At least we returned to some pretty good rains and the garden perked up immediately. We have resumed our breakfasts in the front garden and sitting for a few moments after breakfast gives me time to notice what is going on there.
The plants in the hypertufa bowls survived without any additional watering but they certainly looked a little yellowed. The great thing about succulents is how they perk right up when they do get water.
In the spring I planted a couple of new plants along the dry creek. One is a narrow leaf primrose which just put out a new flower. Now where is that label that I saved so carefully?
The other trailing germander, Teucrium cossonii ssp majoricum. It also put out a new flower today. I think the major time for blooming in both these plants will be the spring. For now I am happy that they made it so far. It was not an easy spring to put in new plants with the heat arriving very early and little rain.
The wider view is what I see while eating breakfast. A spear of sunlight just piercing the cutout in the breezeway wall. Later on in the afternoon the sun will beat down mercilessly in this garden.
The back of the vegetable garden will get a new look this fall with the installation of a tank in the corner of the potting shed. And I promise to keep this area free from plants next year. Well, maybe just the odd one. It takes too much time pulling them out.
The herb garden is holding its own.
Behind the pool the narrow leaf zinnias have softened the edge of the path.
and the gomphrena 'fireworks' is putting on a great show. All in all for late July things are looking pretty good.
I'm always amazed at how lovely your gardens are, no matter what month. I guess my whiney excuse of heat and drought are no good anymore.....
ReplyDeleteDoes the deer excuse still hold?? LOL!
Have a great week. I envy your breakfasts in such a gorgeous spot.
Yes, I think you can forgive much if you have deer. remember we have walls to exclude them.
DeleteWow - breakfast would feel a bit more elegant in such surroundings, I'm sure. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous views!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad I changed this spot over to a breakfast venue. All it took was that larger table and the removal of two chairs and the small table. It has become a favorite area.
DeleteWhenever I'm away for even a week, the garden always looks so different. Yours always looks so fantastic!
ReplyDeleteSo I have been working outside every day for 2 weeks to clean up. But, that said, it's easy to choose the best bits to photograph. there are plenty of areas that I am not happy about.
DeleteJenny, I've been doing a lot of editing and plan to get really serious about it this fall so there's less work to do next spring and summer. I've just about committed myself to growing way fewer reseeding annuals. As you said, it just takes too much time to pull them out!
ReplyDeleteThat is my thinking too. i just don't have the time to keep pulling. The problem is I do love those annuals!
DeleteYour garden always looks so nice.
ReplyDeleteWe've been right here all summer, and ours doesn't look that good.
I've about decided I'm trying to grow plants that want more sun than they can get inside the safety of the fence. My gomphrena fireworks is leggy, to say the least. Yours looks really good.
Gardening is an ongoing learning experience, for sure.
Gomphrena fireworks is rather a leggy plant until it really gets going. The plant I photographed grew back from a very thick root that I couldn't pull out last fall. It really had a head start. Fall is the peak time for all the gomphrenas and hopefully for yours too.
DeleteYour garden seems to look lush and happy no matter the conditions. You've really planted well for our climate. Like Linda, I think I try to grow things that really need more sun than they get. I just want flowers! Maybe I should just plant more trees and call it a day!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wish I had a little less sun! I would like to try growing some of the plants that shade gardeners grow. Isn't it always the same.
DeleteCrap. I just wish my yard looked as good as yours.
ReplyDeleteThanks Katina but i do have to spend more time out there than I really want to to keep up with it.
DeleteI love your hardscape, the way the rock and steps provide a canvas for your plantings.
ReplyDeleteAs Charles Wade said. The most important part about a garden is the hardscape. Of course it wouldn't be much good without the plants.
DeleteI agree...even just a few days away can seem like forever...it seems you hardly recognize the garden once you return. Your garden looks amazing, as always. I actually planted that same Teucrium just a few weeks ago...it will be interesting to see how it fares here in PDX :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to see how Teucrium plant works. I planted two as a trial.
DeleteIt looks lovely, as always. I can't imagine it ever not looking good!
ReplyDeleteWell, there are bits that don't look good Carol and I need to fix 'em.
DeleteIt's beautiful...I love how the flowers grow right up to your pool...what a treat it must be to float among them.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you live in paradise !
ReplyDeleteWow! I really love your garden. Those flowers are just lovely
ReplyDeleteI will echo gwennie! Wonderful garden! Beautiful pictures as well. LT
ReplyDeleteWhat a paradise! I wish I were there for breakfast every day! And ooh, please,hope you can find that plant label, though I doubt it would work in my garden. But I can dream! Thank you for the dreams that keep me going!
ReplyDeleteStunning, as always. That pool just haunts me!
ReplyDeleteYour 'Whale's Tongue' agave has really grown! Looking good with those red salvia behind it. I remember when you had plain evergreen shrubs there. I like it much better now.
ReplyDelete