Category Archives: General Gardening

The summer so far had been wet and with mild temperatures. When I say mild I mean our temperatures are usually in the 90s by now with 100% humidity. They have only been in the upper 80s so far this season.

The black-eye Susan which were blown down by the tropical storm last month are blooming and beautiful even though they are no longer standing upright. The goldfinches and other birds will appreciate the seeds in the fall.

The entire huge boarder of wildflowers which I have developed between the lawn and front walk has really come together the past few seasons.

Some of my favorite plants bloom this time of the year.

Hyperion daylily- the pale yellow flowers are fragrant and the leaves are semi-evergreen. It’s unusual for that in midsummer, after blooming, it dies back to the roots then comes back in the Fall once the weather cools and persist as a mound of leaves throughout the Winter.

Four-o-clock: this apricot colored plant came from a pack of mixed seeds. They open in the afternoon and stay open all night for the moths. Here in Raleigh they are perennial and will multiply by dropping seeds.

Lilies: I purchased a bag of mixed lilies years ago and there are some unusual colors. I have had problems with voles eating the bulbs over the years so most are gone. Lately, a black snake has taken up residence in the garden and is keeping the vole population under control so the lilies are blooming this year. I am eager for the tiger lilies to bloom later in the summer for the first time in years. They are my favorite.  This Asiatic lily below is an unusual color.

And I take all the Easter lilies people want to give me when they are finished with them after the Easter holiday. When they come back the next season they bloom at a more typical lily season in June.

Monarda “Jacob Cline” has been a real trooper! It is suppose to stay a compact three feet or so but I have several patches around the garden and the one along the front walk reaches five feet tall!

There are a few patches of woodland phlox around the garden, too.

There are also several clumps of bananas around the garden. The most robust is the Basjoo near the patio.

One of my favorite flowering vines is the common passionflower. It can be aggressive if not trimmed regularly and will sucker. You just have to keep an eye on it like a mischievous child!

Wonderful!

Monarda “Jacob Cline”

Easter Lily with bright pink perennial sweet pea

Hydrangeas

Black Eyed Susan

A very large guest! Must be why I am not having any problems with voles eating the lilies this year?

The days are becoming humid with temperatures in the mid to low 80s. It’s just about Summer here in the Mid-Atlantic states.

The spiderworts (Trandescantia) are finishing their Spring bloom cycles but are developing fungal leaf spot, which they always do when the humidity is high. That’s ok. They tend to fall over after the blooming season and look best when cut back to the ground.

After only a few days I grew tired of all the leaning Rose-of-Sharons from tropical storm Andrea so they all were trimmed back to about knee high. They will shoot back up about three to four feet by Fall. They will just bloom later than normal.

The hydrangeas along the drive are beautiful, as always! They all were cuttings from one plant which I found behind the old shed when I purchased the house ten years ago.

While walking around the JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University we saw a beautiful fox! He wouldn’t sit still long enough for a good picture and I only captured the below picture of him running away down a path.

That’s ok. The perennial border looks wonderful as we have had tons of rain! The dahlias are blooming now with the lilies budding out for their next show!

I am just waiting for the vegetable garden to begin producing some veggies for some fresh and new recipes!