Last week, I was not on top of my plant identity game. I wish to rectify that problem post haste, if you don’t count the week I waited to do it. And now that I’ve got it straight, I feel it’s only fair to tell you: Scleranthus uniflorus is a terrific groundcover, and quite possibly, you need it.
Greetings gardeners.
I’m giving the gray matter a wee rest this week, so I don’t have a story for you. I know, hard to believe. Instead, I thought I’d share a few pictures of plants behaving themselves in the late summer garden. Have you noticed when you focus closely, there’s so much wonder to behold–even in the dog days.
Uh oh. It’s getting to that time of year when good intentions are headed toward next-year’s to do list. How did it go so fast? I mean, it always does, but still. And to clarify, by ticking-off, I mean making the task list mad!
Does it happen this way for everyone? I freely admit I’m a terrific idea generator, and not nearly as prolific when it comes to follow-through. Once I figure out how something will work, I’m happy to wipe my hand clean, and move on to the next problem.
I can’t tell you how many times people have gone gaga over the lowest priced plant in the garden. Isn’t it funny, how you can moon over some rare and expensive plant. And then you finally add it–just to have peeps push past to rave about some inexpensive annual floozie.
I’m not seriously complaining, because I love when people get interested. Maybe they’ll take up gardening. And before you know it, the whole world will be a better place. It could happen. (more…)
I’m on a color toot. After patrolling the garden to check, “dear-dog, do-I-have-to-water-again-today?”, it occurred to me that my inside color inclinations are mimicking what’s going on in the yard. Even though there’s still plenty of hot headed our way, a couple of mornings I’ve felt that subtle hint of fall air. I guess it doesn’t mean anything–other than the weather gods must be crazy and are having a good time messing with us. But it got me thinking about fall and winter, albeit in the unconscious way initially. (Now that I recognize the connection, I admit it: I love heading into fall and winter. Heck, I even have a bright new pair of blue boots I haven’t worn yet.)
I’m hearing a lot of grumbling over how awful our gardens are looking. I share your grumblings. So I thought I’d go on patrol for things that aren’t entirely terrible.
Have you noticed how a tight shot shows what you might otherwise have missed? I wholeheartedly advise against looking at the big picture. Especially this time of year.
Just a bit over a year ago, I had the vision of someday removing the giant swath of Juniper we inherited with our Flamingo Park House. The “Sea of Juniper” was some 12′ wide and 40′ long. Apparently, back in the 60s and 70s, people got the notion that mass planting Juniper was a good idea. It was not. Truth is, I never thought we’d really get it out–and there were days when I tried to make peace with its undulating giganticness. It’s not that terrible, I told myself–even as a little voice said, oh yes it is. (more…)
I’m sure everyone is tired of my bellyaching about the weather, but come on weather gods, this is ridiculous. The biggest problem I see, besides the-whole-earth-is-in-trouble thing, is that it feels like late August, and we haven’t even made it through July. The poor earth is so parched–except for those places where it’s flooding or there’s 4 inches of hail or the coast is slipping into the sea. For you, I am so sorry.
Oh sure, there’s a lot going wrong with this dog-forsaken weather. But there’s also quite a bit going right. So today, I’m looking at the garden as half full. (Even if all the rage is warning us we’re due for a 9.2 earthquake that will swallow up 700 miles of the Pacific Ocean coastline. Thanks y’all, like earthquakes are not on my checklist O’worries already.) (more…)
You go places you’ve been meaning to go, sometimes conveniently located right in town. On my sister-in-law’s last day in town, we did a quick romp through the Chinese Gardens. I have a membership wherein I can take a friend, but how often do I use it. That’s right. Hardly ever.