But that’s OK, I’ve matured over time and will stay far from the ledge. I chalk it up to a learning experience and it makes for an interesting blog topic, so it’s all good. It’s not like I threw a shovel like a javelin or kicked the wheelbarrow over. Who would be so juvenile and do that? Onward:
I was thrilled to see that the Hibiscus ‘Kopper King’ had finally emerged, but the deer were apparently thrilled as well:
This Heuchera ‘Blackout’ is covered with some white/gray substance and I cannot identify what it is. It isn’t bleaching from the sun and I don’t think it is botrytis based on the color of the spots. I’ll have to let it play out:
I planted another Heuchera a few weeks ago and it looked great for a while but now it is “crisping up”, as you can see in the “before” and “after” photos below. The culprit – I haven’t kept up with the watering during our recent heat wave.
We just had a week of 90 degree weather and heavy humidity and that is a recipe for powdery mildew. This fungal disease typically hits plants in shade while it is humid and is most common amongst plants that do not have enough space between them so there is minimal air circulation. My Hypericum ‘Albury Purple’ got hit:
As did a few of the Hydrangea ‘Endless Summer’:
In the past, I’ve been good at keeping the proper amount of space between plants so they “can breathe” but with the heavy foliage growth this year, I’m realizing I failed quite a bit. Oh well, lesson learned.
Here is another problem that I can’t clearly identify. Doesn’t look like like powdery mildew or leaf spot so I’ll have to give it time to figure out what is wrong with the Lobelia Siphilitica (Blue Cardinal Flower):
Um, I should probably get to weeding this bed soon:
A plea for help. What kind of weed is this? It is EVERYWHERE this year and I need to understand why it is thriving:
And last but not least, this Arborvitae ‘Emerald’ is clearly leaning after getting the snot beat out of it by the winter winds. There is another one of these on the other side of the steps. I can’t just remove it and to dig it up and replant it would be a gargantuan task that I am not up for right now. But the leaning SOB is friggin killing me!
Thanks for making it through and I would love any feedback you have on any of my misfortunes.
John