Monday, August 27, 2012

East Front Yard

I normally like to do posts on different areas of the yard about once a month.  I got away from that this year, partly because of the hot, dry summer, and partly because it almost seems like reruns.  Still, I am wanting to make some changes, and this will help me keep track of things.  We have been watering regularly because of the new plants in the west area.  Still, some of the plants struggled in the heat.  Many of the daylily leaves turned brown.  With a bit of rain, and a break from the hot temperatures, plants are starting to look better.  The heat is expected to be back this week, though, but hopefully, the new vigor the plants have found will sustain them.  Plus, the days are shorter, and the night time temperatures are cooler.

I'll start with a couple views from the street.



Walking up the sidewalk, the marigolds are volunteers from last year's heirloom ones that I planted last year.


The Joe Pye Weed in the back towers over the area.


We are going to walk around the bed, going to the right, or east.  I did some thinning of the verbena bonariensis this spring, but some must have come up after that, and are now blooming.  They are great fillers in the garden, and the bees and butterflies love them, but still, I will be doing more thinning next year.  I forgot the name of the pinkish agastache.


I planted a few nicotianas to fill in some spaces.  These aren't getting very tall, but I like the color.


The helenium, 'Mardi Gras' is on a second flush of blooms after being deadheaded a few weeks ago.


We have turned the corner, and are facing west, heading to the north.  There are a number of volunteer annual blue salvias throughout the bed, joining the verbena.


After not seeing many monarchs this summer, I am pleased that I have been seeing one to three each day for two or three weeks.


I like the cleome brightening up the space.


I like this phase of the blackberry lilies, but want to get the seeds out before they ripen.  Plus, a neighbor boy asked about them, and I told him they are yucky.  I've read that they are poisonous, so maybe I should take them out soon.


I'm glad I decided to do this post, because I hadn't noticed the delphinium is blooming again.


The sedums are doing well.  I hope they continue to fill in the spaces.


Oh, yes, I need to do some more thinning of the verbenas "on a stick".  The helenium, 'Ruby Tuesday' is doing well, even though it has that competition.


The butterfly bush has been in that spot quite a few years.  I need to deadhead it again soon.


We just turned the corner, and are now facing south.  The hibiscus has been in that spot about 5 years.


The rattlesnake master may not have gotten as tall this year as in the past.


I did not keep up with deadheading the hibiscus this year.  I like the look of the dried seed pod.


I wouldn't want many hibiscus plants, but enjoy this one, and the volunteer one that is not blooming right now.  I also have a couple clumps behind the garage, and one seeded into the neighbors' yard.  There really isn't room for that one where it is.  I have to cut it back each summer.


While I was making my way around the bed, Larry came out and took some photos. After including him in some, I informed him he was in my shots, so he went to another part of the flower bed.  I told him I planned on including at least one of them, so here he is, and you can see how tall the Joe Pye weed is.  LOL


I didn't get the swamp milkweed deadheaded.  I wonder if these seeds will germinate in the area.


Can you see the bee in the Joe Pye bloom?  They like to rest in them.


Here is a peek at the newer planted area on the other side of the sidewalk.


I frequently include this view from the porch, facing south.  You can see the yellow blooms of the cup plant.


We'll walk down the sidewalk, facing back to the east.  Mountain mint, lavendar, and annual blue salvias crowded out the 'Orange Perfection' phlox this summer.


I forgot to include a closer photo of the kiss me over the garden gate in the back, but there is a shorter one in the middle.  It's the pink near the bicycle.


The lantanas around the yard were slow in getting established, but are now doing well.  I noticed some berry looking seed pods.  Do you deadhead your lantanas?


I am forgetting the name of this seedhead, but it's a native of some kind.


I'm thinking I'd like to take out most or all of the iris, and transplant some grasses from across the sidewalk to make the whole yard more cohesive.


I'd like to put some of the shorter grasses in this area.


I didn't get this foxglove deadheaded.  I'll leave it now, since it won't have enough time to bloom again.


One of the 'September Charm' anemones died back a ways, while the one next to it fared better.  The mums are getting ready to bloom.


Soon, there will be more pink from the anemones in the flower bed.


I turned back to the view to the north.


These are nigella seed pods.  I hope more come up next year.  The statice plants on either side are slow to get going, but I'm hoping they will bloom yet this season.


So, we made it around, and here are a few more views.


I had actually taken the next two earlier, while I was trying to get photos of butterflies.  That's when I got the idea to do this post.  I like this one of the monarch and Heidi.


Here's Heidi with the view from the street on the east side of the house.


I hope all is well with you, and those in the path of storms are in safe places. 

18 comments:

  1. This is one time I'm glad you can't see my gardens...a dried up, pathetic mess. We just couldn't keep up with the watering. The plants do seem to be having a second spring with the rain we have had, but it was too little to late. I just hope most come back next year, I have never had such a dismal garden. )o:

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  2. Gorgeous!
    And I still see some lawn---LOL--are you planting that up too? Or is Larry holding out on that? Men love their lawn.

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  3. Wow, Sue, I'd say your gardens still look great in spite of heat and drought. I love how your gardens are stuffed to the hilt with so much color, texture, varying heights.

    Enjoy the rest of your summer.

    FlowerLady

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  4. I love your flowerbeds! It reminds me of an English Cottage Garden. I have contemplated putting in what you call swamp milkweed but have been afraid it'll take over the garden.....what am I afraid of??? It can always be pulled if it gets out of hand....
    Your Hibiscus is lovely! Andy probably wouldn't be willing to give up that much lawn. He's sacrificed quite a bit over the past two years but he loves his front lawn. ( I like yours
    better:-)
    Sally

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  5. Lucky you to have so much going on during this time of year! I have noticed less butterflies this year to include the Monarch as well. Great shot of Heidi and the Monarch. Heidi always looks so at home in your gardens. I don't deadhead much of anything although, this year I did a bit of deadheading. I really could not tell a big difference. Too hot out there in the summer for me to deadhead....

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  6. Thanks for the walk through your garden. Everything looks good. Those blackberrie lilies are cool. Scary if they are poisonous though. You do a great job of remembering everything in the garden. It looks so green there. I'm starting to see a few butterflies again. Maybe they'll surprise us all with a big return before winter.

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  7. Hi Friends,
    I'm sorry for those who weren't able or allowed to keep their gardens watered enough to survive. I felt somewhat guilty for watering, but followed our restrictions, even when they were voluntary. I wanted the new plants to survive, and also decided this could be an oasis for the insects, which have been plentiful. Still, there are some plants that have not fared well.

    The lawn that is left is pretty much where a sidewalk would be if there was one, then some of the curb area. We have no grass at all in our back yard, so this is where Heidi gets to run some when we are out with her. I've had half a notion to look into putting a sidewalk in, but don't know how expensive that would be, or what the regulations would be for it.

    There was a time Larry would have been shocked and dismayed at the thought of how our yard was going to end up looking.

    Swamp milkweed is not as aggressive as common milkweed. It also needs more moisture. I normally deadhead all of my milkweeds except for butterfly milkweed, but this year, the swamp and showy milkweeds have seeds on them. I hope they don't cause problems for the neighbors.

    We are having another week with highs in the upper 90s and a day or two at 100. I don't like saying this, but at least the days are shorter, so the plants get some relief from the heat that way, and the nights are getting down into the 60s.

    I hope we all have a fall that revives us and our plants, and the critters get in good shape for what comes next for them.

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  8. Your yard really is beautiful. I love the heleniums. I have to get some once I figure out where they would go. I do deadhead my lantanas, but I'm not sure if it makes much difference. Are you growing something up that arbor?

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  9. Sue you front garden has really grown in this summer. So much going on in those front beds. I love the Joe Pye weed. TO answer your question on the Yellow Helliniums' name I do not have a clue. LOL! I bought them cheap from a mixed batch.I will have to see if I can find it somewhere.

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  10. Everything looks great even though it has been dry and hot! I think I've said this before--I'm a big fan of your succulent grouping in the bike basket!

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  11. I have those blackberry lily in my garden but never seen those turn into seeds - to me those are truly lovely.

    The lantana's too will eventually turned out to be something like that with berries - it is not required to deadhead them - unless you really got lots of time in your hands.
    But again - please be cautious as lantana's are considered toxic plant and some people do have allergies handling them.

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  12. Hi Sue, Your gardens look great! You always have plenty of bloomers. I really like the nicotiana.

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  13. Haven't been by the corner for quite a while. You have no idea how beautiful I thought your walk through your beautiful corner because I am paralyzed and you were my legs. I must subscribe so I don't miss an opportunity to walk again. I'm almost welling up..........thanks, much.

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  14. I want to say thanks to those who commented after my last comment. There are two kinds of clematis on the arbor, but they did not meet up this year.

    I seem to like a number of plants that are toxic. I need to make sure my grandsons don't handle them.

    Patrick, my eyes got teary when I read your sweet comment. You know, my husband and I have only taken a few vacations in our 40 years of marriage, and most likely won't have money to travel much in the future. I have told people in other parts of the country and world that I travel through what they show on their blogs. Don't we have fun? :o)

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  15. Oh wow - you have so much going on in your garden. It looks wonderful! You must tell me your secret to keeping the butterfly bush blooming. The blooms don't seem to last long on mine at all and they all seem to go black very quickly. Even as the end of one flower spike is blooming, the bottom end of it has turned black already. It looks a mess all the time.

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  16. and i thought my garden was wild...oh my...I would knock on your door if I passed by...just wonderful

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  17. The bike basket filled with succulents is simply adorable!

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  18. Your gardens are so beautiful - I just enjoyed my virtual tour very much! Hooray for reseeding marigolds, verbena, foxglove and all the others. They clearly love your habitat too! Heidi looks like she's overseeing everything just like our dogs too.Thanks for sharing.

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I welcome comments and questions from anyone, including those who do it anonymously. Some people find my posts by doing searches, and I like hearing from them. I guess spammers won't even read this message, but I will delete spam as soon as I see it.