What's Growing - Part 8

a new glad

one of my blueberry bushes that needs to be havested again.

hibiscus had a few more blooms this morning.

and finally....my first Dahlia bud of the year. I told you I planted them late!!!

don't feel too bad about that - I have a few left that were started 4 months ago not blooming yet.

pixie, that dahlia looks like it's going to be a gorgeous color..can't wait for it to open! I'll be by later to help you with the bb pickin'

thanks for the nice comment on the paintings. don't have too many more. there's a couple of landscapes on another thread over there. I'm still looking for a few more florals I did that I know I still have

gram- those are great. i find watercolor to be the most difficult medium. yours almost look like those japanese rice paintings. you should change your name to grampapa moses.

Gram, the watercolors are super. Well done.
Andy P

thanks, guys. haven't done any painting in a long time. saving it for retirement, I guess. can't plant the flowers and have the time to paint 'em, too.

Gram, Incredible!

the 11th commandment ~ thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's garden

this is what I have to put up with ... right next door ... and this is just what she planted to block the utility box. the rest of it is even better :^)

okay - that was a teaser - you gonna take some covert pics and post them or what?

meet my neighbor's garden...the front...the vine by the entrace is a spectacular jackmanii clematis, there's a wonderful bright pink azalea in the cubby at the right in June, the little tree at the left is a redbud her DH rescued as a twig at some nursery (his thumbs are as green as hers)

next shot.. here's their back slope to the lake. where everyone else either has grass or stone (or in my case, weeds that I like to think are cover for wildlife), they have a nice little dock that he built himself and some plantings of sedum, cattail (which I thought of but was afraid it might be invasive?) and not sure what else, but it sure looks nice. she also has numerous varieties of bearded iris all around including by the lake this past spring. I should mention that the house was only built 3 years ago thanksgiving. and they've done all the landscaping themselves except for grading/seeding the lawn.

How lovely - you have a beautiful neighborhood! I love the views you have from your yards! Thanks Gram!

Here is the sunflower I am growing this year "Honey Bear" a newer version of Teddy Bear. 6' tall and 10" flower or so.

Boy, that's gorgeous, Al. I think it wants to be a sunflower.

Sunflowers have never been my favorite, but that's a beauty, Al. I might actually consider that one. Actually, I have half a dozen (black oil sunflowers?) growing under a bird feeder that are getting buds. filling an empty space for me.

Al, that's a great sunflower. I bought Teddy Bear and never got it planted.

Foliage from Shiso Perilla
I love this plant and I wonder if anyone else is using it. I got it from a seed trade about 5 years ago and I've slowly let it ramble around and reseed. Its a Japanese salad herb.

I experimented with the Perilla a bit and put it in a few combinations to see what would turn out
Here's a pot of Cosmos Seashells with the Perilla in a section that's pretty well done for the year.

And here it is in a bed of Rudbeckia and Echinacea White Swan - a humble mix but hey - the deer like it - see all the headless stalks?

Edited to say - Acutally you can't because I had to go closer in to avoid showing it to you. if you could see behind this the deer climbed up over the back of the bed and nipped off almost every rudbeckia bud.

This message was edited Aug 21, 2006 10:50 PM

Bishop of York and tomorrow the first bud of Bishop of Landaff will be open. I know thats old hat to you dahlia gurus but I like them. Most of my dahlias have been a disappointment this year. I think I have learned a lesson about buying from more reputable sources.

Andrea - your deer actually eat those, seems like they would be pokey to me.

Did you start any dahlias inside this year? I know you're shady there, but they do get sun right?

I don't mind those dahlia - post away.

check this out - bare stem central

Edited to say - nice of them to leave me 1 balloon flower and I guess they didn't like the lobelia?

This message was edited Aug 21, 2006 11:10 PM

I should post this on Lilies. I have waited so long to get Lilium speciosum rubra and alba. And they are a lovely addition this time of year since all the other lilies are done. But they are small and the blossoms are much more natural than the big honkin hybrids I'm used to~

I like the Perilla. Anyone have seeds to trade? I have columbine and bronze fennel seeds. I also have blue monkshood but I haven't ever been able to start the seeds myself - so - probably not a good trade.

AYankee - make yourself a note to D-Mail me in a month or so. I will try to save some seeds. I got mine from a guy on Gardenweb that grew it to eat. I think I saw it in pics of a public garden somewhere but otherwise doesn't seem to be used much. Its easy to grow and reseed.

Aly, I have the cousin of Bishops of Landaff, Bishops Children. I like the dark foliage and mixed flower colors but they get so tall they need staking.
I found some volunteer seedlings this Spring that must be a cross between B Children and Redskin. Larger flowers than Redskin and shorter that BC. Some have this fluffy center.
Andy P

Edited to compliment Al on that 'honey' of a Sunflower.

This message was edited Aug 22, 2006 11:14 AM

aly, the perilla and the lilies are very pretty. anything that beautiful mid-august is welcome. if only the deer didn't think so, too.

Aly,your perilla is great looking. Do you eat it too? I am shy of putting it in because I thought it spread a lot. I have wanted to try it for a couple of years.

Andy that is very beautiful - love reds and oranges. How cool that you hybridized it. You could become famous at least on DG!

I never have eaten it Ivy but I'm pretty sure its ok. I was at the zoo today with my kids and lo and behold - there was Perilla in a planting with a hot magenta impatiens and some grasses. We were hustling thru there so fast I didn't even have a chance to look it over. The deer don't touch the Perilla which makes me think it might be bitter to eat when its gains size. I have not had a spreading problem, I got a handful of seedlings this year off of last years one plant - I just let it drop in place and sprinkled a little in other places. Worked out fine. It's like pulling lettuce - not a big root system.

Aly ~ Your Lilium speciosum rubra is beautful! Love a flower that blooms in August.
Here's one of my cosmo's that re-seeds it's self every year...im not complaining!

close up...I love the little flowers inside the flower.

The Hibiscus that just won't quit. Took this yeasterday and noticed today it has more buds on it.

Anita ~ Is your "Rose of Sharon" blooming yet? Neither one of mine is this year...not sure why. The lady down the road has a huge one and its in full bloom. If yours is and it's not too much trouble...could you post pics???? Pretty Please?

Aly, All I did was save the volunteer seedlings, Nature did the hybridizing.
Pixie, the Hibiscus really love being outdoors for the Summer, don't they.
Andy P

Looking for anything particular in a rose of sharon, Pixie?

Andy, do you have tender hybiscus?

Pixie, that cosmos is so sweet (you know I like the purple edges)

Andy, a lot of hybrids that are on the market today were 'found' and then 'encouraged' LOL. anyway, the color and fluff are gorgeous.

I miss rose of sharon. I've never grown any myself, but we lived in a house that had some at one time, and at our last house, our 'behind' neighbor had 3 on his back property line, so it was just as good as having our own.

here's the prettiest thing in my back yard today

Gram ~ That is so precious! It almost looks like he has boots on!!

Dave ~ Nope..nothing paticular..just love them! why? you got some pics ?? Post Away!!!