My coneflowers are coming into bloom. Between the coneflowers I actually planted and the ones that have self-seeded, I have maybe 60 (?) plants. Rick was asking me about them the other day and I told him they spread rather nicely. But what I should have said was that they self-seeded. I need to tell him to leave the seed heads up after their bloom and through the winter. That’s to ensure self-seeding and also to provide food for the birds.
This group of coneflowers is entirely self-seeded. They’re growing out of the rocky border of the flower bed. This group of coneflowers is bigger than ever this year.
June and July are the peak months for the garden. After that, everything starts to wind down. So I’m trying to stay in the moment and enjoy everything that’s blooming around me – even if the temps are in the nineties. After I finish this post, I’ll be running around watering everything. Then it will be time to mow the front yard.
All of the hosta plants are beginning to flower. I must admit, I always think this flowering happens later in the summer than it actually does and I go through a little panic thinking that summer is almost over. When will I learn?
I’m currently battling an outbreak of white flies in the garden. I’ve never seen them this bad. I’m going to put it down to the wet spring, but actually, I have no idea if that’s true. I’ve done a lot of research in the past 24 hours and for the moment, I’m going outside about 3 times a day to spray all the infestations with water. I have an organic, no chemicals garden, so I don’t want to use anything that would be harmful. I know there are sticky traps and I’m thinking about them, but I don’t want to harm any beneficial bugs and I would. I know dragonflies are one of their predators and I noticed them hanging around that area the other day, which now makes sense. The flies seem to be concentrated on the milkweed and the stems of the coneflowers.
After spraying them this morning, Don said “Who’s winning?” I answered that it was currently a draw.
Hey, it gives me something to do.
Happy Wednesday.
Well…you are not alone in your hosta thinking. Maybe my memory is skewed, but, I seem to remember hostas not blooming until early August. I always associated their blooming, with having to get my kids ready for school in a few weeks time. But, no matter when they do bloom, they are glorious. I especially love that some of my hostas have white blooms. It adds to the variety.
The wet, cold spring we had, has certainly given us gardening challenges. Good luck with the battle. And now, we are coming into a dry, hot period….who knows what havoc that will create. One thing for sure…we know that the weeds will flourish!
Take care mowing….we’re waiting til tomorrow, when we get a break from the humidity. Enjoy your day! ;)
Maybe it IS August usually! Are they blooming earlier than usual?
The last 4-5 years, I’ve been thinking that the hostas were blooming earlier than normal. Or…maybe because I have different varieties now, their bloom times may be earlier than the generic green and white that I only used to have. Truthfully…I’m befuddled! ;)
Me too. All of my hostas – even the new varieties that I planted last year – are blooming right now.
Climate change? I don’t know.
hi, claudia.
two things you wrote here resonate with me (in addition to those gorgeous flowers/photos) … trying to live in the moment and having a chemical-free garden. i am not always very good at the former (thanks, anxiety). and while i don’t have a garden, i do try to avoid using chemicals whenever possible. thanks for the reminders. :)
hope you are keeping cool and having a happy day!
kathy in iowa
You’re welcome, Kathy!
I wonder if ladybugs will help with the white fly problem. The nursery usually sells them out here, not sure about in CT. Enjoy your summer, I know it’s always short lived!! I came from Framingham, MA to SD, many yrs ago!
They will. I hadn’t seen any until this afternoon when I saw one on a milkweed plant. And white flies are definitely attacking the milkweed plants.
We did lose a few things after the winter, but the Bee Balm, Phlox, and the Black Eyed Susans seem to have tripled this year. They are just beginning to bloom and are amazing. Each year is so different when we garden. It seems Mother Nature has Her very own way of thinning and strengthening what is grown in Her soil.
Have a good Wednesday!!
My phlox isn’t blooming as much as it did. I think the bee balm has taken over, so I’m going to have to thin it next year. Thanks, Chris.
Your flowers look beautiful. We are having such a bad time with flies and mosquitos!! They are awful. I’m sure it is due to the wet weather we have had for so long. The little ones cannot even play outside with bug spray on.
Take care working outside in this heat.
Judy
The heat and the pollen – too much! You be careful as well, Judy! xo