The Obsessive Neurotic Gardener

Posted on by Posted in My garden .

Still in denial that autumn is right around the corner.

Keep coming back for more

The Veronica ‘Royal Candles’ are on their third flush of bloom this summer. Even though they look toasted after each bloom period with browning branches and general ugliness, they always bounce back for me.

 

 

Nice, but could’ve been better

After years of trying to grow anemone of any sort, I can finally say I’ve had some success. There are a ton of blooms originating from the one plant added here and there’s been massive spread in only a year’s time.

The deer did chow them down along the way this spring/summer so the bloom height is much shorter than expected.

But I’m not complaining.

 

If at first you don’t succeed …

… plant the Hydrangea in a container and hide it on your elevated deck.

This is ‘Little Lime’ hydrangea and I’m hoping I can keep her in this container year over year because those blooms are killer. I especially dig them right now as the pink hues emerge.

 

Best option for weed control

You’ve heard me say it many times before, but it’s worth repeating.

Obedient plant (this one is ‘Vivid’) can easily fill in an empty area in the garden in no time and prevent weeds from seeing the light of day. Yes, they are aggressive, but I find them easy to pull out where needed.

They are rapidly transforming into bloom as we speak.

 

More grasses

Your weekly dose of ornamental grasses stealing the spotlight.

Here is a shot nearing dusk with the Miscanthus ‘Variegatus’ adding a nice pop of light and bright (don’t steal that phrase, I’m trademarking it).

 

And Panicum ‘Rots’ happily providing a happy background for Joey Pye.

 

This Panicum may have outgrown its spot but I’m in no rush to move it.

 

He works hard for the money

Not that I’m getting actual cash for my garden labor, but your feedback is really all the currency I need.

Did you just spit out your sweet tea? Too corny?

Regardless, it’s true.

Anyway, I continue to attack the garden with reckless abandon and fervor as I clean up the weeds, move things around and prune/tweak/deadhead here and there. This little clean-up below resulted in me going through three shirts, two pairs of shorts and about 49 mosquito bites.

Heat and humidity be damned.

It will be worth it if I can fill it in quickly and avoid the same weed issues heading into next year.

 

Same goes with the photo below.

While I’ve created a new path to traverse in the garden, that wasn’t the intention. I now need to find as many 3 to 4 foot in height perennials as I can so I can finish this section and finally move on.

 

Tip of the week

Putting apple cider vinegar directly on your mosquito bites stops the itch better than any other topical option out on the market. I may smell vinegary in bed at night, but my wife is spared me waking up multiple times feverishly scratching my legs and moaning.

You’re welcome.

 

 

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26 Responses

  1. Do you have any problem with critters eating the Obedient plant? Looks from the photo you posted like you don’t. I’ve planted several in different parts of the garden and all are eaten to the ground unless I fence them!

    • Knock on wood, but I’ve had no issues with the deer. Very odd having now read a bunch of comments. Hope I didn’t jinx it!

  2. Yeah, the deer chow our obedient plants. I got one single bloom this summer. And a few years ago they were blooming gorgeously.

    Looks gorgeous going into fall!

  3. Hey, John, with all the West Nile virus going around and deer ticks, too, you really should be using some repellent. Garden is looking good. Now that the heat is subsiding (I hope, it was 94° here yesterday in western NY), I need to attack the weeds I avoided all summer.

    • I am proud to say I use sunscreen and a hat but no repellent. Glad to hear the temps are dropping. A better day today here as well and I took full advantage.

  4. O don’t think obedient plants are long term perennials. Mine did great for a couple weeks then tuckered out!

  5. Love your humor and real life account of growing a garden in NC. Never had deer as an issue here in Florida suburbs but will be moving to NC next month.

    • Thanks so much Patricia! I never knew just how difficult it was to contend with deer and now I can’t imagine gardening without them.

  6. My obedient plant bloomed almost all summer and the deer stayed away from it. Feeling lucky. It is one of our favorite perennials. And I adore my anemones. They are just like yours.

  7. John, all your weeding is putting me to shame. I have so many, it’s painful. I also have to get rid of all of the Northern Sea Oats that have seeded all over, ugh… I love them, but just not worth it. But I remember you have a variegated form that is not invasive? May I ask if you remember where you got it, and what its name is?

    • The variegated form is ‘River Mist’ but I will say there has been a decent amount of seeding near the plant this year, but nothing like the other. Still pulling them daily. Ugh!!

  8. Your garden looks great cuzzin. At this time of year & going into October, I always loved planting Marigolds … when in full bloom, the blacks/golds/oranges/reds are IMO breathtaking.

  9. Hey John,

    Everything looks fantabulous (already trademarked) !!! You hard work has paid off.

    What is the name of the plant behind the veronica–the one with the pale green and pink bloom on it (Photo #1)? I have one of those but I forgot the name of it.

    Second question: Just wondering. Do you listen to music when you garden? Or do you like the quiet of nature when you’re weeding?

    • That is a close to blooming sedum. It is ‘Autumn Fire’. I never listen to music while gardening only because the headphones will fall out of my ears too easily (I’m a spaz) and I need to listen for calls on my cell phone (always in the pocket) for both work and family purposes. Ha.

  10. Hi John, All looking GREAT with your hard work included! Assuming your surgery went well too?
    While on the subject of Obedient plant, I must have no doubt, a much different variety. Mine will appear
    here and there through out my garden. When the seeds ripen (showing little black ones) on the stem is when I cut
    them off and sprinkle them around. Yes, they are easy to remove where not needed.

    • No surgery yet Deb. Scheduled for 9/18. I actually have other Obedient plants that do what you say. For some reason, ‘Vivid’ has been so much better for me.

  11. Hi John, your grasses look amazing as usual. Have you ever tried Stipa Giganteum. It’s a show stopper. A shrub that you might want to try if you haven’t already, that’s in the size you mentioned to fill in your bed is : Caryopteris. We grow both the variegated and the ‘Sunshine’ varieties. They look good all summer, deer don’t eat them and their blue flowers at this time of year keep the garden looking good. I should qualify that deer statement by saying that the deer here in the PNW don’t eat them.

    • Thanks Linda! I haven’t tried Stipa but looking it up now. I did have a few different Caryopteris in the past and they all died out over the winter. I do love them though and might need to provide a spot with better winter drainage.

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