After being back at the ancestorial home, it has given me a chance to play back in the dirt and get back into gardening again. With my little pied de terre, the only thing I could do was potter with a few potted plants on the front entrance stoop. Since the pandemic, and during it, I had time to toil... it's been fun getting the gardens back in order, and then moving back much later.... the garden has had over a year. And all the laboring is paying off. The back garden went bonkers this summer. From the roses to the salvia.
Desdemona White
Can't keep up with the dead heading of the roses and the knockout roses.
Vanassa Bell
The Coneflower did very well, and I even split them and started another coneflower bed.
Soaking in the rays
The potted garden by the back door did very well. The potato vines is going crazy!
I added 4 strands of festival lights in the backyard this season hanging from the house to a tree. The extra strand a weaved into the potted garden area and it turned out great. Adds some nice light without the bright porch light or attracting bugs at night. Makes for a nice sit at night.
Some sweet Italian Basil. Smells wonderful and taste great. I had never seen it flower before. I may try a herb garden next summer.
The smoke tree in bloom
As a regular reader will tell you, I'm no fan of toad or frogs. So, it was with much puzzlement that a came across what I believe a Eastern toad. We have no water source nearby like a stream or pond, except for our three birdbaths, so not sure where he came from. And that I got this close to it is a miracle itself. I had to explain to him to make sure to keep hi distance and we'll get along fine.
I had noted yesterday as to what and where I planted things. Next year I want to double up on Fushia, delphinium and dahlias. And add in more lavender and Russian sage. Today we have my uncle, and some cousins and two good friends of the clan coming for a small cook out. I have grilled romaine, zucchini and squash planned with salmon and tofu for the vegetarians.
Happy Labor Day
It's all looking fab-u-lous, sweetie! In the words of Our Glorious Leader: "There's only one thing better than more - and that's more, more, MORE!" Jx
ReplyDeleteI've been pleasantly surprised considering I've no idea what in helll Im doing. It been lovely sitting under cover today while we had much need rain.
DeleteWith gin of course.
People always say "I'm not a gardener." When the evidence proves otherwise...
DeleteClink, clink, sweetie! Jx
I thought the same. For having no nowise, the Mistress done good.
DeleteThese are beautiful, Mads. My drought resistant plants are about to give up the ghost in this heat. I may join them.
ReplyDeleteI think our hottest days are behind us. Although to me it hasn't been a hot summer.
DeleteIt's 4:30 p.m. and 112F degrees right now. Our a/c is supposed to be set to 80. I hate you right now Mads! No, I don't. I'm just suffering from broiled brain. This too shall pass. Triple digits through Friday. Yay.
DeleteI haven't been to California in years, isn't that where you're at? You have my thoughts, Duchess Deedles. I don't know how you're standing the heat. I feel sorry for the state with all those fires. I hope they don't affect you dear.
DeleteYes, Ms Agnes. We've been in the Sacramento area for two years now. It seems we're going to hit record heat. Maybe rolling blackouts. I should be okay. I have damp towels. The fires are around some of our camping places. I find complaining helps me cool down :)
DeleteOh Miss Deedles, I can't even imagine what triple digit temperatures must be like to endure. If you're not subject to water restrictions, I'd try a cold bath to cool off your core body temperature! When summer temps rose to the mid-90s here, I used to swim/float in a cold, Precambrian Shield lake: only the top six inches warm up to about 65-70 degrees and the rest remains glacially cold underneath. That swim kept me cool all night so I could sleep!
DeleteSorry, forgot to identify myself and was published as Anonymous above, but tis I, Tundra Bunny!
DeleteAs Marylin Monroe said in the movie, Seven Year Itch-"You know what I do to keep cool when it's hot like this? I keep my undies in the freezer."
DeleteHey, Tun Bun, where do you live? Sounds nice. There are some water restrictions here and I've never been able to take a cold bath no matter how hot it gets. I can't take any bath these days because I'd need some hunky firemen to pull me out of the tub. Mores the pity.
DeleteMads, I do not wear undies if I'm not going anywhere. I thought we established this before. Diapers don't count, and those are sporadic. I'm going to go die under a fan now.
under a fan? watch those blades.
DeleteEverything looks beautiful and lush!
ReplyDeleteI have a little toad that lives in the wall behind my house. He eats bad insects.
ReplyDeleteI always though they needed a water source. I guess not. I wondered if it was my prince feeling coming to me in disguise....but Im not desperate enough to kiss it and find out.
DeleteWe've had much needed rain today..pretty much steady.
ReplyDeleteWhat delights!!!! I would say all your hard work yielded some beauty. Those roses are glorious. Hard to pick a favorite really, but the robin picture is precious. Enjoy them now, they'll be leaving before long. And I know you must be unsettled by the toad. I'm not a fan of amphibians either. The pooches sure do like the sun don't they?
ReplyDeleteHappy Labor Day!
All things beautiful as ever.
ReplyDeleteThat garden looks amazing. You did a great job on it! It's also nice to see Buster make an appearance.
ReplyDeletePoor little Buster....he is still going strong..for 13 years.
DeleteThat picture of the toad gave me chills too. If I ever move out of the city, I wouldn't mind trying a nice little garden. It all looks so pretty. Have you many birds yet? I miss all the usual suspects posts.
ReplyDeleteGrilled tofu? Yuck. The grilled veggies sound amazing though.
We do get a lot of birds, and I have yet start putting feed on the windowsills yet.
DeleteSound and looks like a great way to spend labor day.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on and stay safe
Definitely better labor day than mine. Hellish work day
ReplyDeleteYou need a back rub Adam!!!! Go drop some hints, lol!!!!
DeleteTundra Bunny here... Happy Labour Day, Mistress Maddie! Your hard work in the garden has certainly paid off -- your flowers are gorgeous. It sure looks like Buster and Lilith enjoyed lazing in the sun too. Poor Mr. Toad, he was probably just parched and looking for a drink of water or one of your famous (infamous?) Pimm's Cups, LOL!
ReplyDeleteI think I always just assumed they had to be near a water source. In all these years since my family lived here, no one remember ever seeing a toad or frog. And we just saw him again tonight.
DeleteI can only imagine that toad un-nerving you. Love the Blacked Eyed Susan.
ReplyDeleteYou could have several Only Fans with all your different talents! We won't discuss what our planters look like. This is the first time in years I hate the CA heat. It's unbearable.
ReplyDeleteI just love your roses and coneflower. It always gives a nice feeling of accomplishment when a garden gets so pretty. We had a nice summer here, so things did very well.
ReplyDeletethe garden hoe did a fine job i must say.
ReplyDeleteThe hoe worked!
DeleteSo beautiful! One of your many talents!
ReplyDeleteThe new one for me is the Smoke tree. I have never seen or heard of it. Very unusual.
ReplyDeleteSpectacular. Nothing like you and flower arranging... in a big way. I am SHOCKED you took a picture of that frog. Never give me grief again about my frog photos!
ReplyDeletePlease, I still can't believe I got that close to get that. Now he just needs to move along and find another yard.
DeleteVery beautiful!
ReplyDeleteNot fond of frogs and toads MM? They are all on the road to extinction. It's red letter day for me when one or the other comes to my water tank. Sadly that Great Blue Heron didn't come back....but then perhaps it likes frogs legs as an appetiser?
ReplyDeleteI could use a great Blue Heron about right now. I never cared for frogs or toads either Helen.
Delete