Like much of the country, we have had rain, rain, and more rain!
It's better than drought conditions, for sure.....and the gardens appreciate it.
But plants cannot thrive on water alone, they also need warmth and sunshine, as do we.
The Perennial Bed is an absolute jungle....I can't even see my stepping stones to get in there and rip out that darned Bindweed, and the dreaded Tansy. I'm going to have to suit up and brave the creepy crawlies this weekend and try to tame this beast....it makes me cringe to look at it right now.
But there's beauty amidst the chaos....I moved this Cranesbill from the Wild Garden this spring....it was far too tall for the Wild Garden, but it's perfect in the Perennial Bed. The higher plants surrounding it give it the support it needs so it's not flopping all over the place. It's just lovely!
There's a good bit of that fuchsia color going on in my garden right now....and it's most welcome. This is a terrific plant, called Lamium....also known as Dead Nettle - if you don't have any, you may want to think about it - it's a fantastic ground cover, without being invasive. The leaves are lovely all on their own, but when it flowers it's a thing of beauty!
I have patches of it throughout my garden, and a good bit on The Garden Steps. It's easy to propagate - just yank out a piece and stick it in the soil in another garden and give it a bit of water....9 times out of ten it will take off without much more fuss needed. I love, love, love this plant!
The Garden Steps are in dire need of weeding and taming.....yes, yes, it's on my very long list of things to do. Sigh. Where's that clone?
Also blooming in the Perennial Bed right now is this lovely white lacy flower....I have no idea what it is, and every year I ask for your help....but nobody has been able to identify it yet. It may be a weed, but if it is I don't mind as it's lovely and doesn't invade the garden.
I've done image searches online trying to figure out what it is, to no avail. It's not Queen Anne's Lace - that blooms later in the summer. It's not Poison Hemlock, as someone suggested (whew!) and I haven't come up with anything else it may be. Anyway, whatever it is, I'm always glad to see those lacy white flowers bobbing above the foliage in the perennial bed in early summer.
The veggie garden is starting to take off, and like everyplace else on my property, it needs a serious weeding right now. We've had our first salad out of the garden, and those early lettuce leaves are so tender....plus our radishes this year are the best ever!
I admit, I'm not a big fan of radishes.....at least, I never have been. I always found them a bit too pungent for my taste....sour and peppery and just nothing to write home about.
But these have changed my opinion! We were slicing them while I was making the salad and just eating them as a snack with a sprinkle of sea salt.....heavenly! Yes, there's that distinctive peppery radish taste....but none of the bitterness.
I think I finally understand what all the fuss is about. Apparently some folks like to eat radishes on a piece of bread with butter and salt....that's on my list to try now.
Outside the veggie garden, the critters have finally allowed some of my Sunflowers to grow this year. They are starting to form flowers, and I can't wait to see those bright spots of sunshine greeting me in the garden each morning. I've tried every year to grow Sunflowers, but the darned critters always eat them as a snack as soon as I plant them out.
Speaking of critters, the slugs and snails have been ridiculous this year. They are in every garden, munching on every leaf. My go-to product for slugs is Sluggo Plus, which is safe for organic gardening. I'd prefer not to have to put anything down, but some seasons it can't be helped.
I saw more toads than ever in my garden this year, which makes sense as apparently they eat slugs and snails....I wish they'd get busy eating!
Papa's Garden is coming along nicely....I added a climbing rose - New Dawn - in the corner the other day. That's always fun....digging a hole anywhere on my property is a nightmare. I pulled out giant rock after giant rock, and had to take multiple breaks. But it's done, and hopefully the rose will thrive in that corner.
The window box is stunning, with the Pansies I started in the spring showing off in a big way. They share space with Lobelia, which I adore, and white Impatiens, which are slow to get going this year.
In the Front Garden, the Hydrangea Bed has filled in, and the Japanese Maple is gorgeous, as always. The grass needs to be mowed and weed-wacked desperately, but the weather has not been agreeable. Fingers crossed things are dry enough to mow this weekend, and Bee and I don't get stuck in the mud again.
On the Garden Wall, the only thing in bloom at the moment is this gorgeous Dianthus...sadly, I planted three of these and only one seems to have made it. But this one is making up for it with an incredible bloom this year.
The weeds are beyond ridiculous this season, sprouting up everywhere. Every crack in my patio has weeds popping up....I bought two gallons of white vinegar to put in my garden sprayer to take care of them. However, I need a good sunny day to get that project done....there can't be any rain in the forecast, or it won't work.
The only ones I won't touch are the Violas that are popping up....they are always welcome to stay, I love their vibrant purple flowers.
This lovely white Geranium greets me when I get home every day....it overwintered beautifully, and came through stronger than ever. Even the drowning rains aren't bothering it, as it's under the overhang and sheltered.
Back up on the deck, this is the corner I see first thing when I come out my door in the mornings. Many of the plants I started from seed and have yet to bloom, but when they do this corner will be vibrant with color, and heavily scented in the evenings.
That will be a lovely welcome home, for sure.
I have pots of scented flowering plants scattered throughout my deck. This is Nicotiana, surrounded by Petunias, all started from seed. When the Nicotiana blooms it will release the most beautiful scent in the evenings, so this pot is on one side of my swing, along with another pot of flowers.
On the other side of my swing is this little grouping of pots. The Petunias release the most wonderful musky perfume in the evenings....not all colors are fragrant, but the blue is heavily scented. White has nearly no scent. I think perhaps the deeper the color, the deeper the fragrance.
The spiky things you see are Lilies Abyssinian Gladiolus (Acidanthera) - this is my first time growing these, and the description says to lift them in fall, so I decided to just plant them in pots, so I can take them in before the first frost. I have no idea how long they will bloom for, and I can't wait to see those pretty white flowers, and smell their heavenly aroma.
The hanging baskets on the deck are thriving, despite the lack of sunshine...the Geraniums are getting ready to bloom which will add a splash of bright red to this pairing.
Along the deck railing is this other grouping - when this comes into full bloom it will be glorious! More Nicotiana, Cosmos, Lilies, Petunias, Pansies, Lobelia, and Impatiens....the next garden update should be a lot more colorful.
Meanwhile, see those sweet angels at the end of the deck....they are on critter patrol, and they are the best little watch-babies on the planet!!
And when Miss Molly is tired and ready to go inside for a snuggle, she hops up on my leg to let me know. Mommy, pick me up....take me inside....I need a nap.
What's happening in your garden? Are the weeds and slugs driving you mad?
Happy Summer Solstice, everyone! It's official....Summer has arrived!
Your gardens are looking beautiful on the first day of summer! That plants really looks like Queen Ann's Lace. Try roasting your radishes like any other roasted veggie. They are less spicy and taste lovely.
ReplyDeleteIt does look a lot like it Penny, but it's not the same....just a good imitation! I'll try roasting the radishes, thank you!
DeleteWOW, everything looks so pretty. Sad to say not around here. Not sure what is going on, too much rain or maybe our weather. One day cold and one day hot. Seasons are getting mixed up.
ReplyDeleteFor sure, Betty! It's been an odd start to the summer!
DeleteWe've had more than our share of rain as well with more heavy rain predicted for the entire weekend. We don't have many slugs, but we have way too many earwigs. My hydrangea tree died and when we cut it down last week it was full of earwigs. The guy who cut it said he thought that was what killed it. Your flowers look pretty in spite of all the rain.
ReplyDeleteOh how awful, Phylis - I detest earwigs, they give me the creeps! I'm not a big fan of slugs either.....
DeleteOh my word, beautiful. Everything is growing so fast Gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteGrowing like a weed does, Marty - especially given all this rain!
DeleteWhat sweet little critter patrol babies you have! You should see my new list, all written while reading your post. You have so many beautiful flowers and foliage growing that I'd love to try. Dead Nettle is at the top of the list.
ReplyDeleteI love radishes! Yes in salads but you'd be surprised how many will get eaten when put out with appetizers when part of the green stalks are left as little handles and there's a bowl of soft Irish butter put beside them a dish of salt.
Tornado warnings coming close now so I'd better go!
I have heard about putting the radishes on bread with butter and salt...I guess there's something to that flavor combo, Dewena!
DeleteI think the big difference with your radishes is the amount of water they are received. My uncle grew wonderful radishes and he said he used to just leave the hose running on them for a while. I'm so glad to hear your garden is a jungle, too. The perennials have exploded, but with such frequent rain, I haven't been able to tackle a proper weeding. Now some of them are so tall, they are almost falling over (I have a lot of that tall cranesbill, too). Hopefully tomorrow will be nice and I'll get a lot accomplished. Those petunias are gorgeous! -Jenn
ReplyDeleteI guess that must be it, Jenn - I must have sweetie plant the radishes right along the soaker hose in his garden in the future!
DeleteOh those sweet dogs sitting together! Your garden has sure made up for lost time. I love the Nicotiana surrounded by Petunias. My cosmos are just about to bloom and I'm anxious to see what the flower looks like.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
My yellow cosmos are getting ready to bloom, Brenda - I'm looking forward to that as well - I've never grown a yellow one before!
DeleteWow, I loved seeing all of your bloomers and your sweet garden helpers as well. Hope you are able to get out in your gardens this weekend. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteFlowerLady
I've been doing nothing but garden work for the past week, Lorraine - I had to put on the brakes and say I NEED TO STAY INDOORS AND DO HOUSEWORK!!! :)
DeleteI feel for you with your garden. You had it all cleaned out and it has been raining ever since. The rain has been ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteYour blooms are looking great though. Miss Molly is adorable. Ours are trying to snitch the chipmunk living under the deck stairs.
Cindy
My pups are in a constant battle with the chipmunks....the chipmunks have a million holes dug in my gardens and they disappear into them whenever the babies get anywhere near!
DeleteLittle Molly is soooooo adorable. I just want to give her smooches on her sweet face! Your garden is coming to life so nicely. It was a long winter and it is so fun to see life coming back into our lives. Your flower box flowers look like they are smiling and dancing in place. Deb it is all so pretty. Happy Weekend.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Kris
Thinking of you as you prepare to leave your sweet cottage and start once again, Kris!
DeleteHi, love all you share of your lovely home. I think the plant with white flowers you are trying to identify might be White Snakeroot. A wild flower or weed to some but beautiful nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteLaurie
Thanks, Laurie, I'll look that up!! I never heard of White Snakeroot!
DeleteFinally - everything is in bloom and looking so lush and pretty! Thanks for the trip around your property to show us everything that is growing. It's hard to tell if that white lacy plant is Queen Anne's Lace, Poison Hemlock or Wild Carrot. It's one of the three; I just don't know which one! Do a Google search on each one and see what you can find.
ReplyDeleteWe have Dead Nettle, but it's being overtaken by the pachysandra (another wonderful groundcover, but it spreads like crazy and has VERY strong roots).
Your radishes look so beautiful and perfect! We both love radishes and have them in our salads all the time.
Happy summer!
The white plant is none of the three, Melanie....I tried those names last year when I shared it and nope! It's a mystery for sure!
DeleteThank you for your garden June garden tour, Debbie! Your labored hand at gardening rewards you with all those beautiful blooms! The cranesbill, dead nettle, your pansies from seed and the overwintered geraniums (!) - all just so full and pretty. Not to mention your vegetables! Those radishes look so good, they remind me of my Dad, who used to eat them voraciously, and most of us kids remember that and so love them too. :)
ReplyDeleteI would've guessed Queen Ann's lace on the white flower, so you'll have to keep us in the loop once it's figured out.
I know this rain we've been having is definitely keeping you on your toes as far as weeding chore is concerned. I can empathize with that, and certainly don't miss that. I have friends who've even said they felt compelled to go out & weed while it was drizzling, simply because their free time never coincided with anything but rain!
Hope you find your summer a pleasure in spite of all the work.
I have been thinking of you and your move, and leaving your lovely gardens Rita. I've been missing from blogland, life's just too crazy for me right now, but I hope you'll keep us posted as you settle into your new home!
DeleteThe white lacy flower is Queen Anne's Lace AND it will take over everything! I found that out! Several years ago I found it growing on my property and I brought it closer to my house. Big mistake now I find it growing everywhere.
ReplyDeleteHi Maryann - it's not Queen Anne's Lace - I have that also, and yes you're right it takes over and it's impossible to get rid of with that giant root!
DeleteLovely! You are a wonderful gardener! I love the fur babies also...so cute.
ReplyDeleteI feel as if I am an overworked gardener at the moment, Susan! Not enough hours in the day, especially since I work full time!
DeleteCould that white flower be Yarrow? I've heard it's a native plant to our area. We have Bishop's Weed here also that looks very similar. But it's horribly invasive! The first one I saw in my yard I though was Queen Anne's Lace so I left it. Now I'm yanking it out everywhere!
ReplyDeleteBishop's Weed looks like it might be it, but funny enough it doesn't pop up anywhere but in that one bed....and it doesn't annoy me there. I wonder if maybe our cold winters keep it from becoming too much of a pest??? I'll have to do some more research, thanks for that, Sue!
DeleteEverything is looking beautiful Debbie! We too have had more rain than is usual for Texas. Normally, by now, everything has died and turned brown...but with all of the rain, plants and lawns are thriving! My hydrangeas are growing so large already and that pleases me immensely! The radishes look beautiful! Love and hugs!
ReplyDeleteWow, that's great for you, Benita! Did you do Hydrangeas in pots?
DeleteYour garden is just gorgeous! Lots of rain sure makes it lush. We've had a mix here weather wise. Everything was looking pretty good and then we had a very heavy rain and high winds. Now that does a number on flowering bushes. Today is sunny and things are perking up a bit. Lots of slugs here as well. Have you ever tried putting broken up egg shells around the plants slugs love the most? Yours is a huge garden so maybe not realistic to do that. I just have a small garden and it has sure helped a lot. My hostas were the ones the slugs would attack first.
ReplyDeleteThree things made me smile while visiting you today- always your beautiful garden, then a picture of dianthus since this is a plant our golden loved to stick her nose in that potted plant and breathing in the smell! Hilarious to watch. The last thing is a picture of Molly sweets- her face always makes me smile.
Have a great week
Jeannette
I hadn't thought of broken eggshells, Jeannette -- thanks for that tip! I always save our eggshells in a big jar in the fridge for the garden, maybe I'll grind them up and sprinkle them around the veggie garden!
DeleteI forgot to mention Debbie that you have to try oven roasted radishes. I only discovered these last year and absolutely love them that way!
DeleteThanks, Jen! Someone else mentioned that as well, I must give them a try! I'll wait until the weather cools a bit though....I'm not using the oven much these days with this heat!
DeleteOh, we've got the same weather happening here in CT. My tiny seaside cottage garden tomatoes are a jungle, the happiest I've ever seen a tomato plant - and my farm garden is just meh. BUT, the perennials are going wild. Yesterday and today have been glorious weather. More rain on the horizon for tomorrow. Miss Molly is just the most precious little thing. I'm hoping to find one just like her to adopt one day.
ReplyDeleteMiss Molly is the sweetest little angel, I sure did get lucky with her Karen Ann! She is jut a little lovebug, wants to kiss and cuddle and loves to play - I am so glad she came into my little furry family!
DeleteGoodness gracious Debbie your gardens and yard is so gorgeous! I love that one picture of you looking down at your garden steps, that is neat! Wow!--your "she-shed" or garden house (I forget what you call it) has turned out so nice, I love how you have decorated it. And I love your Dad's garden, it's beautiful and of course, so special. All your hard work sure pays off. Like you, I've had zero luck with sunflowers, the squirrels have dug up the seeds over and over, even when I start them inside and transplant them when I think they are bigger and stronger, they still get destroyed, dug up, pulled up, eaten or whatever. LOL!! I've bout given up on sunflowers and I'm thrilled you are getting some this year, yay for you!! I thought that one plant was Queen Anne's lace for sure and if it isn't then I hope you find out what it is. I do like radishes and love them in salads, sparingly if they are very hot ones. I've heard they are quite good dipped in or drenched in hot melted butter and sprinkled in big large grain sea salt, I will give this a try this week maybe, sounds good! I enjoyed the pictures of your pretty deck too, you have it all arranged nicely. Hope your week is going well, it is very HOT HOT HERE here in our city by the sea!
ReplyDeleteIt's very hot here too, Debbi, so I can only imagine what it's like down south!! We aren't used to a heat wave lasting so long....the tomato plants are loving it though!
DeleteCould that plant be wild parsnip? looks sort of like it.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful lush garden and I do like that fuchsia color. The weeding has outdone me now. The weeds in hot weather flourish and the flowers struggle.
The weeds are getting the best of me also, Betsy - it feels as if I need to be out there constantly, and I don't have the time or energy for that!
Delete