We just spent the past week “down the Jersey Shore” and there will be a post about that in the next few days (sure to be filled with the usual NJ references). But for now, I will focus on what welcomed me when we returned home.
Some good and some bad.
Either way, it is amazing what develops over the course of a week. Let’s start the pictorial tour:
An obvious “bad”. I watered everything thoroughly before we left, but it was inevitable that the containers would take a beating and I, like a dope, didn’t make plans for someone to assist with watering before we left.
On a positive note, the plum tomatoes, fingers crossed, appear to be developing without blossom end rot for the first time. However, since they are also in containers, they were in desperate need of water and I quickly obliged them the minute we returned.
There are a ton of buds on the Hibiscus ‘Kopper King’ (the one that was not pruned as part of the “experiment) and I anxiously await their floriforous (Is that a word?) display.
A whole bunch of new blooms on the Pennisetum ‘Little Karly’. Moi loveth les grasses.
Yes, snuck in another Panicum shot. With my best Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin voice (RIP) … “Isn’t she a beauty?”
Yes, Hemerocallis (Daylily) ‘Happy Returns’ has happily returned. Welcome back you little minx!
Call me crazy, call me nuts, call me obsessive … but this Russian Sage exploded in bloom this past week; it looked sort of ratty before we left. Happy times!
Now this rocks! Found close to ten of these on my Butterfly Weed plants. I was going to research exactly what these are but figured you will all know immediately upon seeing it. Because you are that awesome and smart.
The Viburnum ‘Emerald Lustre’ berries changed from green to a dark purple and that makes me a joyous person. Please come and enjoy all of God’s creatures.
The Boltonia ‘cultivar unknown’ is beginning to bloom. Woo friggin hoo!
This is growing out of my my topsoil pile (still to be used in the yard) and I have no idea what it is? Please … do tell what it is.
I am not ready for it yet, but the Viburnum ‘Shoshoni’ is showing the first signs of changing to it’s beautiful autumn color.
The Helenium buds have formed and this will be the first time I will witness their blooms.
I would like to extend a personal vendetta against the mutha f’n rabbits who munched on all of my Lobelia ‘Fried Green Toamtoes’. Consider yourself warned!
And last but not least, one random bloom on the Physocarpus ‘Summer Wine’. Ahhhh … hearkens me back to the late Spring when so much was in bloom … and there was plenty of water.
Be prepared for a NJ shore post (sans Snooki) in the next few days.
ONG
It is always interesting to see how the garden does without the garden for a week.
I think your caterpillars are those that become monarch butterflies!!!!!
monarch caterpillar =) I have a bunch on my butterfly weed too
I could picture you “Fist Pumpin” getting home from “The Shore” doing your walk around and seeing your Russian Sage looking so good. Also, looks like the caterpillars were “creepin” bro!
Welcome Back!
I think the unknown plant is a datura, jimson weed.
How come everyone else has cool caterpillars? Mine are just emaciated looking things that will probably just turn into boring brown moths. Yours looks like a monarch caterpillar 🙂
My favorite thing when getting home from being gone is to walk around the yard and check on everything. My husband thinks I’m crazy. Even if we get home at 11pm after traveling for 12 hours, I can’t even go inside without a garden tour. Glad your plantings survived your absence!
I concur that the caterpillar is a Monarch caterpillar. I could tell you that with just the name of the plant. Monarchs are known for feeding on Asclepias (butterfly weed). These cats may eat all of the foliage but don’t worry – the plant WILL come back (speaking from experience)
I agree with Jo Ann that the plant looks like something in the Datura group, Jimsonweed. Don’t eat any of it! and if dogs or children have access you probably want to remove it. It’s native, but it’s also toxic.
Oh Judith! I am just sitting here alsmot being able to smell your yummy lilacs — they are some of my favorites and certainly ones i miss from my old back yard.Last year I found a fantastic yard with glorius bushes… i knocked on their door to see if i could clip some of theirs. They were so gracious and i loved the smell for days.Great capture! Claudia