June blues...anybody else?

Sigh. Many of the spring-blooming perennials are nearly done (in fact, I really need to deadhead the Centranthus, Penstemon and Heuchera; I've already deadheaded the Baptisia.) If it weren't for the Hydrangeas, the Shasta daisies and mouse-eared coreopsis, I'd be totally forlorn.

The later-blooming fall plants are still just a mass of green, although the daylilies are starting their annual display (it'll peak in another few weeks.) My annuals - which I planted from seed (frugal gardener that I am) are getting bloom-size but it'll be July before they put on a good show. Veggies are likewise in the promising stage: tomatoes are small and green, as are the peppers. The corn is knee-high, beans are growing like weeds, but nothing to pick yet. Even the radishes are still too small. The melons and squash leaves look lush and gorgeous, and hold the promise of good thiings to come.

But wahhhhh! I want summer blooms and harvest already. I am longing for rainy fall days in my (new!!!) greenhouse (the one I hope I can cajole DH into getting for me this year ;o) Frankly, I'm hot and I'm tired (she says in her best Scarlet O'Hara drawl....) and I'm dreading this month's water bill. And I just want to see the fruits of my labors sooner rather than later!

I don't know if it's because our temps have been more like August than June, but something has made me much more impatient than I was last year at this time. Ahhh, well. The annual Secret Garden Tour is tomorrow, so I'll go see what's blooming in other gardener's gardens now. (And probably buy a few things from the local vendors who set up an open-air marketplace.) Next week I'll mosey over to the Farmer's Market for some corn and tomatoes (even if they did travel across at least one state line to reach us.) In a few weeks, it'll be time for the RC Cola and Moon Pie festival, and the Uncle Dave Macon Days. (Don't ask. *grin*) Soon after that, I'll be wishing summer weren't almost over ;o)

I know what you mean Terry. I was just complaining about this same thing yesterday. I'm not anxious for it to be over yet though. I'm still working on spring clean-up and it's suddenly very hot here. And there's still all the great places to shop once I finish my spring chores!

Terry, I don't know whether to laugh at you or pat you on the back and sigh. LOL Some nut sneaked into my yard and must have been playing in my greenhouse when I was not paying attention! I keep saying I will do nothing else until my greenhouse is empty. There must be close to 20 flats of annuals and hem seedlings out there still! I'd like to know what joker thinks I can plant all that before it fries in the heat? I finally broke down and put the shade cloth on.

Another comedian decided it would be a ton of fun to waltz through my gardens flinging weed seeds! If I could sell thistle, clover, saplings and poison ivy, I'd be loaded!

If I could have anything in the world, I'd want some of those grandparents that call to see if they can take the kids for the day. I would be elated if I could spend a few hours working without breaking up fights, pouring Kool-Aid, cutting open popsicles, watching them swim, watching them swim the other way, watching them jump in left foot first, then right foot first, then backwards, then over the side...you know where I am going with this! LOL I have a new saying that calms things down for a bit "If you are going to fight, you can do it while you clean. At least then I'll be happy." LOL

Seriously, I think I have hit the where do I start portion of the summer. I know I need to plant those seedlings but I also want all my more tropical stuff in the ground too. It is such a dilemma. Stuff has to go to make room for stuff to go in and I wanna tell you digging out something that has rooted in for three or more years, it doesn't come out so easy!

So.........what greenhouse did you decide on? LOL

Hi, Terry--it sounds like you are getting way ahead of us...and sounds like you might start crying, and don't do that! ;-)

But I admit, for all the work I've done in our garden, it doesn't look like much right now...a few roses (wilted from the heat), my giant allium (they are fun), assorted weedy daisy types, and the hydrangeas (elegant) are blooming ...

Have had to amuse myself with watering and obsessing over the baby hostas and new hardy geraniums and looking at the new bulb catalogs...

Can't eat the corn or go to the Food Fests this summer...am on a sorely needed diet. Maybe I can drink some diet RC though, to cool down and kill the hot flashes! lol

Happy summer! Judy

summer just started in our neck of the woods!!! Tulips and daffys are done, but everything else is bursting forth! Been in the high 80's for a couple of weeks, and these temps can leave asap - too darn hot!!

Chele - wish I lived closer - I'd take those girls in a minute!! GS comes over often (3x so far this week) and we so love having him! When my kids were little, we had no one either and I remember wishing SOMEONE would take them!!!

Back out to attack the weeds....they looks so lush tho!

O Terry! I'll be where you are next month.

The gardenia and spring flowers are done for the season, but right now it's daylily time! Plus the Asiatic lilies are blooming along with annuals and summer bulbs. But July is just around the corner and it'll be blah. Too hot, too wet . . . too early and too late. *sigh*

I need to get some daisies and such to carry me thru.

Cheri'

The perennials just started here as well. I was getting envious of all you guys that were experiencing it already.

Badseed, you could sigh, pat me on the back AND laugh at (or with) me - doesn't matter. I decided to pull in my lower lip (it was a ways out there) and stop whining. My mood was definitely helped by finding two great looking 'Purple Emperor' Sedums (plus a few other plants) on sale last night. In between downpours courtesy of Tropical Storm "Arlene" I got 'em planted.

Then I found several new raving ratings for Krazy Keith's Garden Shed, and saw he had some roses on sale. I decided I'd shovel prune two roses that need to be put of of their misery and replace 'em now rather than in the fall. Of course, a few other things happened to fall into my "shopping cart" (it's quite a mystery how that happens, but it does - no matter if I'm shopping for real or vitually, lolol.)

After going on the Secret Garden Tour yesterday, my spirits are definitely perkier, and as long as it's too wet to plant, I can take advantage of the loose soil to weed and get the deadheading done. (Heading out there now.)

As to GH's I'm definitely leaning toward the Rion - just a matter of deciding whether to let frugality win out, and go with a smaller size (6 x 8, or get the 8 x 10 I know I'll wish I had gotten if I don't. (How's that for stacking the deck in favor of the larger one????) I also like their guttering kit...any insight/input on it?

Terry, which Rion are you looking at that comes in those sizes? Are you looking at the acrylic one? I got the one with the 4mm poly walls and it comes in 8x8 with each jump in 4' lengths. I am curious to know which you are thinking of.

Does it not feel good to BUY? LOL I keep saying no more plants until I plant what I have. It is taking to long to plant what I have because I have to keep clearing out other stuff to make room!

Well, my measurements were off a bit and I don't know if this link to Sam's Club site will work or not: http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_shopping.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&n=0&mt=a&coe=0&oidPath=0:-23542:-43702:-43796:835179

The smaller model is 6.75' x 8.5' and runs $998.

The 8.5' x 12.5' is the one I'm wanting - it runs $1598. (A lot more room, but it *is* another $600...sigh.)

I've been pretty good this year with planting as soon as I bring it home. (Ignore those two flats sitting on the edge of the deck, lolol.) But the scary thing is the plant sales are getting started. That's when I'm most dangerous ;o)

After reading about your blues Terry I've got one suggestion for you.........come for a visit up NORTH!!! Canada's Blooming now (early season ones that is ;).

Aw, poor Terry. Come on down to Atlanta. We have tons blooming, and its not hot! Besides hydrangeas everywhere (the home of Penny McHenry, remember), we have lilies, dayliles, gardenias, sedums, hostas, bears breeches, salvias, ice plants, stokesias, St. John's Wort, and tons of other things. Plus, we harvested our first three squashes (? sounds bad) yesterday. We're lucky if it gets in the 80's with all this rain. Humidity, we've also got tons of. :-(

That link pulls up this thread. LOL I did look at them at Sam's online earlier this year. I do not regret buying mine at all. I am still thinking about over wintering in it even though I am trying not to think about winter.

It's still hot. I'm still sweaty. But happy with my new "finds". A local nursery (Valley Growers on Lascassas Hwy., for those of you in or near Murfreesboro ;o) is having a wonderful sale. I came home with 11 perennials (8 quart-size, two 4-inch, and a gallon-size), plus a couple nice-size annuals for $30 and change.

In fact, I may need to head back soon - I snagged several sun-lovers for a new bed (assuming I can get my hairy-legged male family members on the bizness end of the tiller!) but I tore myself away from the heucheras and tiarellas that would be perfect for some new shady spots I'll have once we've done some demolition and rebuilding on the back of our house over the next few months.

It's always greener on the other (your!!!!) side of the fence, for sure. I've quit planting because it's too hot. In the 90s for about 2 weeks now. I vowed I wouldn't plant anything new after June 1 because of the heat. BUT I have some spots that need something, maybe I'll try some zinnias or cosmos.

You've read my mind! I was complaining to dh that my garden looks colorless, and that it's too dang hot to really get out there and dig.

Why, oh why didn't I put more daylilies in? Why didn't I put more 'whatever' in? LOL

And, it never fails that when I think I'm done, some new beautiful plant at the nursery begs me to take it (them) home........at the end of June? LOL

Gracie

My garden is colorless and makes me depressed to look at it now, BUT, I did order some late blooming giant Allum bulbs and Eremurus that supposedly will bloom together for next year this time.

Hopefully that will bring some boldness to this pathetic garden and chase away the (early) June Gloom, at least!

Also received "Influential Gardeners", a new book, for my birthday, so I've been consumed by the beautiful garden pictures and fabulous plant combinations. Great book for those who want to know more about the art and theory of putting together a creative garden, by the way.

Have a great day. t.