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End to Our Drought?

September 2, 2011 at 4:36 am (Gardening, Weather)
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“End to Our Drought”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana

Looks like this long Labor Day weekend should bring an end to our drought with tropical weather forecasted to cover the Gulf Coast.

 

BERJAYA

 

The weather center is predicting that we could get up to 15 to 20 inches of rain over the next three days. Of course, I would like the rain, but not that much.

It seems it is either feast or famine when it comes to rain around here. I’m just hoping my garden doesn’t float away.

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Nothing Going On

August 28, 2011 at 5:48 pm (Gardening)
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“Nothing Going On”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana

I haven’t been posting lately because nothing has been happening in my garden. It has been hot, hot, hot and dry, dry, dry. Which means that nothing is blooming and very little is growing. We had about ten days of rain starting on July 15, but that has stopped. I have gone back to watering the garden every day and the container plants sometimes twice a day.

The few summer annuals I planted for a little seasonal color look pathetic. The ones that have survived are small and look stunted. Only the caladiums and coleus I have in pots still look okay. I am going to cut back a few of the annuals and then hope that when the cooler weather arrives, they will do better and look okay through October. The ones I don’t think will improve with cooler temps will be pulled out. I think this is the worst my garden has ever looked during the summer. It has been very discouraging.

In the garden, the perennials are surviving, but they really have not grown at all. I have lost a few plants. I was disappointed to lose the Little Lime hydrangea I bought this spring. It was doing fine until we got all that rain at the end of July and the humidity soared. I don’t think the pee gee hydrangeas can take our heat and high humidity. At least, that is my hypothesis since it was doing so well until then.

There have been a few bright spots showing up in the last week or so. One of the clematis I received as a Valentine present has bloomed, and another has a bud.

Nelly Moser has finally bloomed.

 

BERJAYA

 

While these were bare root when I planted them in February, I never thought I would have to wait until August to see a flower. I guess that is what can happen when there is so little rain for six months.

Hopefully, when this unusual, extreme heat and dry weather is replaced by cooler fall weather, my garden will pop back, and there will be more to share with you.

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Tastes Change

August 3, 2011 at 6:01 pm (Color)
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“Tastes Change”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana

High summer here means that with very hot temperatures most of the garden flowers have taken to resting. A few of the heat lovers are still hanging on, but there are not too many. When cooler temperatures come back in October, flowering will start again.

But right now, it is mainly foliage plants with a few flowers here and there that are bringing color. I have noticed that over the last two years, I have added orange to my garden color palette. I never used to like orange, but it has grown on me and in the right area does look good. Until recently, I hated orange colored flowers. I never planted orange marigolds, zinnas, or impatiens. Just didn’t like that color. But, tastes change.

I think the first orange bloomer I planted was a canna called Tropical Sunrise. This is its the third year in the garden, and there is a nice clump now.

 

BERJAYA

 

This is planted near an orange coleus I purchased this spring. As soon as I saw this bright coleus, I knew it would be perfect placed near this particular canna and an orange daylily.

 

BERJAYA

 

The daylily that is sharing the border with the coleus and canna is an old one passed along to me.

 

BERJAYA

 

When the daylily bloomed next to Rustic Orange coleus, it was a great pairing just as I had imagined it would be.

 

BERJAYA

 

To these orange colored plants I have to mention the orange hibiscus I wrote about recently and an orange lantana given to me by my sister.

 

BERJAYA
It is funny how your tastes change over the years. I never thought I would have so much orange, I flower color I disliked, in my garden.

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A Water Lover

July 29, 2011 at 8:44 am (Gardening)

“A Water Lover”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana

Be very careful what you wish for. We still are getting rain, way too much rain in too short a time. We have been suffering from a very severe drought, so you would think this rain is welcomed. Well, a large part of it was, but now too much. Several trees in the neighborhood have fallen over because of over saturated soils. Makes me a little nervous to see that happen. Fortunately, none have hit any homes.

So, we have had some rain every day since St. Swithen’s Day (July 15), and I am really starting to get worried about that forty day thing.

While the rain was needed for the garden and all the plants have perked up and started growing, one in particular has really enjoyed this rain. The hibiscus coccineus or Texas Star is loving the extra moisture and showing it with its gorgeous red flowers that have been popping out nonstop since the rain starte. Another common name for this plant is swamp hibiscus which shows its love of wet areas.

 

BERJAYA

 

Because of the drought, there is not many plants blooming here (but buds are forming so there should be some flowers soon) which makes this large red flower stand out even more. This is a perennial hibiscus that returns each spring.

I always let a few flowers go to seed. I use these new plants to add to the already growing Texas Star area to make a bigger clump of them or to start a new section of these bushes in other garden spots.

With all the rain we have been having it is a good thing this plant likes water.

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Mystery of Nature

July 26, 2011 at 7:01 am (Color, Flowers)
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“Mystery of Nature”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana

What causes flowers to change colors?

In the past I have noticed that flowers will change colors especially in colder temperatures. Knockout roses will be darker in cold temperatures and certain camellia flowers will also darken in colder weather. This is due to the fact that certain colors’ chemical composition responds to temperature.

But what causes the flowers of identical plants to be different colors? I have two hibiscus plants that are blooming in a dark and a light color. I have had these plants for years, and in fact, one of these is from a cutting of the other, and this year they are sporting different colors.

 

BERJAYA

Hibiscus, Light

 

BERJAYA

Hibiscus, Dark

 

Now, the lighter color is how this hibiscus has bloomed for years. It is more of a peach color. The darker flower is definitely orange. Both of these plants are in containers, next to one another, and have been fertilized, watered, etc. the same. So, why are the flowers a different color? And why now after so many years? I could understand if both were blooming the same darker color, but not one light and one dark. And with the heat we have been experiencing, it can’t be a result of one being in a cooler temperature.

One of the mysteries of nature, I guess.

Update on the St. Swithen’s Day rain forecast: If you read my previous entry, I just wanted to keep you posted on the rain. Yes, it has rained every day since that posting. I am almost ready to believe that forty day forecast of rain.

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St. Swithen’s Day Rain

July 23, 2011 at 11:03 am (Gardening, Weather)
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“St. Swithen’s Day Rain”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana

Ten inches short on rain in 2010 and twelve inches short on rain so far for 2011 puts us in the extreme dry category. The drought is not over here, but it does seem to be abating. After less than two inches of rain for the months of April, May, and June, we have started to return to a normal pattern of rain showers. Halleluiah! The rain started on July 15th and hasn’t stopped. Now, I will admit that a few of those days had only a tiny amount of rain, but it was enough to keep the ground from drying out.

What does this have to do with St. Swithen’s Day? There is an old English proverb about the weather on St. Swithen’s Day (July 15) that dates from Elizabethan times which states

St. Swithin’s day if thou dost rain
For forty days it will remain
St. Swithin’s day if thou be fair
For forty days ’twill rain nae mair.

I know we need rain, but I don’t know about forty days of it. This morning we had a nice shower of over an inch which really helps not only with the garden but also with keeping the temperatures down. (I feel for the northern parts of the country which are not used to the heat that we live with June through September.) However, now we could use a few rainless days for things to dry out. (Never thought I’d say that!)

 

BERJAYA

Rain-filled Container

 

BERJAYA

This morning's rain

 

One very nice thing about this rain is the showing up of the Rain lilies. I discovered one yesterday and was so surprised to see it. They have not bloomed in such a long time that I forgot I had them in the garden. Since they need a soaking rain to start blooming and we haven’t had one of those in months, it is no wonder they haven’t bloomed before now.

 

BERJAYA

 

The folklore about St. Swithen’s day and the rain we have had since that day reminds me of another old saying “Be careful what you wish for.”

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Container Solution

July 20, 2011 at 8:36 am (Containers)
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“Container Solution”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana

Finally, we have had some rain. Just like so many areas in the country this summer, we are still in an extreme drought, but 2 inches of rain over the last four days has helped. Of course, even with this rain, we are still way below our normal rainfall, but it is nice to be free from dragging hoses around the garden for a few days. Because of the drought, not very much is going on in the garden this year as in past years. Hardly anything is blooming because I think the dryness and heat seems to be really stressing plants out. They are just staying alive and not really growing. I am hoping the recent rain will help this as it usually does.

Because of the drought, that started back in late March, I have not dared to plant several small shrubs that I purchased in late winter. I am holding them over till either we get more rain or early fall arrives. Because of this, I am using more containers in the garden than ever. Before, I used containers mainly on the patio or front entry, and they consisted of annuals or tropical plants. Gradually, I stopped planting those, especially the tropicals, because it just got to be too much trouble to overwinter them. I only kept a few favorites in pots or hanging baskets.

Starting last year when I pretty much stopped planting annuals in the garden, I did make a few containers of colorful coleus and placed them in areas were the ground was not suitable for planting. This gave spots of color without too much work.

This year as I was contemplating a problem spot in the entry garden, I thought of containers as a solution. The area where I needed “something” was under a Kwansan cherry tree and so did not get much sun. In the past when I planted coleus there, they didn’t do well – leggy, sparse looking. Impatiens took too much water, hosta even failed, and tree roots didn’t make for any deep planting of other shade plants. Finally, I decided to go with containers and thought caladiums (notice the raindrops) should do well. I just wish I would have thought of this earlier.

 

BERJAYA

 

Since this is the entry garden and makes that all important first impression, that bare spot really stood out. Now, with the three blue pots of red caladiums and one pot of Persian Shield in the back, this area looks so much better and blends in nicely with the rest of that garden area which has filled out well since spring. I only wish I would have thought of this container solution sooner.

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A Little Lime

July 10, 2011 at 7:05 pm (Flowers, Shrubs)
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“A Little Lime”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana

Lime green or chartreuse is now a very popular garden color. We’ve all added Marguerite sweet potato vines or lime green coleus plants to our containers and gardens. Growers have come out with lime green versions of many of our favorite plants – jewels of opar, geraniums, pineapple sage, and heuchera come to mind, but one lime green plant that has really made a splash recently is Limelight hydrangea. When this first came out a few years ago, I wanted this plant something awful, but never had the right place for it. Now, Little Lime, a smaller version of Limelight, has hit the nurseries, and as soon as I saw this plant, I grabbed it. When I purchased this, it was not in bloom, but now there are gorgeous lime-colored flowers all over this bush.

 

BERJAYA

 

Little Lime is one third the size of Limelight which makes it a better fit for my garden. As an established garden, there isn’t that much space available for big shrubs. Little Lime is supposed to grow about 36 to 60 inches tall whereas Limelight grows 72 to 96 inches tall.

The big selling point of this shrub is the flowers. They have opened to the promised soft green and are lovely. I love this color. It is perfect for summer, and in autumn the flowers will turn pink and then burgundy. That should be nice to see also.

 

BERJAYA

 

Hardy in zones 3 to 9 and not as water dependent as Hydrangea macrophylla all make this a very nice garden addition. Even with our drought conditions this little shrub is doing well. I can’t wait to see it in a few years when it reaches its mature size. It may be Little Lime, but it sure is a big plus in my book.

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Still More Daylilies

June 30, 2011 at 7:58 pm (Flowers, Gardening, Perennials)
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“Still More Daylilies”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana

The daylilies just don’t seem to stop. I didn’t realize how many daylilies I have added to my garden in the last three years until I started taking photos of them as they opened. I wish I would have started with these lovelies years earlier.

This is one is I received from my sister who in turn got it from my mother. I just love having plants from relatives and friends. Every time I see one of those plants, I think about the generous gardener who shared their plants with me.

 

BERJAYA

 

Here are some others that have bloomed recently.

 

BERJAYA

 

I think this next one is the first daylily I ever bought. It is called Plum Tree and is a terrific bloomer. The flowers are on the small side, but the quantity of blooms makes up for the size.

 

BERJAYA

 

BERJAYA

 

All of my red daylilies are in the garden bed around our front entry. This is only the second year that I have had any red daylilies, but I can’t wait to add more. This is one I bought in 2010, and it was just labled “Daylily, Red”. It is too pretty to have such a plain name.

 

BERJAYA

 

Finally, one of my newest daylilies, a miniature one called Pocket Change. I purchased this one at the New Orleans Garden show in April, and even though they were bare root, all four of the plants bloomed. These are planted in the very front of the garden bed since the flowers are small and the stems are short.

 

BERJAYA

 

Just a few more daylilies left to post, but that posting will have to wait for another day since working in the garden today has left me so tired tonight.

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Night Bloomer

June 28, 2011 at 7:31 pm (Flowers)
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“Night Bloomer”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana

It is a good thing the night blooming cereus doesn’t require a lot of water. As I have mentioned before, we are in the midst of a serious drought. Today, we missed two showers. When the sky darkens, the temperatures drop, and the wind picks up, it is so discouraging not to get any rain. I keep saying to myself that we will get rain eventually.

But, back to the cereus. This lovely plant has started blooming, and I have been up early enough in the morning to see a flower.

 

BERJAYA

 

Here in south Louisiana, my plant stays outside year round. It is in a container and in the winter I just put it in a protected area and cover it only if a freeze is predicted. So far all of mine have come through the winter okay.

This is such an easy plant to take care of – a little sun and a little water is all that is needed. It is also easy to propagate – just stick a piece into the ground and you have a plant. I love that it blooms only at night. During the summer it is nice to stay up late, go outside and see this large white flower. Kind of makes up for not getting any rain.

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