August

One more week and summer vacation is over for me. I'll miss all the free time to do what ever I wanted. But autumn's approach comforts me with the turning of leaves, cool breezes, and the harvest. This gardening season I didn't spend a lot of time gardening. Plants and shrubs that were tough survived. Those that weren't did not. I can count the times I've ventured into my yard and the death of an arborvitae and another shrub, and 2 coral bells are evidence of this. Of course the coral bells will return in spring and when they do, I'll treat them better and water them. Shrubs have started to be discounted since fall is approaching and nurseries are trying to get rid of their inventory as the fall and winter holidays approach. Dwarf Panicle hydrangea little lime and a rose of Sharon made their way to my house yesterday to replace shrubs that died. Pray that they survive the winter and return to bloom in spring. Didn't know this hydrangea is aromatic. Supposedly it's hardy in USDA zones 3-8. So I shouldn't have problems with it since I'm in zone 7a. We shall see. I plan to cover it before winter and hopefully this will help. 

Did I get anything else done this summer? No more painting inside but I have one small area to do. The painter repaired rotted wood on my sun porch and is now starting to paint. With just a little done so far it looks so much better. Rain has delayed many days of painting but it should be done soon. Still have to get the chimney cleaned before the first wood is burned in the fall.

Can't believe that someone was giving away rocks for free in a gardening group I belong to. My daughter and I drove to the house and carried as many as we could in 5 gallon buckets last week. A beautiful arch trellis was also available but someone claimed it. Found out later they didn't pick it up. So the flower bed looks a little better with the same types of rock I already had. Didn't think I'd ever locate any. The person who gave them away posted that there's more available. I could use a few more.

Cone flowers, zinnias, and black eyed Susan's have laughed at the heat and periods of dryness. Butterflies and pollinators loved the flower bed this season.

Planted 2 white swan cone flowers today and gave them a good watering. Left outside with soaked clothing. It's warm today and will be almost 100 degrees by Monday.

Brought this hydrangea and watered it the next day and all the blooms died. What happened?

Couldn't pass up philodendron micans. On the porch to be sprayed. I gave one away this week. My excuse for buying another one. Went to Home Depot this morning for paint samples and came out with this.

This hydrangea and a rose of Sharon also hitch hiked with me.

In the yard.

Didn't do anything to the planter this year and the fern which normally takes over didn't do well this year. Pot of bleeding heart never planted but should only be dormant. Will definitely plant before fall. Philadelphia has had a hot summer. The news reported that this was the hottest July in history not just for my area but globally. My air conditioners knew and they have been burning since spring. It'll be nice to open window and get some fresh air, soon. For the rest of the week temperatures are going to be 95 to 97 with the heat index 100-107. I'll think cool and make some iced tea.

Container with pelargoniums and sweet potato vine removed from the front of the house along with a pot of coleus so it doesn't get in the way of the painter.

A large branch was broke of the canopy during a storm last week. So glad it didn't fall in my yard but in a neighbors. We've had many bad storms with downed trees and flooding this summer.

It's been too hot for impatiens in the yard to bloomed until now. They were in bloom when I planted them in the spring but haven't bloom again until now.

Wouldn't know a box wood is in the black pot. Impatiens have almost covered it.

It's been too hot to do much outside this summer, so. I was at the garden center buying plants all summer. My bromeliad in the basket is a baby. The mother plant was removed. It started to die which is normal once it grows a pup. Golden pothos on the wall by the fireplace is a new purchase.

Two marble queen pothos and I think a bird of paradise baby also new. The pothos are hanging in my bedroom.

Love the variegated leaves splashed with white.

For possible critter on houseplants. I spray all new house plants so hopefully nothing is transmitted to house plants already in the house.

I really think this is bird of paradise. I removed it from it's pot and looked at the roots which are like bulbs/tubers. That's what the roots look like when I googled pictures of the roots and the plant looks the same as mine. Time will tell. I have to find a sunny window in the house for it.

Peace lily. The large one bought last fall is hanging on by a thread. Tried a smaller one.

Type of cactus. Can't remember it's name. I've had it for years but it has never thrived in my bedroom window so it's new home is under the light on the plant shelf. Hopefully the center will fill out.

Trying to propagate rosemary.

Scindapsus is not new. It's been growing fast.

Philodendron cream splash. It was full when I bought it last fall. Doing a little better since put under the plant light.

Neon pothos. This was a full pot when it came to my house but most of it died. It's doing better since also put under light. I find that the lighter pothos and philodendron like more light that the solid green.

Rabbits foot fern is new. What will happen to it when it's dry inside this winter?

Why is my amaryllis blooming in August?

Walked past it one day and said, No. That can't be a bloom starting.

What is that?

My other is preparing to go dormant. I stopped watering it and will start again in November in the hope it'll bloom at Christmas.

How dare her bloom now!

Nice to have blooms in the house though.

Fresh flowers bought last Friday. They're doing well and smelling up the living and bathroom.

Roses bought last Friday are still living in the bathroom. The ones below in the living room are done. 

Have to have some eye candy in the house. The heat made me do it. It's not even winter yet but I'll have my house plants to take care of while it snows and we're house bound.