"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Flowers, food and fun!

Forget what I said in my previous post about the feel of fall in the air.  Summer has decided to stick around for a bit longer.  It's been hot!  Daily watering has become a must to keep the vegetable garden going.  Many plants in the backyard that compete with big trees have needed frequent watering too. 
With school starting back up for the kids I hope to have some more time to do some garden work that needs doing.  There are perennials that badly need to be cut back and lots of weeds that seem to popping up everywhere.

 This is the gigantic Sunflower that was only supposed to get to about 18 inches high.  I'm not sure what happened, but the leaves and flower are just huge.  It's probably about 3 feet tall, but I don't think I've ever seen such big leaves or flowers on such a small plant.  The birds will be feasting on it.

 Rose 'Honey Perfume' has started another round of blooms.

 I started all different types of Nicotianas this year, and had terrible luck with most.  Since they have gotten mixed up in my planting I'm guessing that this is Nicotiana sylvestris.  This is the third year I've tried growing it and glad to finally have at least one plant bloom.

 Rose 'Iceberg' hasn't looked as good as usual this summer, but this last flush of blooms has been much better.

 Rose 'Harlow Carr' and Geranium 'Rozanne' look so pretty together.  I keep missing a good time to get more of this flower bed.  There is a hardy fuchsia and Heuchera 'Crimson Curls' blooming with these two and it looks so pretty.

 Sedum 'Autumn Joy' is absolutely covered in Honeybees.

 Look at this forecast!  The last several days have been up in mid to high 80's too.  This has been the weirdest summer weather.  Now it decides to get hot (but I'm not complaining).

 I'm hoping that upcoming heat starts to turn these guys red!

 Hope the heat helps the Butternut Squash grow a bit bigger.  These were started from seed this year.

 Also started from seed were the Pattypan Squash.  We've been eating lots of these and they're really good!

 Found this cute sign over the weekend.  I'm not sure where it'll go, but I thought it was so cute.

 The Littlest Gardener (who is about to turn 5) loves to help water.  She has been enjoying helping me water and look for vegetables to pick in the front yard.

 Some of the fun I've been having has been redoing a couple of beds.  This bed I rarely have shown pictures of because it's sort of been a bit of a mess.  I kept trying to grow full sun plants here, but they just leaned and looked floppy.  So I took almost everything out and started over.  One little spot gets lots of sun, so I planted a Chocolate Eupatorium there.  I also added Heucheras, Astrania and a hardy fuchsia.  I left the Hydrangea 'Pinky Winky' which was new last year, Clematis 'Jackmanni' (which loves it here) and Daphne 'Summer Ice'.  My goal is to keep this bed a bit more orderly than the rest of the yard since I need to get in to water the window boxes and put a ladder in here when we clean the gutters (something that we need to do frequently since there are several large trees that drop leaves, needles and cones year round).

I've also been working some on the driveway bed which isn't quite as much fun since it's in the full hot sun.  I've been starting a few more greens that will hopefully last through the fall and into winter. 
All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress. Pin It

29 comments:

  1. Catherine, I love your big sunflower and the Nicotiana sylvestris! I also think that the bed that you have redone by the house looks quite nice. The photo with your little girl helping you watering the plants is very cute. It must be very nice for you to see her interest in the garden!
    Christina

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  2. I am impressed with the vegetable garden! It looks so lush out. I hope the tomatoes ripen, but with the warmth and the nice weather will not offer any problem.
    Your sunflower is very great, and the birds are looking forward to the party for sure;)
    Incredibly beautiful roses and lovely flowering!
    Have a nice day: o)

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  3. Catherine-your gardens are beautiful. And the rose--so pretty! I've given up finally on ever being able to grow them here. Though we have a great climate (cool summers), my incredibly sandy soil just will not support them. I guess I'll just have to come here and envy yours. Beautiful!

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  4. You have so much more color in your space than I have. I really need to work on this!

    I spent at least an hour cutting back perennials, deadheading, etc. on Labor Day morning in preparation for our extended family. There is still a lot to do here, too.

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  5. Your blooms look wonderful and your gardens so full and lush. We would love your 5 day forecast!

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  6. Catherine ~ That sunflower is amazing and I know the birds are going to enjoy it later.

    All of your blooms and garden beds are really pretty and inspiring. I love your blue color on building with the window box. full of flowers.

    Enjoy your 'hot' weather and I hope it helps your veggies reach full potential.

    Have a great day.

    FlowerLady

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  7. Even your messy bed looks nice. Enjoy the warmer weather for those nice veggies. We ate patty pan squash for the first time this year. A friend shared some and I think I may try to grow them next year. They're so darn cute too. Your littlest gardener is a good helper. That sunflower is amazing. Beautiful!

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  8. Wow Catherine. You have a lot going on there. Love the re-do of your garden. It feels so good when done and you look at all the pretty soil that will be filled in. Gorgeous roses. Littlest Gardener is precious - lucky you. Funny about your weather - we pretty much the same forecast and we are setting record low temps and calling this an early fall.

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  9. Becca - Funny your record lows are our record highs! :) I'm not sure I could handle this being a low, but I am glad to have some more sun.

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  10. You're garden is gorgeous! I keep waiting for our weather to cool down a bit so I can be out in mine. We've been almost 100 for a few weeks now.

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  11. Everything looks beautiful Catherine. Your tomatoes look wonderful. Looks like you are going to have some warm days ahead. Tell the Littlest Gardener Happy Birthday.

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  12. Your garden looks like it's in full summer mode...wow!
    Sure are giganticus sunflowers.
    Didn't grow nicotiana this year, what a neat plant to have and it produces soooo many seeds.
    Hoping your greenies turn red with the hot temps you're getting.

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  13. Autumn (or Fall) seems to have definitely arrived here in the UK - strong winds and rain. My butternut squash look about the same as yours so I am hoping we will have some sun to fatten them up soon.
    I have never managed to grow Nicotiana so well done on your one!

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  14. Wow, what a perfect sunflower. It looks like the sun! The bed looks great to me - all your hard work is paying off.

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  15. I'm so excited that at the eleventh hour we're both finally getting some summer heat! I'm tired of running around here wearing a fleece ;) Crossing my fingers that both of our tomatoes get a flush of color with this heatwave. Right now it's 94.2 F here! That sunflower by the way is impressive, I was wondering how it would turn out. You'll be able to feed all the birds in the neighborhood with that one!

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  16. Stunning! Your mini giant sunflower is hilarious, you should keep seeds and start your own line ;). We also have high 80s here all week, better late than never I suppose lol.

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  17. All your flowers look so good, and that bed that you redid looks wonderful! I was so surprised when we got back from vacation and things looked a bit crispy. I love your new fairy sign, I want one!

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  18. Sunflowers are such a great addition to a garden. Your Nicotiana must be a different variety from mine...mine are so little.
    your temps look like the utopian days and nights. We are sitting here with windows open right now....loving it!

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  19. Beautiful as always. Our icebergs here haven't done that great either- not sure why- I planted some and they are blooming but not like I know they can. I guess it is just too hot (which I understand as we are still in our drought). The mornings this week have been cool which is nice and the plants are responding and very happy you can tell. They say back into the 100's next week- hopefully they are wrong. Looks like you have a great little helped there with you helping you water. Your garden looks lush colorful and beautiful!

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  20. That sunflower is so impressive! The birds should love it. I love that nicotiana. I think I'll try some seeds next year. I also love patty pan squash - yum! But mine succumbed to the squash vine borer. The forecast and all of your garden, including the new bed, looks wonderful!

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  21. I just want to go and live in your garden. All of your plants look so happy, and there will be warm temps, and lots of watering going on...yes, I think I would like to live there, LOL.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

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  22. Those roses are incredible!! I wonder how they would do in the hot, humid southeast? Love your big sunflower. I'm sure the birds have their eyes on it, too. :o)

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  23. Hello my Washington friend! Your garden is lovely as always, and that sunflower is amazing! I'm so glad you are getting warm sun and enjoying your beautiful garden weather. I had to laugh when I saw your photo of the weather forecast. That everyday sunshine looks like Vegas, and I'm always looking up "Seattle" weather and feel envious of the rainy forecast. What a beautiful time of year you are in now. We will be visiting again in a couple of weeks. I look forward to to the "cooler" evening temps you have...I love to wear a sweatshirt hoodie! Happy Weekend to you

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  24. Do you have the name of that stunning variety of sunflower.
    That bis N. sylvetris and it even self sows sows in my garden in zone 6. Very regal looking. Thanks for sharing so much of your garden.

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  25. I appreciate the weather staying a little warmer, a little longer and even though I complained a lot about our odd summer this year, I always feel sad when summer is done and gone for the season!... So glad that you were able to enjoy the weather and spend time in your lovely garden this week. I just love that "Honey perfume rose"

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  26. Honey Perfume looks so delicious, Catherine. I'm intrigued by that last bed you featured. Your daphne is blooming! Don't you love that plant? Happy birthday to LG!

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  27. I know the feeling...it's been sweltering in Portland the past week or so...I'm really looking forward to cooler temps now! Love that combo of 'Rozanne' with the pink rose...so beautiful!

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  28. That sunflower is AMAZING! where did you get the seeds from and what variety is it? I have to get myself some :D

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  29. I love that sunflower! where did you get the seeds and what variety is it? I would love to get some of them for my garden :D

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