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In February and March, every gardening miracle seems possible. My coffee table holds a thick stack of gardening catalogs, each filled with gorgeous photos of flowers and foliage in every size, color, pattern and form a gardener might wish for. In winter, I sketch out plans for new planting beds and make long ‘wish lists’ of what I hope to grow in the season coming.
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But as the calendar pages turn, reality sets in with late freezes or early heat; storms and drought; insects chewing the leaves; rabbits and deer ‘pruning;’ and any number of other seasonal stressors to challenge the beauty of our garden. The pristine beauty of a gardening catalog photo doesn’t always match the reality of how that plant may look in late summer growing in our garden.
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The difference between gardening dreams and gardening reality can prove both disappointing and expensive! That is why experienced gardeners notice how a plant actually weathers the long months of summer; in what conditions it thrives or disappoints; and what special care it needs; before making an investment.
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Many popular and commonly used plants have a very brief period when they look great. But as flowers fade and drop and summer heat sets in they turn more brown than bright.
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Some, like German Iris, respond to having the bloom stalks pruned back and dying leaves removed. New growth often shows up as summer wanes. The leaves offer a green, sculptural presence in the garden long after the flowers fade.
But other commonly used annuals and perennials, like some semperfloren Begonias and many re-blooming daylily hybrids, simply don’t do well in our Virginia mid-summer dry-spells combined with days of heat. They soon look rather ragged.
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That is why it pays to really look around and observe what looks good and what doesn’t by the middle of August in your region. What plants thrive in your local conditions? What proves ‘high-maintenance’ and needs a lot of attention to make it through the season?
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What plants attract Japanese beetles and other pests? What gets eaten at night by slugs and snails? What do you admire growing in neighbors’ yards as you drive around town?
Our star performers in August include Crepe Myrtle trees, Canna lily, Colocasia, Lantana, Black Eyed Susans, Caladiums and many herbs. Relatively pest and disease free, these beauties shrug off the heat and remain attractive and bright through the long months of summer.
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What stands up to summer in your garden? Which plants do you count on to thrive and remain attractive into the autumn months each year? A wise person once said, ‘Begin with the end in mind.’ This is good advice for gardening and good advice for life. It helps us focus and make good choices along the way.
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Woodland Gnome’s caveat: Taking photos helps me observe the garden more closely while providing a record, year to year, of what we grow. Looking back over the development of a planting through several years of photos shows me things about the garden’s development in a way my memory might not. Photos also help me remember successful annual plants we might want to use again.
It is good to study photos taken from various angles, in differing light, and at different points in the season to gain a better understanding of a garden’s rhythms; its strengths and its weaknesses.
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“Green Thumb” Tips: Many of you who visit Forest Garden are amazing gardeners with years of experience to share. Others are just getting started, and are looking for a few ‘tips and tricks’ to help you grow the garden of your dreams.
I believe the only difference between a “Green Thumb” and a “Brown Thumb” is a little bit of know-how and a lot of passion for our plants. If you feel inclined to share a little bit of what YOU KNOW from your years of gardening experience, please create a new post titled: “Green Thumb” Tip: (topic) and include a link back to this page. I will update this page with a clear link back to your post in a listing by topic, so others can find your post, and will include the link in all future “Green Thumb” Tip posts.
Let’s work together to build an online resource of helpful tips for all of those who are passionate about plants, and who would like to learn more about how to grow them well.
Wonderful ! And I love the wording of how plans “weather” through and so much here to savor – tip of the hat dear gardener
🌹❣☀️
Experientia docet!
😉 You would know ❤
🙂
Gardening is hard but the rewards are always wonderful, beautiful flowers everywhere 🙂
Absolutely 😉