As I was watering last night...again, I found myself grumbling about my
"summer
disappoint-
ments." Then I realized, it was not really summer yet. Today is officially the first day of summer. However, for those of us in Texas, it seems like the middle of summer. Our temperatures have already reached 100..more than once, and in my area we haven't had rain in over a month. But, back to the subject at hand-summer disappointments. Here is my biggest one (other than worms in my coneflowers!)--the flower bed around the new tree in the backyard.
Do you remember how pretty the bluebonnets were in the spring? After I pulled them up I planted 7 types of zinnias seeds. I was going to have a bed full of beautiful, colorful zinnias, and I was going to cut them and have vases full of flowers all summer. Well..it didn't happen!
Out of all those seeds I planted, there is one little group that germinated and looks like it is about to bloom. I was so frustrated last weekend, I went to the garden center and bought some red verbena, white angelonia, and some type of little yellow flower. I needed some color in that bed! What in the world happened to all those seeds? I used Burpee seeds. Hubby thinks that is the problem. He had trouble with Burpee seeds germinating in his vegetable garden a few years ago. I'm not sure what happened, but next year I am going to develop a new plan for this bed after I pull the bluebonnets.
The view from the patio is not too bad..
but when you get closer, the bed is just bare. I miss all those flowers I was going to have!
Oh well, the new tree looks pretty good. And, although you can't see them in the pictures, the bluebonnets have re-seeded and I have cute little plants starting to pop up all over that bed!
As I continued to grumble and water, I turned around and saw the bed under the breakfast room window. The window boxes are certainly not as pretty as last year--they can't handle all the west sun we are getting now--but look at the purple heart. This picture doesn't do them justice. They are really spectacular, and they have not complained one time about the heat! Summer will be hot and dry I am afraid, and plants will suffer. And as a gardener I will have disappointments, but also as a gardener I know I need to find the beauty in the summer heat. I know it's there--I just need to look."If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere."
Vincent Van Gogh
14 comments:
I kind of really really dread summer. I like the temperate seasons so much better and seasons with plenty of water. It looks like it might be a dry one for sure. Bummer on the zinnias. Odd they did not all germinate. The new flowers you bought will do the trick though and look awesome.
Hi,
Seeds don't grow for me either. My dad had the same problem with Burpee seeds this year in his veggie garden. Nothing came up. So maybe Burpee had a bad batch of seed this year?
It is frustrating though when you plant all the seeds and nothing happens.
I bought pony packs this year and the snails ate them! I guess thats the price you pay for gardening(-:
Our Spring was perfect! I am going to miss the weather. I am sure any day now it will be 100+ I really don't look forward to everything frying! I put three yards of compost down this year so hopefully that helps some!
I love your purple heart. I saw it for sale in a local nursery and would have gotten some but it is not hardy this far north.
Marnie
I'm sorry you're struggling, but to me it's all FANTASTIC!! I loved the kitchen window garden picture!! It's one of those I knew you had, but had forgotten and *poof* there's a surprise treasure :D
Tina- I always look forward to summer and blooming things, but as of late our summers are so hot, it's hard getting anything to grow. I'm not sure about the new plants..they don't look very good, but I threw out some cosmos seeds I am hoping will pop up.
Oh Cindee, it is so good to hear from you!! Hum....I am thinking it's Burpee. I don't think I will be buying their seeds anymore! I notice looking at your blog they are not too bad yet.
Marnie-I do love the purple heart. It dies back completely over the winter. I don't even know it was ever there. It is always so nice to see it come back in spring.
JJ--are you still on your trip? Thanks for the compliments, but I tell you--this west sun is just killing us. I so miss that Bradford! And the seeds..grrrrr is all I can say! :)
Your tree is already getting bigger for such a new addition. It's hard to replace a mature tree, but hopefully it will start providing shade for you, and give a little relief in the backyard.
The bed under the window looks great, and everything looks so colourful and healthy. I enlarged it to see all of the details, and up close the purple heart is very vibrant.
I think your window box looks pretty and you are right, you can't beat that purple heart. Have you seen the pink/purple variegated variety? It's really pretty.
Hi Northern Shade! The tree is getting bigger, but is still in what they call the "ugly duckling" stage. These Chinese Pistache trees are not full and pretty for several years, but hopefully it will provide some shade later on. Glad you liked the purple heart. I forget to look at it sometimes, and it gets so pretty!
Susie--No, I have not seen that variety. As well as it does in this heat, I need to investigate. I have the green in with the purple and I think a pink would look good too. Thanks for the idea! :)
I know how you are feeling Linda, it's been really hot & humid here too. With temps in the high 90's and reaching 100 it's hard to get outside and accomplish anything. :(
But before we know it this season will be gone and fall will be upon us to relieve us of this sticky weather. :)
Racquel--thanks for your kind words. I needed them today too. Hubby did not work from home so he did not get to do a noon watering and the plants looked dead by the time we both got home. I always loved summer, but I am thinking about fall right now. :)
I had major seed troubles this year too. So few germinated, and those that did didn't survive being outside. I counted at least ten to fifteen varieties of seeds that never even came up!
MsRobin-really? What kind of seeds did you plant? That is so disppointing. I love to plant seeds, but think from now on I will only buy from the Wildseed Farm.
Linda, I'll happily send you some seeds from my zinnias for next year. I should have a fairly good assortment. As for the summer weather, today was the worst yet. One weather site said we got up to 109 heat index!
Last year a friend gave me some of the really tall zinnias she had grown. I loved them, so I carefully saved the seed and planted it this year. I got ONE zinnia, I was crushed! I have trouble finding the tall zinnias in the garden centers, so I'm left with one zinnia and will have to fill in with other plants. You can bet this winter I will be saving the seed from that precious flower!
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