Summer Observations and Planning

Experiencing another heat wave in Philadelphia as the city prepares for the Democratic National Convention. As the end of summer approaches, I know fall doesn't arrive till September; I'm ready for it. My plans for this season were to take it easy and not stress about the garden and how it looked. Of course when things start looking bad, I started tending to them more than planned. I regret purchasing more plants than planned many not successful. It's been a strange summer. Other gardeners that I talk with also complained that the plants in their gardens equally didn't seem to do as well as in other seasons. 

Will I get to eat the blackberries. A couple look ready but they're not as  dark as they appear in the photo. Leaves are being eaten by something, stems coated in mildew, and leaves covered in flakes of wood from carpenter bees digging into the wood of my neighbor's kitchen. I'll eat those 2 tomorrow if birds or a squirrel doesn't get it first.

I didn't know caterpillars would crawl in search of food. Assuming birds didn't eat them. Oh well, maybe next time they'll be more parsley and I'll get to see them stay and transition.

Seeds from maple Norway Maple have started to fall. It signals the approach of Autumn for me, yeah. The heat has been brutal this season.

Not ripe yet. Still waiting patiently for my cherry tomatoes to ripen.

The cucumbers didn't get diseased yet this summer. They're have been lots of blooms and attached cucumbers but only one small one so far.

Miniature pumpkins remain healthy.

I've been thinking of what I learned from gardening this season. Not trying to force plants to grow in places that may not meet their requirements again is my biggest lesson. Every season I try to force plants to grow where they won't be happy and some live and don't thrive but most die. Purchasing plants at the largest size that my budget allows works better for me. Nothing against 4 inch pots as initially they take up less planting space and if they survive catch up to those purchased larger.

I found many plants on my wish list at the local nursery, a little more money, but large healthy plants and lots of varieties. The problem with larger plants and more money is that you can start the same plant from seed with some patience. Cosmos, bee balm, and other plants I envied at the nursery were beautiful but I wouldn't buy a 2 quart pot when I can grow that from seed. I did buy bee balm because it's perennial but not cosmos although it was beautiful, but I'll have to try them from seed. Brunnera, bergenia and other shade perennials were beautiful plants in person. I love bergenia but it's a big plant, larger than I expected. I won't purchase it and some others because they require moist shade and I don't have moist shade in my yard. 

Mulching did help retain moisture in the yard and I've watered little this season. Growing more plants from seeds is my plan for next season. This may be a more economical way to build the flower beds and not lose money when purchased plants die. Accept that the yard is dappled shade and that many plants won't grow in the yard. Embrace those that do and plant more shade perennials. Black eyed Susan and echinacea does tolerate some shade and I'll still trying to force them to grow in the yard. I'll try again in the spring. 

Avoid calibrachoas and petunias. Although beautiful, I find them high maintenance out front and they enter periods of no bloom while waiting for new blooms. They are beautiful but can become leggy and unkept. Vincas perform better for me. Although I grow them from seed successfully they would take up too much space to grow enough so I'll buy them again. Continue to start seeds of coleus, and geraniums, and decide what perennials I'd like to try. Vegetable seedlings will be started later especially tomatoes. I love Swiss chard but my seedlings outback are still small and I don't know what happened with them. Plant more types of lettuce for the yard and radishes. Don't think I'll be putting vegetables on the porch although they did okay nothing replace growing outdoors, sunlight, and rain water. Finally, plant bulbs earlier. I say this every year. Haven't finished ordering yet. Have you started?

Future Butterflies And Parsley

And so the curley parsley enjoyed it's life basking in 90 degree heat and humidity in the tiny garden in Philly. Happy to be used in soup, poultry, and salads until... a mother butterfly searching for a host plant to safely lay it's eggs found it. Amazing what can be eaten in a few days.

It's amazing what the eye doesn't see, but I saw them almost immediately. What was a container of parsley this weekend is now stems. To think I complained about only seeing white moth butterflies in my yard. There obviously to eat broccoli and kale in the spring. Someone found the parsley. Isn't it amazing. Obviously other gardens have seen this but this is the first for me in my garden. Are they swallowtail butterflies which can be many varieties? Will they survive? They've eaten all the parsley except for stems. Will birds find and eat them before they transition to butterflies? You know I hate insects but respect their place in the environment as pollinators so crucial to plants, fruit, and vegetables. What is the role of butterflies in the food chain other than being beautiful and graceful? I'll have to read more and start with the North American Butterfly Association.

Will they transition into butterflies or be a hearty meal for the robins that love my yard?

They don't seem to like thyme.

Or my sad chives.

But 3 caterpillars ate my parsley. Will they eat the stems? Will I have to buy another plant for them?

The caterpillar crawled back after eating the last leaf and leaving evidence of it's meal on the steps.

They ate, and ate, and ate.

My Babies

Dwarf sunflowers ready to be separated into individual containers. They have their true leaves, are being watered with a weak fertilizer and roots are growing out the bottom of the containers. So I think they're ready. Can't wait to see them full sized and planted outside making heads.

Lupines only 3 healthy, although four germinated. They're the perennial type. I'm going to start more and will be thrilled if they are large enough to plant and return in spring.

The anemone Madonna snowdrop actually germinated and they aren't as tiny as I thought they'd be. Waiting patiently for the other type to germinate.

Digitalis (foxgloves). They're also larger than I thought. Getting all those to planting out size would be wonderful.

Echinacea Purpurea 

Stacys byzantina (lambs ear). I'm happy that I have some that germinated and are developing true leaves.

White swan echinacea slowly germinating in 2 containers. The other is anemone pink saucer  and a container of sunflowers that I don't think are viable. I'll wait to see since the seeds were fresh.

Not Wise & The Summer Garden

This post was written a few days ago. As is in other cities, we're having a heat wave. I took advantage of the cloudy day yesterday morning to work out front not getting a lot done due to much needed pouring rain. Going back out this morning wasn't a good idea but I didn't know in advance. The heat made me sick. I think a combination of dehydration, sun, high humidity, excessive perspiration, and the heat. Never thought I'd be one to suffer from heat exhaustion and will have to be more careful in the future. My flower bed looks a little better and I'll finish mulching on another day.

Summer has been hard on the annuals this year and many didn't do well and had to be replaced. One container of sown anemone seeds actually germinated. I expected problems. They're small and maybe with some attention, some will reach a size to plant out by fall and will return in the spring. I'm hopeful.

Replaced the impatiens.

Gloriosa lily. That's the second one. The first didn't do well will transplanting and died. Hopefully the bulb is fine when I did they up in the spring. It's kind of late and may not do much this season.

Bee Balm

Obedient Plant

In the yard. Hydrangea bought for some added color and later plans to plant them in the ground to see what happens and if they'll come back. When I got them it was a hot day and spending time sitting in the car while shopping wasn't good. Maybe 2 of 3 will survive. The columbine looks dead but some of the stems are green. I'll top it off and plant it in the ground to see if it'll return in the spring. If not hopefully the seed heads will yield some new plants.

Squirrels are still digging and feasting on any tulip bulbs not taken up.

Elephant ears finally emerged.

Waiting for the tomatoes to ripen.

Miniature pumpkins making progress and looking healthy.

Last years florist hydrangea and it retained it's blue coloration so I guess that tells me what type of soil I have. Something's been having a meal with the leaves. Maybe in several years I'll have a large bush.

I'll actually get a handful of blackberries, hopefuly. 

Spring and summer are beautiful times of year but I welcome the coming fall with cooler temperatures.