In Praise of August Favorites

 

These black-eyed Susans next to my mounding Juniper have greeted me each time I come out of the door.  I've enjoyed their faces as I emerge from sleep's cocoon each morning.

 

The gomphrena or globe amaranth have withstood the heat this month the best.  They've not lost their purple strawflower-like blooms ever since I planted them.

 

 

These roses have continued to bloom, my Sundance and my mystery rose, as someone gave me this bush found at a market fair.

The leafy begonias have almost made it through the heat. And there is another gardenia blossom on my bush.

 

One of my favorites, the cranesbill geranium in miniature, is one of the stars of the native rock garden.   It's tiny blossoms last through most hot days with a little water every day or so.  To end summer with such a group is honor indeed.  I wish they would not fade as the season changes, but I will find others to love in the next.  Here we have an extended kind of fall throughout the winter.  Very soon I'll be planting for this extended fall. 

Beginning

Welcome to the first of many blogs. I think it'll be fun! I've written about my garden for years, but never in such a public way. So this is a beginning for me. I've been a gardener as far back as I can remember. My mother handed me my first spade and said, go to work. I planted Bachelor Buttons, still one of my favorite flowers. My secret garden has been an experiment with new plants and learning what will go best, where. It's never complete, but always in the making.

It's the end of August and the heat has taken it's toll on this southern California garden. It's the time for heat-loving plants. The tomatoes, sown in pots on my patio, are still producing, but wilt in the afternoon sun.




The passion flower vine is blooming profusely, as is the firecracker salvia, both plants for the hummingbirds of this garden. The roses that still bloom are short-lived, as the strong sun wilts and dries them quickly.


I've already ordered my fall vegetable seeds from Seeds of Change. I'm going to convert the sunniest beds into areas for vegetables. Most of my garden is shaded by a large live oak and nearby houses, so there is little garden area for most vegetables. I've spoken with my garden spirits (fairies, gnomes, as they are known by other names) and they feel I am right to try lettuce, chard, radish, cilantro and parsley in those spots.