Good Morning Gardeners, Garden Viewers, In Ground Gardeners, Container Gardeners, Hanging Pots and Growing Bags Gardeners, Indoor and Outdoor Gardeners! We’re here every Saturday (and some of us hang around during the week) so please come by and ask questions if you need gardening advice, share your own photos. Herbs, Vegetables, Flowers. It’s all welcome here as are you. We like pet and cute animal photos, too! I’m here to share what’s been growing (ummm...or NOT) on lately……
The growing season has been difficult. Spring had mild temperatures interspersed with spikes into the 90’s. When that happens, plants will bolt (just learned that the other day reading about growing the cabbage family (brassicas) of vegetables. Rain has been somewhat sparse. We’re considered an Abnormally Dry area according to the drought maps. And that’s why there are only a couple of vegetable photos. Normally, I’d be writing about the veggie garden this month. Hopefully next month.
On top of the drought issue, I had a month long upper respiratory infection that had the same symptoms as Omicron but was NOT. A bunch of rapid tests and a PCR test were all negative, thankfully. The gardens only got minimal attention during that time, mainly watering. So, today is a couple of vegetable photos and then LOTS OF FLOWERS. Thank you to my neighbors and their gardens along my morning walk. Couldn’t have done this diary without all of you!
The major veggie successes so far have been the zucchini and green beans. LOTS of green beans. That is NOT an eggplant as some folks asked me. Just a very dark green zucchini. And it was very tasty. I have more coming along!
Lettuce has only been “okay” so far. I plan to replant some at the end of August/early September if the temperatures are cooling off. The high temperature spikes definitely were not good for these types. I’m looking for something a bit sturdier and more heat tolerant for next year.
SUNFLOWERS! All these from the same garden. They are taller than me. I was hiding behind one trying to get a photo of a male Goldfinch on one of the flower seed centers. This is one of my favorite gardens. And it comes with a Chocolate Lab who loves to play fetch!
Two kinds of container flower gardening….this in a friend’s yard.
One of several huge planters in the walking/biking lane of the nearby park. Anyone know what the red flower is? Someone added Sunflowers after the Petunias and red flower were planted.
More from the Sunflower Garden neighbor! Brown Eyed Susans and another red flower I don’t know the name of…..
Lovely dark pink/wine colored Poppy.
More Brown Eyed Susans….they seem do do extremely well in the overly dry environment.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea). Another drought tolerant flower.
This greenish-white Hollyhock also seems to be fine with a lot less water. It was over 5 feet tall.
Another neighbor grows Zinnias. I thought this one had an almost heart shaped center. So consider this a hug to all of you!
Zinnia growing neighbor also usually has lots of Dahlias. So far, I haven’t seen as many but those that have bloomed are lovely.
I noticed these two Sunflowers down in the bed of the stream that runs through my neighborhood. Reminded me of the toughness and determination of our Ukrainian friends. We can follow their example, my friends. Stay hopeful!
Thanks for visiting today! Let us know what’s going on in your gardens or your neighborhood’s gardens. And, as always, WE LOVE PHOTOS!!!