Did that dove neglect to find a safer spot for her nest? Is she foolish? For this gardener, "badly neglected" applies to both the garden and garden blogs this summer. It seems like neglect of the garden, though it isn't strictly true--I've done a few things--it feels like neglect because it's been so hot--the high 80's for weeks--and so many plants (the roses, mainly) look awful.
Where this garden blog is concerned, the neglect is real. Focused far more on real world things: preventative health care, (routine tests, PT for stiff shoulders, aerobic and resistance exercise), Dear Husband (an asthma flare-up; better now) and Young Harry, (he's fun!).
Finally, time and focus enough for a post. One thing I've been dedicated to doing, a sink of time and energy, is ruthless trapping of rodents to get a little of the Avocado crop for ourselves...
Also limbed up the path-blocking Callistemons (Melaleucas):
Not only do the 'Slim's still screen out the house behind ours, the path aside the 'Slim's is now visible, and usable again.
Pots placed in the empty space as a temporary measure:
One plant to add to the narrow space is more Zephyranthes candida. There is already a clump at the far end of the space, along with a tuft of 'Elija Blue' Festuca glauca.Yes to this:
In patio shade, I rooted some pieces of Alternathera brasiliana in water, then potted them up. It's really easy. Roots in a week:
The one plant I have, rooted from a single small stem requested from a garden buddy, grew to weave its way around adjoining plants, including Agapanthus and one of the fluffy Lecanthemums. The purple-black foliage of the Alternathera made the icy white of the Leucanthemum flowers all the more dazzling:Taking photos for this post, I realized not all the garden looks terrible. Unexpected Yucca flowers, for example. They flowered in November last year, and now again: Plus 'Shooting Stars' Hydrangea, always summer lovely:
A Dahlia or two, survivors of a spring purge:Late Leucanthemums: thank you for your tardiness!Pentas and Pelargoniums:Even two of the Aechmea blanchtianas:And a valiant Lily!And late (summer) blooming Clematis 'Arabella'!
And red seedless grapes, caged to protect them from birds and rodents. They ripen gradually, so we've been able to enjoy them, a bunch at a time, for weeks.The impulse buy of last summer, a six-pack of Hypoetes pyllostachya, survived winter just fine. It proved this summer to be a wonderful brightener /leaf-shape-outlier tucked in between other potted plants under the Acer 'Oshio Bene':
Almost all the roses look horrible, but not all the roses look horrible:
The Russelia thrives in heat, and feeds a torrent of hummingbirds:So do the tall Pentas: The plants I tend, not always perfectly, are giving me a lecture: A garden is a privilege Keep on hoping. Keep on gardening. Stand tough.
I stand corrected. Garden on!
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