Wednesday, July 18, 2012

The Garden on Life Support



Can we really have passed by the middle of July already? Where has the summer flown? 

It has been hot and really, really dry here in Ontario. We have had had no significant rainfall for weeks. I keep the garden going with the lifeline of a garden hose. 



In the front flowerbed, the roses are still hanging in there.





Here is the garden at the side of the house in early July.


A humble spirea.


The garden hose doesn't reach these ditch daylilies that grow along the property line, 
but then again, they are pretty unstoppable.


My hydrangeas however, are less impressed with the weather.



As I strolled around the garden taking pictures, I couldn't help but take note of all the things I did and didn't manage to do this spring. I had every intention of giving this clematis proper support, but somehow never got around to it. 

Now it has flopped over onto itself. Oh well, there is always next year!


I also didn't manage to tackle the this bed which is now overrun with this very pretty pink flower. 
My procrastination means that it is an even bigger job now. Hopefully, I will get to it next month. 


We did install this birdhouse that my husband and I designed and built a couple of years ago. Each of the two floors and the roof are a separate piece and are stacked together to make the whole birdhouse. This hopefully makes it easy to take apart and clean.


In the back garden there are lots of phlox in flower as well as annual poppies, lilies, bright-red monarda and dainty white and yellow feverfew.



I think this might be the summer that the euonymus that now covers half of this arbor makes 
it all the way around to the other side.




I planted sunflowers seeds, but only one plant grew! I seem to have terrible luck growing flowers from seed. I am not sure if my failure is due to the fact that I bought my seeds at a discount sale or if I am planting them to deep or if there is something else I am doing wrong. 


Despite my poor success rate, I was able to coax butterfly weed, nasturtiums and 
love-in-the-mist out of the ground.


I also have lots and lots of tomatoes. Last summer the dogs discovered they loved cherry tomatoes. They ate some and dropped others. Now, I have tomatoes growing in all manner of odd places.



 It is just a small handful to start, but I am already I am daydreaming about the fresh salads and the toasted tomatoes sandwiches I will be able to make in a few week's time.


I hope you are enjoying your summer. I will be around shortly to say hi.

51 comments:

  1. We are still waiting for summer to begin! Your garden is looking lovely, whereas ours is now lagging sadly behind. The clematis looks gorgeous, even without support, and the phlox is a very pretty colour.

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  2. Amazing, amazing - oh, I´d need your help to make my garden prettier! If I get some of your sunshine you can get some of my rain..? Deal?! :-)

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  3. We in Finland have the opposite weather. It's just raining all the time. My tomatoes are still raw, but I've got some cucumbers and basil.

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  4. Your garden looks like a breathtaking fairytail Jennifer. Overhere the Hosta's are huge. I don't have to tell you why (lol).
    Fantastic photography.
    Have a lovely evening

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  5. Oooh, I hope mine is alive, even without a hose lifeline. Lovin the birdhouse, did you have design plans for it?

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    1. Hopefully, they have enjoyed a bit of rain up Owen Sound way, Deborah and your garden is doing fine. It seems that even when the weatherman advises thunderstorms for the GTA, it fails to show up. I hate to think about my water bill!
      We draw up plans for the birdhouse, but they have gone missing. When we next take it down for cleaning, I will try to photograph the parts (two floors of birdy condos plus the roof) and do a post with dimensions.

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  6. The gardens are looking lovely and certainly shows all your hard work watering. I like the clematis flowers curled up on themselves - if I didn't know any better, I'd say you'd planned it. B

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  7. Hi Jennifer,

    I think we are all in the samee boat with this weather. The tomatoes are earlier than ever, but the very high heat delays bud setting. The bird house is wonderful. I love that pink phlox with the white eye, they do like the heat. I am taking note of the supports that worked for me this year and the ones that didn't. Stay cool!

    Eileen

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  8. Beautiful, beautiful post. What a respite from our hot, hot prairie . Not only beautiful but the quality of the material is great.

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  9. Your garden is beautiful! I don't know about the sunflower seed - maybe it's the year. Normally I have no problem growing sunflowers but this not a one that I planted from seed came up.

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  10. Even though the summer is wearing on all of us, and there is too little rain, your pictures are a feast!

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  11. Wow even in the midst of a dry, hot summer you've got some serious garden beauty going on here. Thanks for sharing.

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  12. Your flowers look lovely, despite the dry weather. I have also had bad luck with discounted flower seeds. I do get the best results from the bigger name brands. I'm impressed you have ripe tomatoes already!

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  13. So many gorgeous blooms to share, seems your garden is doing just fine despite the dry weather. I had trouble with sunflowers this year too, something, either birds or slugs got most of my seedlings.

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  14. You couldn't tell from the photos that your garden has been hot and dry. It looks great!

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  15. I too think your garden looks good and refreshed despite the dry weather. I was away for ten days and the garden did not look as bad as I expected. We had no rain either.

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  16. Your garden is so fabulous. I love the fullness of your flower beds, mine are only a year or two old and still scraggly...

    Thanks for your lovely comments on my post.

    Have a great weekend - stay cool!!

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  17. I am simply swept away by these beautiful flowers and plants...so full of colors and beauty. I feel that I am in a different place altogether, like the garden of Eden. I like your photography. The bowl with tomatoes is looking so nice. The roses are just awesome, in texture and colors. And I love your new header image.
    Have a nice day !

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  18. What a wonderful selection of flowers you have, no one would think you were having a drought. We have had nothing but rain and cold wind for months now, I think summer might be coming this weekend! You are so lucky being able to water to keep your garden going, we are on a water meter and have to pay for every drop, maybe its just as well we have so much rain!

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  19. Jennifer, the phloxes and roses are beautiful! The summer has not yet flown, enjoy every day in your nice garden!

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  20. The life line is obviously working very well , your garden is lush and full of colour , what a joy.

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  21. It certainly doesn't look like you are in a drought - your garden looks beautiful. There's actually some clouds in the sky here in SW Ontario today. I'm praying for rain. But not before I head out there and stake up my tomatoe plants which have outgrown their cages. No tomatoes yet, but I did harvest some eggplant yesterday. Do I hear ratatouille is on the menu for tonight?

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  22. You garden is stunning, a beautiful sight during these hot, dry days.

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  23. Your garden is magnificent!! If you hadn't said you were in a drought, I never would have known. What is the pink flower that has overrun your bed? It's beautiful!

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  24. Your garden and photography is fabulous. I thoroughly enjoyed my stroll and now have your posts coming to my email so as not to miss them. Thanks for stopping by my blog too otherwise, i probably wouldn't have discovered you!!
    xo

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  25. Your garden is really beautiful. I love its full, cottage look. We have been having drought also, but it just rained this afternoon thankfully! It will be nice to be able to play in the dirt again.
    ~Julie

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  26. We too are having a horrible summer down here in Chicago...doesn't help that I am 7 months pregnant! Your garden looks fantastic Jennifer! You really have amazing color.....I am giving you a high five! Nice work....hope we all get some more rain soon!

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  27. It all looks beautiful from here and you'd never know you hadn't had rain for weeks! the roses are remarkably resilient if they are established but yes hydrangeas do tend to out a bit. This may be the year to make a list of your 'bullet proof' plants.

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  28. Your garden look magnificent! I would never have guessed it's been so dry. You have nurtured it so well. You have an amazing range of flowers all beautifully planted out.

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  29. It looks like you have managed to keep your garden looking beautiful.

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  30. Jennifer girl your garden is still looking spectacular ! .. Your bouquets are so beautiful too : ) .. and your furry kids loving tomatoes ? too funny!
    Emma loves to lap some coffee and she eats just about anything .. kiwi included .. she is one funny cat ^..^
    I have been trying to keep my garden alive with watering but it is so exhausting .. Kingston has actually had no rain in MONTHS! .. I think we have broken a record or two in fact.
    My butterfly weed did the strangest thing .. I have never had a problem with it .. huge and beautiful for years .. but it began to die back so soon after it bloomed I was worried that it might go all the way to the roots so I cut it back before it totally stressed out .. that is a dry and heat tolerant native plant for heaven sake !
    In any case .. I`ll take your garden with accessories (wink wink) any time!
    LOL ... just kidding .. I love mine but this is a test of patience and strength !
    Joy

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  31. The garden is looking fabulous. It looks like you plant close together which is something I can't seem to do. We have a lot of competition for sun and root space from trees. Perhaps one day my garden will look as fine as yours.

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  32. Tienes un jardín espectacular!!!Desearía tener un jardín como el tuyo. Tal vez algún día lo logre.feliz fin de semana!!!.Un abrazo.

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  33. Your garden is looking lush and lovely you are obviously doing a good job with the hose. I seem to have missed your last two posts - I am way behind - think I am going to drastically reduce my blog list so I can concentrate of those few blogs which I really enjoy - which includes yours.

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  34. I have just commented and it has disappeared so I'll try again - your garden is looking lush and lovely - all your hard work with the hose is paying off.

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  35. So glad I discovered your beautiful blog and garden. You really have the garden I dream of. Full of bloom and not a spot of visible soil left. Things just starting to grow where you don't expect it.... I wish.... Sigh. I will be back to enjoy more of your garden.
    By the way, it hasn't stopped raining over here, the garden is soaked, the roses are not at all doing well, they certainly are sunlovers. The gardenhose has been unemployed so far this summer.
    Bye,
    Marian

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  36. Obviously your garden efforts are paying off -- your garden looks beautiful!

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  37. Oh my what a beautiful garden! Just amazing you must be so proud of your accomplishments! Such a labor of love and it shows! Very lovely visit here!

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  38. Love the green watering can photos especially! just had to come back and comment on it again!

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  39. Hello Jennifer
    As usual, a wonderful post with terrific photos!
    Jennifer - I think your blog is fabulous and "lovely", therefore I nominate you for the One Lovely Blog award!! Congratulations! You can find the rules on my site http://astridsgardendesign.blogspot.com.
    If you feel you cannot comply with the rules of the award, please accept this nomination in the sincere spirit in which it is offered.
    Astrid

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    1. Thanks so much for the award Astrid. I am honoured that you thought of me.

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  40. These bouquets are wonderful, and your garden is lovely.Your arbor in the garden really adds such nice dimension.

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  41. Jennifer your garden is very special and your birdhouse, I will copy the design, don't tell anyone though.

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    1. Alistair, I think it is great that you like the birdhouse enough to want to make one of your own. Copy away!

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  42. Jennifer, your garden looks so beautiful in spite of the drought--so many colorful blooms! It is so hot and dry here, too; about the only chore I am getting done these days is watering. I guess that's the good thing about gardening--you can always start over next year:) Your birdhouse is fantastic; I'd call that quite an accomplishment for this year!

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    1. Thanks Rose! We are kinda proud of the way it turned out.

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  43. Your gardens are still very full and lush for such dry conditions. I certainly hope the weather turns and you get some much needed rainfall soon. Hydrangeas really don't like the heat and dry conditions....but they are so pretty.

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    1. Janet, As the gardener, I would love to take the credit for the fact that the garden looks lush, but the real credit goes to the garden hose. Rain is forecast for tomorrow. Here's hoping that the weatherman has it right.

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  44. How utterly lovely.
    I am new to the world of geraniums, so found this very interesting. I'd like to find a mounding geranium and have taken note of the name of yours, as well as the Midnight Reiter, which sounds intriguing. Thanks for such an informative and well-illustrated post!

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  45. Thank you so much for thinking of me for this reward. I am honoured and appreciative.

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