Summer Is Almost Over

Went fast eh? I figured i'd get some late summer pics up before the autumn leave colors. Naturally I'm disappointed with the Imopatens loss and four or five Hosta; wondering if they come back next year. Chances are goo they caught the Gold standard disease being only 3-8 feet apart. Probably said that several time this summer?

A week ago I rounded up all the Coleus colors I have and rooted about 100 of them which will go to Florida and be ready for lottsa color at my mothers home. Seems she can't do much gardening anymore. How many colors? Ten that I counted.

I also have all sorts of Black Eyed Susan (BES) vine growing on the driveway. Some quite small...Florida bound as well..as long as they don't get too large in the meantime. Seems they seed anytime much like Morning Glories. Not sure of the reason for the re-seeding but may be due to the warm winter last year.

The jungle near the porch steps. Moonies, BES, Coleus, potato vines, Cleome, etc.

Moonies up the railing. BES in baskets and climbing the porch column.

 More of the jungle going up the steps....

Down across the lawn. The Bacopia (small white flowers) really took off in this area. Almost died in two other locations. Those whatch combs....always have a hard time with that name were replacements for Impatiens. They never do well around here even in full sun. Oh, annual Vinca is the name.

Hydrangeas and Stuff

These guys are coming along. Endless Summer bought back in May of 2010, though I'm not happy with the odd shape. They need some hackin' Probably this fall. I did trim the larger straggler branches earlier this spring, but as I look around here and there I see some folks treat these things different. One in particular along the main drag going into town. It grows to 8 and 10 feet high in late summer, blooms like crazy and then cut almost to the roots in the spring.

Made some babies from these guys last year. Four of them to count. Coming along nicely. Here's one about 18 inches high. Others are here and there in the woods.

More being rooted on the porch, but these are called Forever & Ever Blue Haven Hydrangea. Taken from new plants I picked up a few weeks ago. Problem is the adults (one so far) is beginning to  blooming pink?? Even after using some product that is supposed to keep them blue. Have to wait on that.

Oh, a new spot for the newbies...and a few Azaleas picked up along the way. There's also one called Flowerwood Sister Theresa that is supposed to stay white...upper right..itty bitty thing with two flowers.

Unfortunately my climbing hydrangea isn't blooming this year. I hear they need to climb and spread first, but yet the first year they bloomed. Could be time for some bloom booster.

And about these things. A climbing Nasturtium. So? When does it plan on climbing?

Petunias along the lawn coming along, but for some reason one of the white Waves in the pots is dying:( I do have two backups though. No Petunias along the drive pics. You'll have to wait a month or so but they're looking good.

Burpee Electronic Soil Tester. Review. Buy Or Pass?

In typical fashion I should have done some research before I bought this twenty dollar gizmo at the local Lowes. But. I wasn't really looking for it. I did run out of the Mosser Lee Soil Master PH tablets for their kit, so the search was for more PH tabs...nope, natta, no way. I didn't think so anyway. You have to buy the whole kit again.

Okay. Soil tester. Has probes. Would you think it could just be jabbed into the ground and get a reading? I did. It's a messy procedure getting readings, if they make any sense. I decided to by both kits and make a comparison.

The Burpee tester requires mixing water with the soil taken (far more soil than the small cap full  required by Mosser). Then it's a fifteen minute wait until the soil gets saturated. Frankly I thought it was soaked the first 20 seconds when I stirred it. But I waited and poured off the excess water as instructed. Fifteen minutes gone and in goes one probe with the first of two samples being tested.

There are two settings. One for PH, and the other for "fertility." The PH setting did not move from above 7.0. Worthless toy I thought. I did wait the required two minutes while the probe was in the soil. Alrightie then let's move on to the second soil sample after cleaning the probes. Almost the same result, but the PH is coming down. Maybe it needs to warm up? Oh no, different soil location. Maybe it is working? Incidentally, no batteries required.

Next step, let's try the fertility setting (below). Now we're getting better results with the PH level. This by comparing the Mosser Lee tablet, water, and soil type test.

In the background we have the final results of the Mosser testing kit. PH readings are very similar, but the Burpee probe shows a finer result, if you want to believe.  The next photo result is the second sample also compared to the Mosser system.

Buy or pass? I'm taking the probe back. Reasons being I'm used to the other kit and find the Burpee procedure too long and messy. Yes, the Mosser kit only provides ten tablets for ten individual PH tests but I did discover the manufacturer of the tablets, LaMotte, sells 50 at a clip for about twelve bucks online.

I haven't done any serious soil testing around here except for the lawn a few years ago. This test was strictly for planting more Moon flowers along the fence line bordering the woods. No way would they grow like the ones last year up near the porch area with these kind of readings.

Solution: Remove existing soil and replace with soil from the successful area that includes gravel dirt and clay. Most would not think they would grow well in that setting, but they went nuts last year. Never fertilized either. Probably would have reduced the flowering had I done so anyway. Three vines, oodles of flowers, continuously for 3-4 weeks.

\Look for monster Moonie vines later this summer.

More Final Garden Pics

I'm not expecting any changes from this point for the rest of the year. That moon flower has been a tough one to photograph, mainly because the leaves are shiny so there's always a glare off them. This one taken after the big rains early last week with dear ole' momma.

Another view taken this morning along with the Morning Glories that have fully leafed out. Notice Cleome bush in front. I had dozens of these things coming up earlier this year and decided to keep five of them. Cut back about five times and they've become a bush. Petunias growing wild in driveway as well. Reseeded from last year.

More Petunias below. White silverish ones from seed...took forever. I had them scattered everywhere but this time of year it gets too shady in most areas so most were moved into this spot that catches more than six hours sun daily. I'm planning on tiering them up the drive next summer. Picture taken this evening. Cardinal flower vine getting full (fence post)...some flowers...too tiny.

Along the side of the cabin. Annual Lantana that was rescued for $ 1.50 back in July. Three plants in pot. Two types of potato vine, a struggling Clematis but it did have a bloom last week. Lot's of different colored impatiens, Red salvia, and some stupid African Daisies that only bloomed for one week.

Let's see what else? A hodgepodge of a mess here...Begonias did very well in part sun this year. Never made it in the shade in previous years. Coleus here and there, Angelonia, one sun Impatiens that never really found a real home. Butter Daisies (yellow) reseeded from last year. They're real late comers. Didn't pop through the ground until mid July.

Blue star creeper planted two months ago filling out nicely. They seem to crave this spot. I've already taken plugs and spread them to other locations.

Another pic shows a Black Eyed Susan Vine that failed to climb all over this lattice. Not sure why this one didn't get off the ground like others. Lottsa Cleomes in back ground...the "Cleome jungle" Others, double Impatiens, Swedish ivy, creeping Jen, variegated Vinca vine, and Coleus.

Another hodgepodge. Leftovers more like it.Many rooted New Guinea Impatiens beginning to get full. Several rooted Petunias as well.

Pikes Family Nursery - A Good Alternative

The company had been mentioned several times at Dave's Garden so I investigated more by making two visits. One in Cumming and the other in Woodstock, Georgia about two weeks ago. After all I'm finding it's getting boring seeing the same old thing at Lowes and Home Depot.

Great landscaping out front! Only if I had a pic of the right side front entrance that was loaded with Angelonia.

Anyway some things the other places don't carry that I found interesting.

• Lysimachia golden globes - similar to creeping Jenny but with yellow flowers in mid summer.
• White star creeper
• Snow in summer 
• Duranta Aurea

Getting late into the season. Not as many small annuals are around, but I managed to get sucked into some actual house plants. No, they won't be going into the house! The looked unique so I thought why not, but I didn't really know what I was buying.

Some names...

• Alternanthera Dentata
• Acalypha - Tiki Peach Whirl
• Rex Begonia
• Swedish Ivy

Pikes is a great alternative but only one drawback; good descriptions of plants are lacking. Sure I could have pulled out that Iphone and handled  some internet searches but it's so damned slow. I don't understand the popularity really. Prices a bit higher or on par with the big box stores in the items I was looking at. Plenty of selection and a vast indoor area (not shown) for other accessories, soil etc.

Here are some previews of what's been going on around here. Naturally the Impatiens are thriving like crazy..

...and so is the creeping Jenny. So much that it can be found in about six locations now. Hey the lawn is actually hanging in there too. Overall, great differences from this time last year.

Better Sights This Year - Blooms

I've captured most of them; the highlights of each plant growing around the property. Let's go through the collection. You've seen this one before but it always captures attention each May. Dianthus. These are basically annuals that survive near the warmth of the house.

Japanese Viburnum or snowball- April 18. Three are scattered from last Mays planting. Only one bloomed this year. Currently about four feet in height. Expected 8 foot by 8 foot at maturity.

Pansies along the north side of driveway. April 25.

More...

Tulips in barrels April 11. Not sure if this one has been shown before...

Knockout Roses along drive May 9...

Azaleas above wall with Creeping Jenny..June 5

The lone Astilbe in with some Caladiums that have about three more weeks to reach full height. Too bad the Astibes will be gone by then...

Day Lilies. First one came out quite dark. Planted last spring, first time bloomer...

Others, some loaded with buds and finally the Calla Lilies...

Hopefully Hosta pics soon once the Caladiums are out in full force

Summer Bulbs

I haven't been impressed by my Cancun Lilies, but they'll be back year after year. They do look great close-up but ragged from a distance, plus some critters/bugs are getting to their stalks. Probably should plant some small guys in front to hide their "bare legs."

Some Gladiolus are showing. I have them in four locations so I should see some blooms the next 2-3 weeks? Those buggers don't like to stand up straight so they're propped up any which way. They are also reaching for the sunlight in this partially shaded area. Same with the Cancun Lilies (in pic below) Here's my first attempt at a floral arrangement.

Canna President on both sides of this area. Three of seven appeared. There were supposed to be some Princess Di Lilies (7) but they never made an appearance. Could be too wet down there. A few other failed attempts trying Delphiniums (browned out plants). Had them in another spot as well, drier...still died within weeks. Calla Lilies in small center garden. They're not too organized, look crowded, once again bending for the sunlight.

Hey, my elephant ears are making progress along with the Caladiums. Coleus grows like crazy around here. Had to trim those guys back once already.

More Caladiums...