Ghetto Gardens: Summer 2012

Once again I need to start this posting with an apology. It has been a hot minute since my last post and so much has happened this summer. Looking back on the season, the weather was nothing short of an OMG WTF. HOT and DRY. Late winter and early spring were fabulous. I should have known the summer was going to be a bitch with the arrival of all the snakes. Luckily, the snakes went away and in came the heat. It was a part time job keeping everything watered. Then our county had a watering ban. Ugh. Fortunately we started getting some rain and the ungodly heat started to pass. We did start getting some rain during late summer, and it poured. I was surprised by how fast everything went from brown, dry and brittle, to a lush green.

The following photos are in no particular order, just some of the highlights and low lights of the season.

The Hydrangeas were a success this year. This is the third year for the foil hydrangeas and they have never looked better.

Here are the Banana trees, starting from the beginning of the season to the end.

If you remember, this little coleus was a volunteer last year.

She is looking pretty fierce now.

Some of the lilies this year. I will say that the heat had a definite impact on our day lilies this year. Some of them did not bloom at all and none of them bloomed profusely.

I have referred to this plant as Crocosmia, but under further research, I believe it is a Blackberry Lily.

Not knowing the name or type of a plant, is the kind of problem you have, when you are not a Master Gardener and get most of your plants from seeds, family, friends and neighbors.

The Canna lilies were a little bit of a disappointment. A couple of things I did wrong. I think I put to many in each pot and I didn't realize that there are no drainage holes in any of the three large pots.

The Hummingbird vine or Cypress Vine did reach the top of the arbor. This plant was a success this year. A few of the things I loved about this vine was that the Hummingbirds loved it as much as I did. The blooms are small but abundant. But the thing I loved most was the foliage. The foliage is very feathery, lacy, airy, fuzzy all at different times. In the early morning with the dew on the ground and the sun rising behind the vine it does look fuzzy. I will be starting these from seed again next year. They started from seed very easy, and thrived on neglect as seedlings.

The first Gardenia bloom. I am concerned about taking care of this plant. Everything I have read seems to suggest that this is a difficult plant to grow. I am going to try my luck anyway because I think she is gorgeous. And the fragrance is delightful.

The Luna Hibiscus did not thrive with the heat and drought. I have a few of these plants around the yard and this one being one of the smallest, it bloomed the best.

The Scarlet Hibiscus had a better success, until the deer found them.

Forget me Nots. I have never grown these before, but received a package from the Flower and Patio show. Not to offend but they are a little forgettable.

All of the Mandevilla had a good season.

Purple Datura volunteer in the Plumeria pot.

The biggest success this year were the Moon plants. They thrived on the heat, and bloomed profusely. I could smell them from the moment I pulled into the driveway.

Dare to be different. In a sea of Black Eyed Susan's is this little Coneflower volunteer.

White Coneflower

The wildlife was out in force this year.

I am sure you recall, we had 7 snakes in the yard this year. The first snake out on the last day in February. Yes, February. The snakes were not the only members of the wildlife family out in numbers. The deer were not to be outdone. Not sure if you recall my idea of getting the deer to stay away. If not, I won't bother telling you, because it didn't work anyway. In the photo you can see two baby deer, but momma deer and her third baby are to the right out of my camera range. They were adorable. But when I came out to have coffee one morning to find eleven deer making a buffet out of the flowers, cute or not, they have to go. So the deer fence is going up. As of now i have the post in the ground with the arbors built. More on that later.

I have seen wild turkeys in the field before but usually at most three. This year I had seen quite a few in the field about everyday, but this one morning I discovered they were in the yard.

I started more Plumeria cuttings this year and all have survived and thriving. I also started pineapple plants from using the pineapples bought at the grocery store. They are still doing well at this time.

The Obedient plant did not take the heat and drought well.

Still waiting for signs of life from the Forsythia. I still have no idea of what caused their demise.

I about lost this Rhododendron from the heat and drought as well.

Yes, there is still a pile of mulch.

This is the little fern that was thrown in the trash last year. She is doing quite well.

The duck weed has taken over. I love this.

I was very pleased with the first season of the Brugmansia.

The variegated Bougainvillaea loved the heat a dry conditions of the summer. It was beautiful.

The Lanai

The Sweet Autumn Clematis bloomed this year. Yeah! I was beginning to wonder if she was ever going to bloom again.

The Celosia was a bit of a disappointment. They are pretty but the blooms are not nearly as big as I have seen.

The Asters have been beautiful this fall.

I thought that the drought this summer would have an impact on the fall colors. I have been pleasantly surprised. Maybe not as vibrant as previous years but pretty just the same.