Well I Wasn't Expecting This (emphasis on "This")

My roses are going out in grand style.  This planting season has definitely ended on a high note as you can see from these pictures.  The "real" November arrives tomorrow.  It will be colder and windier--sort of what one expects this time of year.  But I'm a happy camper, make that gardener.  My growing season was great and all is not lost; I still have some cooler weather plants that I can enjoy:  lettuce, broccoli, thyme, and onions.  Not to mention the indoor planting that I will start next weekend.  Yes, it's paperwhite and amaryllis time.  It's my strategy for making the blooming season last all year long.  It can be yours too.  Stay tuned.

Bookshelf:  Container Gardening Books

Praying (Preying) Mantis

Praying (Preying) Mantis

 I almost missed this guy.  I was trimming back some out-of-control foliage and when I got to one of my roses, my keen eyes (with the help of a mighty powerful prescription) landed on him. It's been a while since I've seen a praying mantis in my garden.  But today, he (maybe she?) was definitely a "preying" mantis.  I'm not sure what it had in its grips, some sort of moth-like insect, but it was going to town.  

I've always heard that mantises (mantes? manti?) are good for the garden.  And it's true, they are an organic solution to certain bothersome pest problems.  But absent pests, they'll eat beneficial insects too.  And absent those, I'm given to understand they'll eat each other.  Ewww.

So let's not end on that grim note.  Let me offer you a picture of a really pretty flower:  Zinnia "Orange Profusion."  Happy thoughts.

Zinnia "Orange Profusion"

Bookshelf:  Container Gardening Books

Hemingway, Bond (James Bond), and Me

My Mojito

Let's talk about that tasty little Cuban cocktail known as the mojito.  I like it on a hot summer evening;  the fictitious Mr. Bond drank it in Die Another Day; and the very real Hemingway enjoyed it at the place where it was invented:  La Bodeguita del Medio in Havana.

You can find lots of recipes for it on the Internet.  Most generically call for mint, others are more specific and use spearmint.  But you don't want just any mojito, do you?  You want the real deal and that means using Mojito Mint. This is the first year I've seen it at my local nursery so of course I snapped it up.  Aside from being a great cocktail ingredient, it's also a pretty great plant, provided you plant it alone in a pot because, like all mints, it has a very invasive growth habit.  

Mojito Mint

Mojito Mint is not demanding; it likes full to part sun.  Keep it watered and it will grow up to 36" although mine is closer to about 18" probably because the small pot I have it in has limited its growth.  It's hardy to zone 5 and lives happily surrounded by all sorts of other plants.

Salud!


Bookshelf:  Container Gardening Books

Old Faithful

Heuchera "Obsidian"

There are some plants that you know you can rely on.  Heuchera is one of them.  It has never failed me, not once.  Oh sure, I've exposed a couple of them to more sun than they would like.  And they've protested a bit, but they've stuck with me.  These are the types of plants with which I am more generous with my real estate.  Altogether I probably have about ten varieties of heuchera scattered about in mixed containers.  They like part sun and most are hardy to zone 4.  In the spring, they shoot up some nice little delicate blooms, but when those fade, you still have the glory of its foliage.  One I particularly like is "Obsidian."  It has glossy purple, almost black leaves.  Fabulous if paired with a vibrant green or chartreuse plant.  Heuchera comes back strong every year, in fact, you'll have to divide it after about three years or so.  Fine by me.  More is better.

Bookshelf:  Container Gardening Book

The Makings for a Great Salad

Grape tomato harvest

Yellow bell pepper

There's not much more to say in this post other than "Yum!"  Here are some pictures of the edible things I have growing in containers.  The particular lettuce in the picture has made it through the summer without bolting (going to seed).  That's rare in a lettuce as it much prefers cool weather so I'll definitely be growing it again.  My grape tomatoes are super sweet; you can just pop these straight into your mouth.  It's a huge plant, by the way--I'm glad I got a tall support for it.  I'm also growing yellow pear tomatoes.  I didn't fertilize the tomatoes at all this year other than when I first planted them and I've had more than enough.  Also, I grew red and yellow bell peppers.  They start off green (see the smaller one above the yellow pepper shown here).  You just have to leave them on the plant to wait for them to turn color.  You don't have to wait though; you can eat them green.  But I like a yellow or a red pepper because it's sweeter.  

Lettuce (from seed)

So there you have it:  Delicious salad; comin' right up!

Yellow pear tomatoes

Bookshelf:  Container Gardening Books

More Bees, Please!



Bumblebee visiting gaura

 I try to do everything I can to attract bees to my garden.  Different types of bees visit, but my predominant guests are bumblebees.  I can't say they've arrived in record numbers this year, after all, the bee population has been at risk for a while now.  But I have gotten quite a few and I continue to plant things that I think they will like and that will contribute to their survival. 

So this year I have:  (annuals) calibrachoa, zinnia; (perennials) agastache, clematis, purple coneflower, gaura, geranium, roses, sedum; (fruit and vegetables) peppers, strawberries; (herbs) bee balm, rosemary, sage, thyme, and mint.  All of these are known to attract bees. 

This forager bee looks pretty pleased with the selection.

Bookshelf:  Container Gardening Books

Exactly Three Months Later...

Lady Elizabeth Daylily

...Elizabeth, my daylily has bloomed.  And she's a beauty.  

You may recall that this plant arrived bareroot from White Flower Farm in the spring.  Its roots were wrapped in newspaper and it didn't look like much of anything.  But all I did was put it in a pot with some potting mix, time release fertilizer, and some earthworm castings.  I put the pot in full sun and just watered regularly. Now it's just starting to bloom.

Daylily arrives bareroot

So why is it called a daylily?  Because each bloom lasts about 24 hours.  Not to worry; there are other buds ready to open up when the previous one(s) wilt. 

Daylily in pot

Elizabeth is perennial so I should be able to count on her returning next year.  She's a good height for my container garden (18"), and she blends in well with all kinds of other flowers and plants.  Definitely a winner.

Bookshelf:  Container Gardening Books