We just returned from our annual week’s vacation at the family cottage on a lake in Connecticut … but I’m holding off on THAT post for now. I love my kids and all, but I need a break from them. Instead, today’s post is all about what I returned home to out in the garden.

The second I stepped out of the car upon arriving home, I attacked the task of watering full throttle. It was a super dry week and all of the plants were begging for a beverage or two. After their thirst was quenched, I had some time to check out how things had progressed since I had left. Here’s what I discovered:

Phlox paniculata ‘David’ is in full bloom and smells amazing:

I was even smart enough to cover up it’s ugly legs (I had a joke in here originally about the cover up of legs but no matter how hard I tried, it came off creepy):

I recently relocated a few Caryopteris (Bluebeard) ‘Sunshine Blue’ to a more prominent location but did so in the dry summer heat. I was happy to see they haven’t wilted under the conditions:

I am anxious for the late summer blooms that were hidden the past few years:

For whatever reason, no plant reseeds worse that this one as I have seedlings all over the yard. I need to remember to not let the seeds mature this fall:

I love Lobelia siphilitica (Blue cardinal flower) and the blooms are so close:

I smelled the blooms of the Clethra (Summersweet) ‘Hummingbird’ before I actually noticed it in full bloom and I friggin love it:

I planted a few Physostegia (Obedient plant) ‘Summer Snow’ last fall and they are thriving; some times it’s so damn easy:

I know I’m a broken record, but I love me some Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed) ‘Gateway’. It is so imposing, in a good way:

Yeah for me, I actually successfully grew some annuals from seed, and they are still alive:

Oh yeah, the ornamental grasses still are rockin and rollin:

Miscanthus ‘Variegatus’

Chasmanthium latifolium (Northern Sea Oats)

Miscanthus ‘Gracillimus’

Pennisetum ‘Karley Rose’

But the absolute coolest thing, was finding these three little guys nestled in an arborvitae. I made sure to disrupt as little as possible:

It’s always fun to get away from the garden for a while and then return to see what has transpired. Good times indeed.

This rarely visited gem:

Will be inundated with these:

This nondescript plant:

Will create many of these:

These soon to burst buds:

Will open to expose a plethora of these:

A hint of blue:

Will become overwhelming blue:

This past weekend was all about the kids, although I did manage to sneak in some gardening related work on the sly. I love my kids to death and we had a phenomenal time, but it will be a bit of a relief getting back to work today.

Friday was my daughter’s kindergarten graduation and that little woman melted my heart yet again:

Don’t ask me how, but the stars aligned and for one brief second, it looked like brother and sister actually enjoyed each other’s company:

Saturday was all about my daughter’s dance recital which is maybe just a step below the Academy Awards. Any photography or videotaping within the same zip code could land you in the slammer for 10-15 years. I’m talking hardcore. But I must admit, the show was amazing and my daughter was stellar. What I loved more than anything was that she is still young enough to wave at us during the performance. A memory we’ll never forget.

After a busy Friday and Saturday, we all agreed to a “do nothing” Sunday where we could sleep in and then chill outside all day. A true summer’s “hang”.

As soon as we set foot outside, the kids noticed that there were little sticks all over the deck. Sure enough, we found a bird’s nest under the umbrella. This coincided well with my new Backyard Birds of NJ book as the kids immediately had an interest in what birds we see flying all over the yard. I love those moments:

Thinking I had them in a vulnerable state of nature lovin, I tried to encourage them to check out some bees with me. That backfired real bad as they ran away in terror and insisted it was slip n slide time:  

So on to the slip n slide we went. It was hilarious to watch them fail miserably at first but then they got the hang of it with the occasional wipe out:

The following photos were not staged (pinkie swear). I caught my son eating lettuce right out of the container. That’s my boy:

As the kids became more consumed with the slip n slide, I managed to sneak out my trusty wheelbarrow so I could get down in the dirt:

I promised to just spend a few minutes moving some Helenium to a better location so I could at least satisfy my addiction. I also pretended to take their photos which distracted them from the photos I was really taking:  

Oh yeah, I also sneakily played musical chairs with my containers trying to find the right combinations and locations. I find this task maddening, especially someone like me who has so many OCD tendencies:

There is nothing I enjoy more than when out of the blue, a plant breaks out with numerous buds. I don’t even need it to actually bloom; the buds and the promise of “what is to come” is enough for me. It’s sort of like a kid enjoying Christmas Eve more than Christmas day. The anticipation is intoxicating.

I’ve also been scarred by blooms disappearing overnight at the Critter Buffet so I’ve learned to tame my emotions when it comes to expecting the blooms to stick around for a while. Although, I did launch what I’m calling Project Liquid Fence so maybe my lack of faith in blooms will be changed. I’ve taken to military like spraying of all the vulnerable plants day after day with the hope that my own personal “Shock and Awe” will lead to a victory over those bastards.                

Are you anxiously anticipating the anticipation photos? Well fear no more dear reader:

One of five Monarda (Bee Balm) ‘Petite Delight’ has reached the bud stage as the others are a bit behind after being nibbled by the rabbits. I thought the aromatic leaves would deter all creatures; I thought wrong:

One plant that has never been touched by any creature is the Perovskia (Russian Sage). Those gorgeous blue/purple spires are on their way and what a show they put on year after year:

After dividing them numerous times, I have about 12-15 Daylily ‘Little Grapette’ plants. The blooms are fantastic but last year, I only witnessed two blooms before the deer attacked. I’ve sprayed these non stop and they all have started to bud. One can only hope:

All of my Echinacea (Purple Coneflower) were munched down early in the season so they will be blooming shorter than ever before. Deep breaths … OK, I’m cool:

I’m stretching the “anticipation” angle a bit here, but I just planted five new Lamium (Nettle) ‘White Nancy’ plants this week. I needed a groundcover that is deer and rabbit resistant, clay friendly and with a lighter colored foliage. They fit the bill and I’m anxious to see how they fill in. I love the green/gray/silver foliage:

I previously warned you, I will be taking mucho number of photos of the Calamagrostis (Feather Reed Grass) ‘Karl Foerster’ as it changes bloom colors so rapidly. Below is a photo of how it looks today and then a photo of how it looked only a week ago. What’s great, is that it still hasn’t peaked as the blooms look their best as when they reach the wheat/tan stage:

One last anticipatory excursion (that phrase rules by the way). I just added a few Setcreasea purpurea (Purple Heart) to a container that has a Miscanthus ‘Super Stripe’ in it and I have high hopes that this will shine as the Purple Heart’s continue to grow and hopefully spill all over the container:  

Hopefully I can share actual blooms of all of these plants in the very near future.

Keep gardening and keep it real.

John

**WARNING** WHINING ALERT  TO FOLLOW

I need more time in the day. I would absolutely pay top dollar for it. Maybe it’s not more time really; maybe it’s more light at night, like let it stay light until about 10:00 PM or so. That would totally work.

Without a doubt, I’ve spent the least amount of time out in the garden this year when compared to the past ten years or so. And you know whose to blame for this? Those damn kids of mine. Yep, if you notice more weeds than usual in any of my photos, it’s their fault. They have the nerve to get involved in such things as baseball or dance or, get this, ask me to play with them. Seriously, you want to play Trouble again? Isn’t that popper thing broken yet? What, you want to me to pitch to you? Selfish things they are.

Saturday’s are spent watching my son throw out a kid at first base. Or watching my daughter perfect her dance moves for her upcoming recital. What kind of fun is that? That kind of stuff doesn’t warm my heart or make me want to hit the pause button so the kids don’t get any older. Nope, not at all.

Each weekend, I only manage to get outdoors some time late Sunday afternoon to check out what’s been going down in my plant world. Here’s what I found this week:

Miscanthus ‘Morning Light’ still grabs my attention as I step out to my car each morning:

It doesn’t wow you, but Achillea (Yarrow) is such a consistent performer and requires absolutely no care at all. You need some of these to offset the more high maintenance plants:

Pycnanthemum (Mountain Mint) is a native plant I picked up at a local plant sale two years ago. I stuck it in a hidden location and it didn’t do much year one. It has now exploded and the plan is to relocate now to a more prominent location. More to come:

I friggin love the foliage on Hibiscus ‘Kopper King’ and may even cut off the flowers as they emerge this year. The deer and/or rabbits have had their way with it but now that “Project Liquid Fence” has been launched, all things look grand:

Hydrangea ‘Endless Summer’ looking good and the blooms are imminent:

The first Echinacea (Purple Coneflower) bloom of the year is here with many more to follow (albeit much shorter this year thanks again to the work of the f’n rabbits):

Geranium ‘Brookside’ is in full bloom … and I’m still not sure that I care all that much. You be the judge:

The Coleus ‘Alabama Sunset’ looks tremendous so far getting about half a day of sun:

As I took a quick walk around the yard early this morning, battling the lingering fog, I noticed there hasn’t been a lot of dramatic change of late in the garden. There has been a quiet lull since the mid spring bloomers put on their show and the hot and humid weather seemed to slow down the foliage growth on most plants.

Upon closer inspection though, I noticed some of the more subtle changes which serve as a reminder that our gardens never truly stop evolving.

My absolute favorite ornamental grass, Calamagrostis (Feather Reed Grass) ‘Karl Foerster’ has begun to form it’s blooms and they add such a nice texture to the appearance of the grass:        

Astilbe ‘Deutschland’

Astilbe ‘Deutschland’

Astilbe ‘Deutschland’

Great combo of flowers and foliage, as long as you don’t let them dry out. I like the fact that they do not overwhelm you when in bloom but lend more of a graceful presence to the overall garden scheme (Did I just say that?).

The Amsonia (Bluestar) just finished blooming within the past week or so but honestly, I like these better post-bloom. The airy/wispy foliage is the real winner and for whatever reason, it looks it’s best right after blooming. I have not witnessed it’s stellar fall color yet, so I am looking forward to it this year: