Mind you, I grew up in Northern Europe, where a nice summer afternoon came with temperatures in the high sixtees and 80 degrees meant a heat wave. So, living in the Southern U.S. took some getting used to. And being a
Georgia Gardener presents its challenges.
This is spring; summer is still a few weeks away, but let me assess the state of growth in my landscape. On the annuals front, the Angelonias and the Sweet Potatoes, as well as many of the Petunias, are doing well. I’ve added a few Alternanthera Joseph’s Coat today, and a bunch or Portulaca. So far, so good.
The perennials that are doing well are another Alternanthera (‘Gail’s Choice’) and most of the Salvias. But some did not come back from last year; that includes an Argentina, a Mystic Spires and the one expensive Black & Blue I added to my garden (the three ‘cheapies’ are doing just great!). The ‘Cherry Queen’ is blooming its little heart out, as are three new ‘Hot Lips’. Several van Houtii varieties are doing well.
A Lampranthus (ice pant) is magnificent again, now in its third year in my garden, but this is the first year in which not one of my Lantana came back; oh, well! Joe Pye Weed, meanwhile, has never looked healthier (or bigger, at this time of the season).
The Daylilies are just beginning to bloom and they look heroic, but one cannot help but wonder if they wouldn’t be happier in Pennsylvania or Kansas. The Lavender is spectacular, as ever, but the flowers droop in the afternoon heat. The Shasta Daisies, if given the chance, would probably vote for transplanting to New York or Illinois. The Verbena Bonariensis (‘Standing Verbena’) is in full bloom and the Japanese Aster is showing its first flowers. I recently added a Physostegia virginiana (Obedient Plant) to my garden and am looking forward to seeing it bloom later in the year. I’m also the fortunate recipient of some Virginia Sweetspire cuttings (three out of four are doing well and the fourth one, though seemingly rather ‘critical’, isn’t quite dead yet).
The Foxgloves have been blooming very nicely this year, but the Hollyhocks, though blooming profusely, don’t look all that happy (the ones I had in my garden in Surrey, England, were so much more perky!). I have a gigantic outdoor Plectranthus, which does not look like a Plectranthus, and a much smaller indoor one, which does – the latter in bloom, the former just getting bigger by the day. The Phloxes are looking great – no blooms yet, but such vigorous growth! And so are the Yarrows (white and ‘Paprika’) – I just bought a new one (pink) yesterday and am looking after it in its pot until I decide on just the right place for it in my landscape.
Last year, without question, the Salvia was my favorite perennial; this year, it might well turn out to be the Yarrow.
For several days already, the Japanese beetles ("June bugs") have been in evidence in my garden. I've seen two Black Widow spiders so far, grasshoppers are everywhere, as are the little gray snails that are finding too many tasty plants to feast on, and this morning I saw this butterfly napping under a leaf of one of my Hyacinth bean vines.
As seemed probable, a week or two ago, I did misname that other Daylily. This is the Chinese Princess. It's in full bloom now and a joy to see every morning, but I certainly must to a better job of keeping track of which name belongs to which plant. Phew!
The Monarda looks better this year than ever before. attributable to . . . . lots of rain in early spring? Hot, hot days in late spring? The right location (afternoon sun) in my garden? Who knows; I'm simply gratified that it's so very showy in June 2009.
Yellow is not my favorite color, but who can resist a dill like this? It looks beautiful, it smells great, and its taste is delicious. There's enough of it in my garden for the caterpillars that have started to show up, and to use in my kitchen.
One of the four trial plants sent to me last month, the Verbena (Homestead Carpet Red), has now clearly decided to live. Not only that, but it is also sending forth an entire bouquet of blooms.
