My garden has had a few disappointments this season. I can't think of another year that has been so discouraging. Blaming it on the weather would be dishonest. We actually have had more rain this season than in many years I can recall. My garden is full of perennials that have bought us joy for many years. I am not new to gardening, but my mistakes of this year one would think otherwise. Usually I add annuals for some color on our patio. Maybe impatiens or begonias or coleus. Our brick planter that surrounds this area is usually lush and full of lovely blooms. Not this year. Even though I've gardened for many years, I committed a sin that any gardener would gasp at. I planted sun loving petunias to our shady brick planter. You know when you see these gorgeous flats of bloomers and they call your name? I realized this error pretty early on in the season as I watched the petunias just sit in their spots and not thrive. So I committed sin number two. I planted some lovely impatiens between the petunias that I bought from a reputable garden center. Impatiens have had problems with powdery mildew in the years past, but I KNEW I wouldn't have this problem as I had lovely impatiens last year.
Well, friends, pride goes before fall. These plants looked great and then within a month they all died. They suffered with the dreaded powdery mildew disease. Yes, with the rainy humid weather this could have been the worst year for impatiens, but I will not be planting them for a while. If you wish to learn more about powdery mildew you can read this publication Here
Well, friends, pride goes before fall. These plants looked great and then within a month they all died. They suffered with the dreaded powdery mildew disease. Yes, with the rainy humid weather this could have been the worst year for impatiens, but I will not be planting them for a while. If you wish to learn more about powdery mildew you can read this publication Here
We've also had some interesting critter issues this year. We have moles and voles galore. I don't put poisons in our gardens, but believe me I'm tempted. Not really. Voles eat vegetation and moles eat meat such as grubs. Armed with this information we began to try and trap the moles with a mole trap and the voles with mouse traps. It's been a comedy of errors around here. We have not caught any critters. The peanut butter and bird seed we place on the mouse traps is gone in the morning! We are being outsmarted badly! I was in the garden one day and saw a leaf from a hosta disappear into the ground before my eyes! I keep telling myself it's a great way to have the yard aerated for free!
In spite of all of these issues, the garden has given me clues what to plant and has even given me gifts to fill the gap. I've had oodles of begonias spring up in the brick planter. They are quite small, but we still have a couple more months before our first frost. I've also dug up three coleus and put them in the pots that had dead impatiens. I'm giving thanks to my garden for teaching me new lessons each year.
A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust. Gertrude Jekyll
Lest you think all of this post is bad I'll share some of the beauty that has come to my little garden this year.
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| Caladium Blossom |
It is August and the summer is wearing on. I've learned many lessons in my garden this year. How has your garden faired?
The most noteworthy thing about gardeners is that they are always optimistic,
always enterprising, and never satisfied. They always look forward to doing
something better than they have ever done before.
- Vita Sackville-West
Although it's been a disappointing year for your garden, you definitely do have quite a few beauties...like those tomatoes! Those butterflies are gorgeous too. You really captured them perfectly with your camera.
ReplyDeleteYour garden bench is lovely. Looks the perfect place to sit with a book on a quiet afternoon.
I have 2 brown thumbs and have never had much luck with a garden. My roses are growing beautifully, but that's pure luck, not because I take such good care of them. Our tomatoes, bell peppers, basil, and rosemary are faring well too, but that's because of my husband.
I would love a hanging basket of impatiens for my front porch.
Have a beautiful day,
Patti
Patti, we can barely grow a few tomatoes due to lack of sun. I'm so thankful for that wonderful shade on these hot, humid days.
DeleteImpatiens have always been a mainstay for our shady property, but I will have to give them up for a few years, but there are many shade lovely plants that I can look forward to planting next year. New Guinea impatiens are not affected by the powdery mildew, so I'm thinking ahead for them next year! Thank you for your sweet comments. ♥
Someone has said that butterflies are flying flowers. Your butterflies are making up for the flowers that have not survived this awful summer weather we've had. My Lilacs always get the powdery mildew as does my Garden Phlox, the sun has bleached the Hostas that aren't shaded, and the Japanese Beetles have done a number on my roses! So I look passed all that and see the butterflies hanging around the Butterfly Bush and Cone Flowers and the birds playing in the bird bath. They make the garden worth the effort, especially this time of year!
ReplyDeleteAt least the powdery mildew doesn't kill your lilacs and phlox, Cathy. It's really been a challenging gardening year. Yes, we need to see past all that and enjoy what remains. ♥
DeleteI'd say your garden looks pretty good, Martha Ellen. Ours seems to have fallen apart in the last couple of weeks. The heat is relentless and very little rain even though we water the garden regularly. The deer are part of it and now we discovered Peter Rabbit and family is living under out house. Reading your post is the second time today I've heard of powdery mildew and I never had heard of it before. Stay cool, and have a nice weekend!
ReplyDeleteDotsie, we have Peter Rabbit and family as well, but I never blame them for anything...much. By August I think our plants are just tired of all the heat and humidity---just like me. Have a comfortable weekend. ♥
DeleteYour garden looks nice to me, Martha Ellen. Mine is not faring at all well. The beautiful New Guinea Impatien that John gave me for Mother's Day, well watered and without reason, wilted in yesterday's 102° temps and has not revived. It was brought inside last night. Praying for a plant miracle!
ReplyDeletePraying also for more temperate days for all of us.
Vee, I didn't realize you were experiencing such hot temperatures. I'm always a little jealous of your cooler summer weather. I do hope by bringing in your New Guinea impatien it will recover. Anything would wilt in that heat! Our weekend weather is calling for more of the same. I hope it's better for you! ♥
DeleteActually, we didn't do very much with a garden this season. It is a good thing, too, as we have had very hot temps and are at a rainfall deficit. I love impatiens, and I'm sorry yours didn't do as well as you had hoped. XO Nellie
ReplyDeleteNellie, impatiens can give such a big show to our garden. I really miss their sweet little faces in the garden. It's been quite a summer for most of the country--so hot! Have a nice weekend. XO ♥
DeleteI just love this quote you've used "A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust." Gertrude Jekyll
ReplyDeleteGardens can be so rewarding but yes, can also offer dis-appointment too.
However, I think the photo's you've shared look lovely and I've certainly enjoyed looking at them.
Wishing you a good weekend
All the best Jan
I'm a big fan of Gertrude Jekyll, Jan. She created so many beautiful gardens. You must know many them in your beautiful England. Some years are better than others in the garden. This year was a difficult one. Have a lovely weekend, Jan. ♥
Delete"Gardeners ARE always optimistic..." It's just our nature! In spite of so many garden challenges, you still have so much beauty in your garden, Martha Ellen. The butterflies are enjoying your garden, too. Some summers in the garden can really be difficult. Yet we just keep trying our best!
ReplyDeleteAfter a hot June, we were blessed with twice the normal rainfall in July. The first half of August has been so dry here. Last night, heavy rains watered everything deeply. I have been distracted by house projects this summer, so the garden has been much 'wilder' than usual. We have lots of color at the moment. Although I haven't had as much time in the garden, I'm always dreaming garden dreams and thinking about a few changes for our garden. I'm so glad that we still have a few months left this garden season... maybe I can catch up!! :) Sending hugs, my friend! ♡Dawn@Petals.Paper.SimpleThymes
Dawn, I love a wild garden and can imagine the beauty you have. You must be so happy to have your house projects completed or nearly so. It's been the same around here. We are still doing more as a home is like a garden it always needs work. But it's work that is quite satisfying! Enjoy your weekend, dear friend. ♥
DeleteMartha Ellen, your gardening skills put mine to shame...and aren't we all allowed a few mistakes now and then? :) I am still seeing lots of beauty there in your world!
ReplyDeleteAs for me, I am ready to forget it all and move ahead to potted mums!! Ah...autumn... (insert sigh of longing...)
Cheryl, yes I'm ready for those beautiful mums! Autumn is nipping at our heels--well sort of...I've seen a few red leaves fallen from the black gum and the sun is going down earlier. Yes Autumn will be here soon! Have a comfortable weekend. ♥
DeleteI did a post about the impatiens powdery mildew a few years ago. It had me so scared I didn't plant any for a while. After talking with the locally run garden centers (not the big box store garden centers) I found out I could buy "locally" grown impatiens from them and there wasn't any problems with the powdery mildew. I've read that the soil should be removed that they were planted in too because the spores can carry over to the next year. Anyway I ended up planting wax begonias and they really did well.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me started on voles and moles. I lost a weeping pea tree, two cotoneasters, and numerous plants that grow by bulb to voles. Dan went after the ground moles with a trap that you stick in the ground. We haven't had a problem with them in a long time.
Every year I try planting something in a different way or try a new annual I'm not familiar with. Sometimes it's rewarding and other times it's a huge disappointment. I love seeing butterflies flutter about the garden although I don't see as many as I would like to. Growing plants in shaded areas can be challenging. Isn't it nice how many varieties of coleus are available?
Liz, we've had the powdery mildew problem before and I did have success last year by planting my own impatiens from seed. I always buy my plants from a local garden center that has a very good reputation. I need to tell them about these and see if other gardeners have had the same problem. Grayden has the same trap that you are referring to that supposedly gets a mole. So far, no luck. Hopefully I have learned my lessons from this season and look forward to next year's garden. Have a nice weekend. ♥
DeleteI now have visions of moles and voles popping up behind you and tittering as you try to capture them!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, though, with all our changing weather patterns a gardener's job is not easy. I've lost a lot of things because of this. Of course, I am not completely blameless either, but just saying our weather patterns *are* changing and so our planting must change too.
Each gardening year brings new challenges, Deb. We've noticed the change in the weather patterns as well. We've had the most heat and humidity that I can recall. The critters still are eluding the humans as we continue to try and solve these issues. Have a restful weekend, dear Deb. xoxo ♥
DeleteI saw a sonic pulse device on line the other evening, to deter rodents, voles and the like from gardens. Would that be worth investigating for a try? Of course, they would then become the neighbour's problem ~ lol
DeleteThanks, Deb-I bought a bunch of these several years ago and they didn't do a thing. My critters seem to have super powers. I think our yard must have the tastiest treats. ♥
DeleteI love the garden. I agree with the hot and humid weather here in Tennessee its been hard keeping things going well. I found my impatiens do so much better in a shaped area. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by, Pam. It's been quite a summer that has bought many challenges to the garden for us. Having a lot of shade is wonderful when it's so hot, but it does limit what flowering plants we can use. ♥
DeleteMartha Ellen, so sorry to hear you have moles in your garden. I'm not familiar with this little critter. What pretty butterfly pictures. I finally got a pic of one, and naturally it was at a nursery. There's nothing like homegrown tomatoes, is there, and yours look like they are ready to pick! I hope that you get those pesky critters away from your garden. Do you have any rose bushes? They are such sturdy flowers, and once they are planted deep in the ground, they usually thrive beautifully.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
Sheri, I hope you never have to deal with moles and voles. They can do quite a bit of damage. We're not having luck ridding them yet, but I'm hoping they leave our garden alone soon. I do have roses and they should put on another show when the weather cools down a bit. My problem with roses is I'm mostly shady and roses need sun. ♥
DeleteSo sorry about he critter situation. It does make one so frustrated. We have those ground squirrels that get in the garden and eat flowers and sometimes tomatoes. They have even eaten the stuffing from chairs. In spite of all, your garden looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda. It can be discouraging to deal with all of the wildlife sometimes. I guess it's their home that I need to share. ♥
DeleteMaybe you've had some disappointments, but you still have managed to have some beautiful flowers. Our yard is getting shadier all the time, and of course that's not good for the plants I'd like to have in the garden, so I understand the petunia issue. I'm growing very healthy weeds this year. Next year will be better.
ReplyDeleteJudy, shade can come with challenges. I try not to want what I can't have, but this year has taught me that lesson well! I know next year will be a great gardening year for you, my friend. I'm glad you are doing well with your recovery. Have a great evening. ♥
DeleteGardening is a challenge where I live as we have many animal visitors that like to eat flowers and shrubs, and often hail accompanies afternoon thunderstorms. I also have a very shady front yard that is difficult to have flowers in. I love impatiens but the rabbits here would eat them all. I feel grateful when anything flourishes, as so far lavender has been a winner in my garden!
ReplyDeleteWe all have our gardening challenges, Pat. I love lavender and wish I could grow it here. A dream of mine is to visit the flowering fields of lavender in Provence. During this hot and humid summer, I am so thankful for all the shade we have, so I must not complain about it. Enjoy your day, Pat. ♥
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