At the moment, some parts of the garden look pretty good
I did not expect a precipitous learning curve from Cosmos. I got one.
Timing of the seed sowing? The heavy May-Gray and June-Gloom? Inept pricking out and potting? Inept pinching? Insufficient starter fertilizer? The seed package advised, "best sown in place", meaning directly in the chosen location. I tried that two years ago. Many healthy seedlings appeared. Then they all vanished--due to slugs, earwigs, blankety-blank rabbits?
This year I sowed Cosmos seeds in cells, separating some because more than one seedling appeared per cell. They seemed to lag because of a long stretch of all-day May-Gray/June-Gloom. I was attentive, yet they all look rather etiolated, even though they were on a sunny--well, if it wasn't overcast it was sunny-- patio, and I knew to pinch them to make them bushier so as to get more flowers.
Hmmm...
This week I planted Cosmos anywhere there was a sunny spot in the ground. Thankfully, within a day or two of planting they looked better. The first seeds planted, old ones from last year, produced four plants which are close to flowering size now. So that's my Cosmos learning curve. Now, the wait for flowers. In the meantime, other plants currently worth looking at. The three Leucospermum seedlings are growing:
Ditto some late foxgloves:A favorite Gerbera:Hemerocallis that may or may not be 'Victorian Lace' is having a very good year. Agave 'Blue Glow' with a white Gaura (Gaura is called something else now?), Calylophus hybrid and Centaurea ragusinaAgave ovatifolia with the Centaurea:Big silvery cones now on Leucadendron galpinii. It's still surprisingly happy in a pot:As is Leucadendron 'Ebony': Same plant, glamour lighting: 'Holyhill Spiderwoman' Dahlia:
No name Fuchsia:Hydrangea, Agapanthus, Hybiscus syriacus 'Chateau de Versailles' Agapanthus 'Storm Cloud'(?): Here is the area where I spent a lot of time earlier this year digging and removing a beautiful but rampaging Eriocapitella. Since that first big removal two additional removals of sprouts that appeared. I filled the area with Dahlias and a few other plants, and planted a few Cosmos here and there in the empty spots: Back in March:
'Princess Alexandra of Kent' rose saved from being ruined by hot weather:Coming up on three months since surgery, knee is doing very well. I'm mostly always walking without a cane and can do quite a lot in the garden again--not everything, but quite a lot. Spot-watering and deadheading, the sum total of summer gardening here, is easily doable.
Natasha--we have found and are working with a new Veterinarian to try to diagnose her continuing issues. All in all, she's feeling pretty well. Boris is well.
Looking good there! *Glad to hear your knee is healing, and I hope Natasha is on the same healing train soon. That Gerbera is gorgeous. You'll have comos blooming in no time. I did plant in place, and got only one "cosmo" to come up. I'll try your solution next time.
ReplyDeleteI'll see how these not-planted-in-place ones do...what do you suppose got yours?
DeleteSo hard to know, they were near the veggie garden - I would blame snails, but I have Sluggo all around there. I will blame grasshoppers, eerrrgh.
DeleteYour garden looks great to me, HB, especially as we're on the cusp of July. I've had generally poor luck with Cosmos, whether sown by seed or planted from 6-packs. They inevitably mildew in short order here even when I take pains to avoid watering them overhead.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that your recovery from knee surgery is going smoothly. Crossing my fingers that Natasha's new vet gets to the bottom of the problem. Give both B&N a pat for me.
Natasha's bottom is part of the problem. :(
DeleteSome of the garden looks great, other parts not so much. No photos of those parts! Thanks for detailing some issues with Cosmos. They are an experiment. It will be educational to see what happens. I do not see them planted much around here. We do have such a wealth of South African daisies to enjoy in our climate.
Cosmos can be tricky. In our climate they are ubiquitous. Planting them out as transplants works really well but as they grow quickly, timing is everything. Glad to hear you are able to get out into your garden and start doing stuff and that your knee is on the mend.
ReplyDeleteOur long spell of overcast seemed to be most of what was making them so etiolated. Timing, yes indeed with an annual the timing. More important for you--here the growing season is longer--not sure if that will help Cosmos or not.
DeleteI think Gaura have been moved to be a kind of Primula, which surprised me given how different they seem from English and Asian moisture-loving types. Love the color of that Agapanthus!
DeleteI looked it up: Gaura went into Oenothera, which kind of makes sense because some Oenotheras are kinda weedy. Yes I love that Agapantus color too. It's luscious!
DeleteFunny how "easy" plants can challenge even experienced gardens. Quite a few people seem to have trouble getting California poppies established. Here they grow like weeds.
ReplyDeleteLeucadendron galpinii in a pot. Note to myself: must duplicate.
CA poppies not near as happy here as Hunnemmania fumariifolia But, that's here.
DeleteAlso noticing your galpinii in a pot -- this is the cone bush that grows 30 miles up the coast in the ground at the Wonder Garden, zone 9, which sounds comfy but there was snow and ice this past winter, yet it looks to be flourishing on a berm with excellent drainage. So glad your knee is on the mend and hopefully Natasha's issues will be sorted. Cosmos, such a simple plant to grow they say...not! Mine started from seed in April are fat and budding up so maybe this year...
ReplyDeleteL. galpinii my nominee for most quietly elegant Leucadendron. Becoming threatened in their native habitat, unfortunately. :(
DeleteCosmos in the ground here and growing--hoping for buds soon. At least there are Dahlias. And Agapanthus, and cupheas, salvias, roses. Okay, not short of flowers at the moment, but Cosmos would be nice too.
Leuocodendron 'Ebony' is gorgeous. Wish I could grow those up here. The super unpleasant July heatwave has arrived. Multiple days in the 100s forecasted. Difficult to be outside and even more difficult to keep up on watering. Once again, I've lost some new plants. Makes me wonder when I will learn not to plant so much during spring when it seems all is right with the world. Cosmos - my intuition says maybe the cell packs are too small for a plant that wants to get large rapidly? They really do look better once you get them in the ground. Very pleasing Gerbera. I am always tempted to bring a few home from our summer experiments, but they don't survive winter very well. Such a beautiful, bright flower with great symmetry.
ReplyDelete'Ebony' is a little tricky here, even. CA Bay area right along the bay seems to be their sweet spot. Gorgeous yes I pass by them multiple times a day and still pause to admire.
DeleteSaw on the weather news NW Oregon is getting hit with the heat--sorry to hear it's very hot for you and the garden. Take care out there if you must go out in extreme heat. Gerbera you might see if you can houseplant them for the winter--but the kitties might have ideas?