June 29, 2009

Cannas

Just one of the many canna plantings.





Cannas are a durable staple of CG's garden.





They can tolerate extreme weather conditions, and don't require being dug-up for winterizing here in zone 7B.







The red ones seem to be the first to bloom; yellow, orange, peach, and speckled red/yellow should be coming soon.

June 27, 2009

Daylilys

All of the non-stella daylilys seem to be blooming all at the same time.

The deep wine colored ones are a favorite:



This one (mis-labelled at the nursery) is CG's favorite:

June 17, 2009

Wednesday Garden Tour

The Canna Lilys are just starting to bloom

Daylilys are at their peak

(these were tagged as a Joan Senior daylily -obviously not, but they're keepers)

the stellas are preparing to make another round of blooming

the crepe myrtles are less than a week away from being in full bloom

and finally, the bumper crop of lettuce is looking more and more appetizing

(the cucumbers are doing ok, just not looking too photogenic at the moment)

June 15, 2009

Mid June Landscape Notes

  1. no periods of extended drought, so far
  2. attempt to grow orange phlox from bagged rootings hasn't worked
  3. California poppies don't like extended and prolonged periods of rainfall (yet 3 have survived)
  4. dallis grass continues to be a problem in the front/back yards
  5. wine colored Japanese iris were a big success in the front bed
  6. need to mark Peruvian daffodils (so they can be dug-up this fall)
  7. no annuals were planted this year
  8. a few burning bushes are looking weak
  9. need to move 1 azalea bush this fall (others are spaced ok)
  10. need to make a trellis for the clematis vine in the farm bed

June 8, 2009

Picasso Canna Lily

Although not a true lily, canna lilys are hardy (Zone 7A), foolproof plants.

The picasso canna is one of CG's favorites.

The variegated leaf with a red edge make it distinguishable from other cannas.

(CG has an over-abundance of these,

and is always looking to trade plants!)

Joan Senior


It's the closest all-white daylily that CG could find.


3 pots were bought last fall.

The plants were divided, and now there are 6 healthy, blooming daylilys.


not solid white, but close enough






The 'all-white' rock island bed is filling-in nicely.

Blooming has transitioned smoothly from the daffodils, candy tuft, and now with the Joan Senior daylilys.

(The white crepe myrtles and white reblooming iris are still to come!)

June 2, 2009

Practice

One of the dwarf burning bushes was spotted sporting an interesting leaf today



maybe its early practice for the fall

May 29, 2009

Red Asiatics & LA Iris

While the yellow asiatics are the current center piece in the backyard, the reds haven't disappointed along the front sidewalk.





Deep, dark red, or brilliant bright red- depending on the degree of sunlight that is cast on them.



There's a few dozen of them...will wait till the fall to divide the massed clumps.



and, the Louisiana iris:

(the strongest of the 3)

CG hasn't been able to find the ideal 8-8-8 fertilizer, but they seem to be doing ok.

the beds are lacking somewhat now, CG will be keeping a keen eye for $1 specials on asiatics (need more late spring/early summer blooms)

May 27, 2009

Wednesday Garden Tour

New blooms this week include the yellow "Bright Pixie" asiatic lilys.
The outside dogs are doing a good job at keeping any would-be lily-munching rabbits away.
There are a lot more of these lilys compared to last year
(after the doggies received remedial anti-rabbit training)
the stella d'oro daylilys are performing amazingly:

the overly-elegant Peruvian Daffodils are still going,
maybe next year, a mass planting will be in order.
veggies are coming-on strong.

May 16, 2009

Vegetables

The cucumbers continue to do well, and the lettuce sprouts need to be thinned-out. The fresh salad is more than a few weeks away, and is being anxiously awaited.



May 15, 2009

Mid May Landscape Notes

  1. was able to establish a good start of ground cover (ajuga & creeping jenny) in the side front bed
  2. front yard grass is better than last year, but still too many weeds
  3. debating on whether to move last large daylily in the farm bed, or, wait till the fall
  4. May 9 thru May 24 is not an ideal time to be away for annual training (missing too many cool weather gardening days)
  5. the river birch that was moved out of the front bed is about 75% when compared to its siblings...did some vertical fertilizing...hope it helps
  6. crepe myrtles look good...anxious for more height and fullness
  7. front bed lirope looks good...cut it back at just the right time (early february)
  8. not sure if california poppies are worth the effort
  9. would be nice if dwarf burning bushes could average 5' next spring
  10. clematis growing and blooming within the azeala bush is a nice effect

May 14, 2009

Success!

The Peruvian daffodils not only survived, they're blooming!

CG planted them at least a month too early, and was afraid that all of them had transcended-on to greener pastures. He also thought a package of only 3 had been planted, but 5 PD's have been spotted. The blooms are delicate and appear fragile, but they have weathered a few severe storms without any damage.

(and the stella d'oro daylilys have started their summer-long blooming)