Summer Flowers

 August arrived with beautiful weather. For now mild days, blue skies, and cool nights. No air conditioning needed. Next week, maybe back to the heat because it's still summer.

My new Rojo Congo from Home Depot yesterday. A Proven Winner Plant discounted 50%. Home Depot has really been discounting their plants and shrubs faster than the nurseries. This is the time to get some good discounts on perennials, houseplants, pots, and shrubs. Moving everything out in preparation for fall.

Staghorn fern on the table to be repotted. It came in a four inch pot this past spring from Longwood Garden. It was tiny and has really grown. I'd like it mounted but it seems to be happy in a container. I want to put it back in a plastic pot since it seemed to do well. A clay pot is available but I won't use that because I don't want the plant to compete with the clay for water.

The asters have stayed in bloom. Now I know the key is to dead head them after each bloom. Black eyed Susan's added a few weeks ago. They require daily watering but have done really well. Hopefully they'll make it for fall color.

Have to remove the seeds from this nicotiana.

My favorite is the hot pink coneflower. The pollinators favorite is the gaillardia.

Don't have it's tag but I believe it's in the Pow Wow series.

I need to deadhead the old blooms so it stays in flower until frost.

Removed a declining broom bush and planted my favorite. This is Bobo. It's a panicle hydrangea and will bloom on new wood. It may be more work than I've expected because it needs to be watered every....day or else it'll end up like my Little Lime in the yard with shriveled brown flowers. Supposedly the Lime Light panicle hydrangeas like full sun. So disappointed because I bought a total of 4 hydrangeas but these are more needy than hydrangea arborescens. I have one in a container in the yard for the past three years and it rarely gets watered by me even in drought. Rain water is the main source of water. A shrub that flowers all summer was important to me but this may require more attention than I expected. I'll get over this if it makes it through winter and I see it bloom next summer. One may go in the second container on my sidewalk but maybe I should see how this one does first. A nice sized one is pricey if not on sale.

I love verbena. My goal is to get a patch of them close together. I had more seedlings and already bought more seeds for starting in winter.

No, I didn't kill the spotted lantern fly. A nuisance and not native but I haven't had a problem with them on my plants this summer.

Moved my planter so I can freshen up the white paint. It's overdue.

Have to wipe it down and let it dry before painting and put down tape so paint doesn't get on the steps. It came out beautifully. I'll take a picture tomorrow. Next up my front door inside and out then the gate. Those were part of chores I wanted to get done while on summer break from work. I also painted my stairwell indoors, hung fresh curtains in the bathroom and bedroom, did lots of laundry, took some items to the thrift shop, and other chores. I'm preparing for a knee replacement and won't be able to do these things once I get that done. My daughter and sister will water my plants. My daughter will do meal planning and cook some meals for me. I bought a table top ice maker so my knee can be iced and need to order a tiny dorm sized refrigerator for my bedroom so I won't be up and down steps too much to get water, fruit, and light snacks. Still have to hang fresh curtains in the living room. Bought a decent shredder and shredded so much old mail. A good shredder is worth it and I got it on sale. I've stocked up on household items I'll need until I can drive again and feel prepared for my surgery and autumn.