Good morning, and it's over. Welcome to Saturday Morning Garden Blogging.
Not unusually for the slide from one season to another, Denver's temperatures have been bouncing like a ping pong ball.
Last weekend we were in the 90s; on Thursday the high was a mere 71° and the overnight low slid down to 47°.
For Labor Day weekend, we go back into highs in the mid 90s for Saturday and Sunday, but on Labor Day the forecast high is for the low 70s.
But in all the fast changes, we haven't had any rain and there is no moisture in the immediate outlook. I'd really love to have a couple of days of cool, soaking rains.
One of the big challenges in a small, urban garden such as mine is figuring out how to fit in everything which one wants to grow.
Rose of Sharon is a very popular plant here, and I really wanted one — but I didn't have space for a bush with a 6' spread. Instead, about ten years ago I bought a Rose of Sharon in gallon pot, planted it close to our privacy fence where the Mister had installed cedar lattice, and have since trained the Rose of Sharon in an informal espalier against the fence. I say "informal" because, rather than train the branches in rigid lines I've instead "flattened" it, giving the effect of a tree that's been pressed between sheets of glass.
It's one of the coolest things I've done but I now have to make a decision: the Rose of Sharon has now topped the height of the fence so I'm deciding whether I should let it keep growing up, or if I should top it off at fence height. I like that it has an actual rounded bush shape against the fence and I'll lose that if I top it, changing it to a flat top. On the other hand, with nothing to lash it too I'm afraid I'll end up with a pony-tail top knot exploding over the fence.
So I dunno — I guess I'll see what happens next year and, if at the end of next year's growing season it looks too weird I'll cut the pony tail and go for a flat top.
I'm also figuring out what I want to finally end up with in my backyard beds. The east bed, where the Rose of Sharon is, is pretty messed up right now. Ever since we put the addition on the house back in 2003 I've never quite gotten a handle on what to do with the changed light pattern. Iris have done pretty well there, but those are a short-term burst of color in May — I need other blossoms. I tried lilies but they don't get quite enough light and end up flopping forward despite efforts at staking them upright; ditto with gladiolus. Besides, I really hate having to stake dozens of plants.
However there is a spot where delphiniums seem to be quite happy which is quite a boon. I've been trying for years to find a good space for delphiniums, one of the few flowers that go to true, clear blue.
Labor Day weekend is a time for looking back and considering what worked and what can be worked on for the next gardening season.
That's what's happening here. What's going on in your gardens?