Gertrude's Flower Garden Weekly Diary
8/11/00 - I am still struggling with my plans for revamping the rock-garden. I bought some large (and heavy) stepping stones that I have embedded in strategic spots so that I will be able to place my kneeling bench to pull weeds and plant perennials. So far I have edged the stone walkway that Gertrude laid, cleared most of the weeds and moss in the rock-garden, and cultivated the soil a bit. I have also culled some baby Flocks and Hyssop plants from various parts of the garden and transplanted them to the rock garden. This project is going to take some time to complete, since perennials grow slowly and won't bloom for a year or two. For the present, I am going to weed, cultivate, and continue the long-term plan of planting perennials that have self-seeded in other parts of the garden. I am also going to grow some new perennials under lights this winter specifically for the rock-garden. And finally, I am going to water liberally--so far this summer we have been blessed with gererous rainfall, but this may not continue.
Indeed, this has been the wettest July that I can remember and August is continuing the pattern. The frequent rain has made it difficult to keep the lawns cut properly and has increased weed growth, but, all in all, I would much rather have too much rain than too little. Since nature has a way of balancing things out, I expect that before the year is over we will experience some periods of drought. Early this spring, I laid my hose lines out to cover the back and front gardens for hand or sprinkler watering. I lay hose out of the way in the bed edges so that it is handy to use, but doesn't mark the lawn with yellow lines, or be a hazard to those walking in the garden.
This week's picture is a midsummer view of Gertrude's Garden; it was taken in late June/early July. The predominant yellow flowers are the black-eyed-Susans, the blue flowers around the bird-bath are Balloon flowers, the lavender in the right foreground is Hyssop, and the pink clump in the middle background is Cone flower. In addition, Flocks, Begonias, Balsam, Browallia, Impatiens, and Zinnias are among the flowers blooming. The dark purple in the center of the Second Triangular bed is Coleus, which does make tiny flowers late in the summer. Coleus also makes seeds by the millions, and, while I do like its rich, dark color as a background for lighter colored flowers, it is a bit of a nuisance since its seeds germinate and come up everywhere, including in the lawn! So, if you plant this pushy little fellow, be prepared to do some extra weeding, since he is very persistent in his will to survive.
8/18/00 - Gertrude's Flower Garden Weekly Diary
8/4/00 - Gertrude's Flower Garden Weekly Diary
Last Year's - Gertrude's Flower Garden Weekly Diary
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