Welcome to Mary and Gary's Garden Diary for August
August 2011, the heat is still on and the blooms are fading but let's look
at the bounty in the kitchen. Fresh salsa, fresh black berries and an
artichoke. Bang, here comes the big Phlox. Below, the ornamental grasses
and peaches are taking over the show from the tiger lilies.
Let's back up and enjoy the foliage as August can only provide. Grapes,
Castor Beans, Banana's, Tai giant Elephant Ears, Hosta's, and
ornamental grasses. It takes height and width to achieve a shady
tropical look. Thank you, heat and humidity, at least it's good for
something.
A new little grass this year was Evergold Carex. Next door is a blooming
Hens & Chicks. Below are a 2-year old Butterfly bush, a Peppermint Swirl
Hibiscus and a Cleome.
Side to side are Black-eyed Susan and a pot of mixed Coleus that we
proudly started from seed. Below are 2010 pics. Verbena's planted in the rock
borders are finally blooming. After two years, a Peppermint Swirl Hibiscus is
also showing off. To
it's right is a clump of Oat Grass.
The red and yellow Helenium are huge. Below, the red Impatiens and ivy
surround the pond. The Revenae grass is beginning to tower over everthing
around it. Last is the fast growing Red Emperor Bean coving a 7ft tall
trellis. August is 1/2 over.
Closing out August with some elephant ears and giant Russian Cannas. We
have had a great summer for both blooms and produce but our variety was down
a bit as some biennials have past on. All the better to start planning
where to thin out and where fill in for next year.
