Even our modest local park was magic during the "magic hour".
A long stretch of low 90'sF(~33C) is ending. The days were spent indoors relishing air conditioning, except for the very early morning hour just after sunrise. I dog-walked every day.
That hour just after sunrise is the best time of day:
Back home in the garden, what managed to look good despite the heat?The Cosmos, late-planted, triumphed anyway:
Phalenopsis, living outdoors for the summer, grew new roots and new leaves:And sprouted new flowering stems from the old ones:Protea 'Sylvia' usually flowers most in August and September. The heat scorched the flowers somewhat this year:Another round of Hemerocallis oblivious to heat. No wonder I keep them: Extra big flush of new flowers from Russelia. A heat lover, for sure:Lagerstromias, still good:Calylophus 'Southern Belle' is tough as nails, but the one plant in partial shade looked happiest Leafless at this time of year, Drimia maritima......blooms its blooms:As the flowers open, the stems twist and bend:Flower stem emerging on Aloe reitzi, the harbinger of Aloe season to come: The various Yucca 'Bright Star's do not bloom all at once. This extends the season of interest and their moment of glory:
Neighboring the Yucca, Hesperaloe parviflora, has sent up another flowering stem:
Zero Catharanthus purchased this year, but a couple of volunteer seedlings are reminders this is a good plant in summer heat:
Poor Dahlia crop this year, but any Dahlia is likely a gorgeous Dahila. Happy about the ones I got:
Miraculously, a Zinnia flower, to remind me to plant Zinnia seeds on the first of May next year instead of the middle of July:
Zephyranthes candida, fresh and sweet despite heat. I feel cooler just looking at those starry white blooms:
Many toasted roses, and then there's 'Belinda's Dream':Pentas thriving:Out there again soon, soon. Looking forward to it.Is your gardening in a lull now, or is it fun out there?
We are just getting over a long stretch of 90s too. It was thrilling to see next week's forecast with highs in the 70s! I'm ready for fall. I have Russelia in a pot and it has been spectacular all summer.
ReplyDeleteThe Russelia had a good summer. I cut then right down to the ground last fall and it refreshed them wonderfully.
DeleteI can't say there's much fun in the garden as a whole but my cutting garden "sparks joy" even though I see the first signs of mildew developing on the zinnias and I've started cutting away the ugly bits of dead foliage here and there. Two more dahlias (new this year) are slowly unfurling their first blooms and there's now just one plant that has thus far refused to produce a bud.
ReplyDeleteYour views of the local park are dreamy and you uncovered a lot of beauty in your garden despite the heat. I broke my (nebulous) rule about planting in summer and bought 2 varieties of Catharanthus, both with delightful but tiny flowers - they haven't blinked at the hot, dry conditions at all so they're worth the investment. Fingers crossed for cooler temperatures.
I'm pro-garden joy, and it seems like your cutting garden brought joy not just to you but many more via your IVOMs and flowers-set-out-on-the-curb.
DeleteNow the 25th, and two days of cooler weather, boy was that a long wait!
Wow, those beginning photos are indeed magic! You've got quite a lot that's looking great. I've got a bit of both, am enjoying 80's now before it goes back up to mid 90's. Your Russelia looks so grand bursting over the wall.
ReplyDeleteThe Russelia in particular seemed to love the heat.
DeleteYour garden is looking great and seems to be holding it's own with the heat. The Drimea infloresence is really cool. Love the twisting stems. My garden is still looking good though it is need of some rain. A full month of unusual moisture has allowed everything to grow lush and very tall. Now that the typical hot and dry is here they are suffering a bit from their early exuberance. Still it's a grand send off to the end of the summer.
ReplyDeleteGarden managed better than gardener, who is still wilted. Best wishes for every good day for your garden, before frost.
DeleteBeautiful sunrise photos, wow! I'm still half asleep at sunrise, so I'm usually more successful with sunset photos. LOL. I'm glad your 90s are lessening. We had a streak of very cool late August/early September weather, and I didn't like it. Now we're back in the 80s for about a week, and I'm loving it. 70s are wonderful, though, too. And the extended forecast looks great. Your garden is amazing--love the Dahlias and the Yuccas!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Beth. We're on the east side of a hill so sunsets are hidden from us here. Sunrises are what we can enjoy. The moonrises can be quite stunning as well.
DeleteI've always hoped for rebloom on our old Phalenopsis flower spikes, but it never happens. Mine seem to prefer putting out a new spike. Still looks like summer down there. We are definitely cooling off at night, but the daytime temps are still warm to hot.
ReplyDeleteI put my Phalenopsis outdoors for the summer on covered east-facing patio. They seem to really, really like it. New leaves, flowers. I think they some cool nights (high 50's) in autumn stimulates the production of flowers next year (Cymbidiums need that). It seems to help. They go back indoors when the Santa Anas arrive because they can't take relative humidity levels of 10% or less (Mojave desert levels). Finally cooler here the past two days!!!!!!
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