Summertime and the living is easy! WHAT? Not for gardeners! It’s our time to roll up our sleeves and get busy.
But when Ella sings it … you feel it!
CURRENT JOB LIST:
With all the storms and rain the jobs are endless, so I have made a list to keep me on track!
- Deadhead Roses
- Plant 3 new roses (Bliss Parfuma (2) and Perfume Factory)
- Move roses that are competing for space. I believe several of these will be potted up and gifted.
- Divide the spring blooming Sweet William and share.
- Trim Topiaries
- Trim Boxwoods
- Weed
- Start foxglove seeds
- Start lavender cuttings
- Add to “Plotting and Planning” Inspiration Book
- MAKE BOKAYS
- Have fun!
PLOTTING AND PLANNING
Summertime is the second best time for plotting and planning. In my opinion, winter is the best time as you have more time and the sky’s the limit on what you can do. You are far removed from garden’s reality and your creative juices can go wild. 👩🎨🪴🌸🌹🎨👒🌻🌺
Summer plotting and planning is reality time … being in your garden to see what IS working and what IS NOT working leads to tweaks. Most likely you are visiting other gardens too and getting new ideas and plants! So very thankful that gardens are being opened again. I have two to visit next week and I am thrilled.
This week PLOTTING & PLANNING is moving to DIGGING. I have been digging up plants, moving plants, trimming plants and making lists of things to add and things to change. So F U N!! Don’t you just love this part!
You are probably thinking, “Is this the best time to divide and transplant?” That answer mostly likely should be “no”, but I garden with the theory that when you have time and tools – it’s the right time. But, don’t forget to keep the newbies and transplants watered.
GARDEN REPORT
WEEDS!
As I mentioned in a previous post this is the year of the weed! They threw a party while we were away and invited all their friends and family. We have had a huge amount of rain this week, so weeds are extra happy but the rain sure makes them easier to pull!! Don’t tell anyone, but I’m kinda getting attached to the wild strawberry.
Oh DEER!
Yes, DEER. We have never had deer in the summer before! It’s not just what they eat, to get to the objects of their desire, they are trampling other plants – a lot of them. 😫 The deer have ravished the herb garden and the hummingbird garden and peppered their presence throughout the garden. 😫 My delicate, beautiful Dreamland geraniums – smashed to smithereens.
Here are some things I now know about the deer diet that I never knew before…
- They love poppies – ate the tops of all of them all.
- They love yarrow – sheared all the blooms and I have a lot of yarrow. (Almost a Chelsea Chop – hope they do rally and flower.)
- They love parsley and are very good at eating just the tiny leaves and leaving the stems.
- They love roses but haven’t eaten as many as I thought they would. 😫🙏🏻 Maybe they are grossed out by the Japanese Beetles too.
- They love asters – strategically nipping all the little buds.
- They love tomato plants but so far have only eaten one. You know what that means, Mr. G is on the warpath and armed with DEER AWAY spray. Not good to come between Mr. G and his tomatoes. Hopefully they will move along soon! 🙏🏻🙏🏻
JAPANESE BEETLES
Yes, they are back and the spa treatment has begun. A nice soapy bath to send them to beetle heaven. So far I am seeing fewer than before. Hopefully, my drowning them before they make it to the ground is paying off. Or they are just going to come a bit later. Time will tell. To read my “comprehensive” article on Japanese Beetles … read on here.
BLOOM THYME
Here’s are the standouts for this week…
LONG WEEKEND AHEAD
This week we have had heat, storms and torrential rain but the weather outlook for our long weekend is perfect. Sunny and 75ish! We plan to soak it up. 😎 All meals and all activities are outside!
Wishing you a wonderful and safe holiday weekend and may God Bless you and our wonderful country.
