Why do I buy just one hollyhock? I see photos on Instagram in which there are many planted in a row and wouldn’t that be lovely? I know the answer of course. I’m on a strict budget and I can’t afford to buy several of anything.
I’ve always had to wrestle with that, which I’m sure is the case with most of you. The garden beds are all perennials – except for the seeds I plant every year – and building up a perennial garden takes time and patience. We’ll have been in this house 14 years in August and it took at least seven of those years to build up the big garden bed. I’ve added other beds over the years, but only when I could afford the time and the money to do it right.
This year, after a couple of years of a little more money available than usual, we’re back to a tight budget, but we did allot a certain amount of money for mulch, topsoil, potting soil, seeds and plants for the pots on the porch.
We get so much pleasure from the porch and the gardens.
We mowed the back forty and the corral yesterday. Don also mowed the path into our woods. It’s pretty hot out there, so we were tuckered out afterwards. But it really needed it as it’s the one part of the property we feel we can neglect for a few weeks – but only a few weeks – as we’re the only ones who see it.
We took a walk this morning and I’ve already watered all the seedlings and the porch plants. It’s going to be a hot one. Looking at the weather for the next two weeks, it looks like we’re going to be hovering around 90 degrees every day.
Thanks so much for all your comments yesterday. I know that we all enjoy seeing what others are reading. I finished One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson this morning and I’m going to start When Will There Be Good News? by the same author later today. I’m reading them in order, save for the very first, Case Histories, which I don’t have on hand. I’ll find it soon. I really admire Atkinson’s ability to juggle several characters and weave every story together at the end of the mystery. More than any author I have read, she is a master of multiple points of view.
Happy Tuesday.
You can collect the seeds of hollyhocks (and other plants) and grow
them yourself. It is cheaper than buying grown plants. Sow the seeds this year and next year you will have more hollyhocks.
Good idea, Dorien. I’ll just have to remember where I sowed them!
You can sow the seeds in containers first, Then you have a better control. Or put sticks with the name on it in the soil.
Next year you have a lot of beautiful hollyhocks to look at, I hope.
Sticks in the soil might be ruined by the winter snows, so sowing them inside is a better idea, Dorien. Thanks!
We had such a wet cold spring that my gardens were neglected this year. So I enjoy looking at photos of other people’s gardens.
We did, too! Still paying for it with lots of weeds!
tight budget or not, that is money (and time and effort) well spent on your gardens since they bring you happiness. and i am glad they do that.
great to learn about other books out there that i likely would not otherwise know about or consider. will add some to my list and share titles with other readers i know. thanks to all.
we are starting a stretch of extra-hot weather, too (90+ for the next week at least). ugh. but at least there’s shade and air-conditioning and lemonade. hope everyone stays comfortable at the very least!
happy tuesday.
kathy in iowa
Thank goodness for air conditioning, Kathy!
I’m partial to blue/purple flowers and flowering trees. So, as the jacaranda fades here, the purple agapanthus takes its place for me. I only have one agapanthus growing in the yard. It was Dad’s; it’s strong. The others (a diff variety) we planted five years ago, didn’t make it but, when they were babies, we couldn’t water when we needed to due to drought/water restrictions so they were weak even though they’re a low-water plant. I enjoy seeing homes in my town where a large patch of waving purple agapanthus is planted and they are VERY pretty. I’ve thought the same thing, how nice to have a big area of them. But, like you, there’s no money in the budget now for a lot of plants.
(This is the first year in I-don’t-know-how-long that we didn’t plant a veggie garden for summer. I’m missing it. My husband and I were too apathetic about the cost of new soil, we usually don’t plant from seed, so it’s the cost of the already-growing small vegetable starters, it’s the water, our raised wood planters are all collapsing and need to be replaced; was a matter of time and money and desire.)
In Fall, we have to replace/replant less than five bushes on the hillside, as we’d lost those, too (in the same circumstance as described), but that’s solely to hold the dirt on the hillside to keep it from sliding/eroding once we get (hope we get) rain again in SoCalif. All the empty patches in the front yard will have to remain bare dirt, for now. When and if we can ever make it a part of the budget, we’re thinking boxwood for that perimeter but maybe I could sneak in a few agapanthus!
Summer weather in the U.S. has ramped up; mid-July, hot. Stay cool, Claudia!
I’ll try to, Vicki! I just turned the air conditioning on.
I’d like some warmer weather soon! We’ve reverted to typical West Coast summer weather with cold cloudy/foggy mornings and then sunnier warmer afternoons. Our 60’s weather is heading into mid-70’s next week, so I’m looking forward to shorts and sandals again! I love the hollyhocks. I’ll have to think about them in my garden. I have a spot where one of my Jasmine didn’t survive the winter….maybe there?
I have to take a trunkful of donations to the senior center thrift shop today. And then I usually have a browse in the shop. I always manage to find some sewing or crafting items to buy for very very cheap (usually less than $1).
I miss jasmine, Wendy!
We are heading into a very hot 90+patch, too. Two weeks worth I believe, starting this weekend. So this morning, we went out and weeded our back garden. It’s the garden I’m slowly working on. I think another 3 years or so, and I should have it looking as good as our other gardens. In a way I wish I could do it all once, but I sort of enjoy this slow gardening. It does give me something to do in the winter, when I can dream and plan.
We do get a lot of pleasure out of our gardens, and the trees and pines we have planted. It also keeps us busy and in shape. All that bending, kneeling, squatting, tugging and lifting ought to be good for something., I would think! Enjoy your day! ;)
Same as us, Donnamae. Two weeks worth. I feel like I’m weeding every day!
I’m a big fan of slow gardening.
I am not looking forward to this lengthy heat. The air -conditioner is on most all day.
Marilyn
Neither am I, Marilyn. I hate being stuck inside!