on steroids, compared to last year.  Last year, she had two blooms for the season.  The only thing different that I have done this year, is to put coffee grounds on all my Hydrangeas, Rhododendrons, and Azaleas.  I am happy that we are a coffee family.

 Old fashion Hydrangea

 Hydrangea blooms

Not all the Hydrangeas are doing as well.  I had to move, once again, the Nikko Blue hydrangea, and she is pink, not blue.  I am working to make the soil more acidic.  It has received coffee grounds, a little holly tone and had pine needle mulch around her.  

Not to be out done, the Lilies are putting on their show.

Dahlia

 Cypress Vine

I was am happy that this is growing let alone, blooming.

  Gazania

 Water Pickerel

 Gooseneck Loosestrife.

This is a very invasive plant.  I love invasive plants, but she is a bit unruly in our garden.  The worst offender IMO is trumpeter vine.  The roots are a good half mile deep.

 Nice to see the Rainbow Butterfly Bush is blooming in June.  It is gay pride month after all.

 Brugmansia

 I have been wanting one of these since I encountered her in Hawaii.

 Maui 2007

Here is ours 2012.

The day we got her, she bloomed.  The fragrance is intoxicating.  Unlike the Moon flower, these flowers bloom for more than one night.  However, they lose their fragrance after the first night.  That's what we have observed. FYI

 Bee Balm Red

Bee Balm Magenta

It looks more purple to me, but who's to argue with a name tag.

Caladiums

Another reason I had not posted anything for a bit.  Honey went to Phx for a week to see the fam, and I stayed home to keep the show moving.  I wanted to surprise Honey with a simple backdoor landing/ramp.  How hard could it be? LOL

I want to start by saying this project was to make life easier for the dogs, and us.  But mainly for our dog Scooter.  Half blind, falling apart, Blue Tic Hound/lab mix and our baby.  He had a terrible time managing the steps, and he is too big to carry.  So the birth of the doggie deck was born.   I had scored most of the lumber for the project from my niece.  After a few 4/4's, some concrete and screws, I sank a little over 40 dollars into the project.

Original steps.

 Not anything I have seen on Yard Crashers.

 It started out looking a mess but that is one sturdy bitch.

 The ramp I would have liked to be a little longer, but you have to work with what you have.

 I still need to continue on with more spindles down the ramp in place of the temporary 2x4 rails.  I am waiting to give it a coat of paint to make it all blend together.  But Viola. 

I gave the little bench away.  I am surprised anyone wanted her.  But with a little stain, she looks WAY better.  I also wanted to thank my cousin Chrissy for all her help.

Speaking of cousin Chrissy, she bought me this Banana tree last year from a nursery.  Maybe you recall?  I now need to separate them.  There are a total of 10 new trees in that spot.  Happy day!

 Bougainvillaea

 

 New pots for the walkway.  I cant re pot the plants because of the baby birds hiding under the Begonias.  But as soon as they leave the nest.

 This photo was taken last year of the Forsythia beside the road.  It was doing fine, and even bloomed beautifully this spring, however, something happened.  The plants started dying out.  

I had to cut them all the way back to the ground.  In normal circumstances I  would have no problem with this action.  I am now wondering if they will come back healthy, if at all.  I cant stand to look at that empty space for too long so I hope they do something fast.

 Our new Chenille plant.

 We bought this today for chump change.  I love an amazing deal.  

Magellanica Perilla

Whatever, I think it looks like a sun loving Coleus, and I will never remember the former.. 

 Chameleon plant.