Fall Getting Closer

I figured I'd get some pictures up before I forget about them. At least I can organize images from around the property better than I can with other stuff. I have them broken down month to month for the last four years with individual dates.

This has to be my favorite Coleus (reddish one). I picked up one small plant in mid April and must have forty of them around here now. I'll definitely keep them going as 18 (rooted) will be going to Florida. They looks stunning in partial shade..or at least I think so.

How about this guy? It's a Mexican something. I've had them for three years now. Thew first year was very disappointing. Last year they did quite well, but this year (annuals) this thing has climbed to ten feet after cutting them back twice.  BUT..it hasn't shown a flower yet. It is a late bloomer anyway, but it's almost fall.

Finally some Blue Morning Glories! Hopefully I'll have some returning next year in this location. I've seen a half dozen flowers so far this year.

Ivy is progressing all over the place. I can see it getting out of control if I ever left it alone for a year. Also shown in the back ground is one of my larger elephant ears.

I had oodles of Zinnia planted up along the driveway this year, cut them back twice, but they took on some kind of disease. This is all I have out of them so far.

Another Moon flower vine on the corner of the house. Lot's of Coleus where Impatiens always had a home in past years. Coleus don't replace them in my opinion but they do fill out nicely. Notice the small flower on the Clematis? I thought I killed that plant three months ago. Potato vines again. They're all over the place as well.

Angelonia doing well all over, but hard to see in this picture. Trailing Petunias petered out. Not as I hoped. But, they make into the cooler weather. Maybe they'll surprise me yet.

More Spring Blooms

A few highlights from the past few weeks before they disappear...either from the brisk wind and cold the next few nights or just done. I've never been a fan of these things (Bearded Iris) but some love them. They almost look a deformed plant. I should get more Dianthus in front this fall.

This spot has become more of a let's put it there for awhile location and small seed starter area that's been working great. Case in point; I've never been able to get 4 o'clocks going around here, but then I've started most seeds in flats. Anyway, I must have a dozen and a half good looking 4 o'clocks this year.

Seen every year, but more of a mid May bloomer, Dianthus near the porch steps. I usually have to replant 2 or three each fall, but several are going on three years this fall.

Down by the storage shed, it's those low growing bunch type whatch combs.

Foam flowers taken from the woods.

Off to the creek area. I had one Hosta that had to be removed and the reason for the gaping empty spot. It had the HVX virus, which I had no knowledge of until last week.

My proud and joys for the spring. Foxglove...

Finally after three years and who knows how many seeds...some Columbine

Half of my rooted Coleus and Angelonia planted in soil in an improved version  of the original hoop greenhouse in the woods. Covered with straw for the next few cold nights. Stays nice and toasty in there with the warm soil.

How Big Are Flower Plugs From North Carolina Farms?

Finally after several months drooling over the possibility of massive shows of color, my plug order arrived. Both Fed Ex and UPS always have trouble finding this place. At least Fed Ex calls. UPS? They just throw it anywhere at anyone's house, mailbox, on any freaking street.. Screw them anyway.

How Big? The picture tells the story. This is one trailing Petunia plug. Almost about the size one would get from six pack annuals at the local stores, but the root ball is much smaller.

What did I get into? My gosh. Take a look see. I'm tired just looking at them.

Incidentally. I'm not sure if it's been mentioned. The original order was changed somewhat because all white Petunias had some kind of disease and were thrown out by the grower. And...as much as I am not crazy about pink, they were sold out. So, I am left with a slight contrast problem as there are purple, red, and blue types. I had 'em throw in 100 white Angelonia, but how to arrange is an issue as there's quite a height difference. I'll dream something up.

Healthy looking buggers eh? They did look a bit tired from a two day ship time. So far I transferred (45 minutes) 40 to small cups and thought they were too small, but I'm not buying hundreds of 4" plastic pots. I'm thinking why bother with the Petunias. Grower admits 50 degree temps and lower at night are fine but will take longer.  I've moved smaller ones a few weeks ago that are doing just fine. Not being sure how far they hardened off the Angelonia and Coleus, they'll probably be kept safe for awhile in the larger greenhouse. Only problem is they're so crowded.

More later. I'm tired looking at them. Oh, yea. Here's a test spot for the Petunias. Temps may dip back into the low 30's early next week with another frost possibility.

Forget The Seeds. Forget The Overpriced Plants At The Orange & Blue Places

Mentioned previously I want to try flower plugs this year from NCFarms. Having placed the order today for 600 plugs I'll be busy when they arrive. They're not the type that you can just plop in the ground and expect them to grow. At this stage they still need some tender care. Order should arrive the week of April 22, still a bit early as the average last frost hits about that date.

So they all need to be transplanted into something larger. I have oodles of containers piled neatly near the woods. Four inch to one gallon. I'm thinking of using the railroad tie garden along the driveway as a temporary nursery covered/tented with plastic sheathing. It gets plenty of sun each day and is protected from winds. Ideal for the 300 trailing petunias but could be too strong for the 300 coleus.

Coleus Selections: They all grow to knee high height and not those lousy ones that don't go higher than eight inches. Oh, they're all supposed to like full sun, but that orange color I had last year faded too much. No idea what the name was.

Coleus Oxblood

 Coleus Golda

Coleus Rustic Orange

Petunia Selections:

Trailing Purple

Trailing White

Trailing Red

Now that I look at them more, perhaps a different color other than red? Not pink, sorry.

About that irrigation. I think I'm going to abandon the green energy and go with a good gas powered pump. Lot's of great reviews on the Honda WX10. Only problem is climbing up and down that hill near the source.  Rocks, boulders, trees, you name it. A remote kill switch would be beautiful!

Local folks have a water tank (330 gal) or two for sale. Pricey though, off Craigslist. Only eight miles away. Fugly? Yes, but I could tuck it in the woods out of sight, covered with a green tarp.. Maybe I don't need it. The Honda has great numbers. Pressure, head, ease of use, etc. Plenty of tinkering with options before I consider a tank.

More Late Summer Pictures

I never took a picture from this angle, but it does give a good overall idea of the back yard size looking from the edge of the woods. Morning mist after a few days rain. Sun peaking through.

From the other side of the woods

Black Eyed Susan vine mixed in with some Marigolds and Begonia nearby...

Moon flowers still going strong but nearing the end. It's been five weeks of steady blooms.

Poldka Dot plant with another BES vine (late seeder, no blooms yet)

A newer smallish garden for Coleus. They faded quite a bit when put into 4-6 hours sun.

Annual Salvia love this spot. It is very rich in organic stuff though.

Finally some fall bulbs. Gladiolus bicolor acidanthera.

Just started blooming a week ago. One by one. 

Coleus Update

Yessir, those ugly ducklings. Or at least that was my view two years ago. Growing from seed takes forever by the most recent results. I did transfer a few into larger containers (below) but I don't see how that's going to make any difference. The roots aren't any longer than one inch if that.

So, rather than wait until the first frost to see what they really look like, I've picked a few here and there from local garden centers and rooted them. These were done about six weeks ago. Probably only three inches high and 3-4 leaves then...doing well in about four hours afternoon sun...hot too, but they grow better than being in the shade. Ten inches high or thereabouts but bushing out.

Looking at other offspring from the same mother plant these were just planted out after spending the same amount of time in deep shade. One (rear) was actually rooting in another location that had high shade. Quite a difference in color and size.

More from the garden shops. Cost? About 50 cents each when considering the cost of the momma plant. Multiplied several times over year after year, the cost will be pennies. I plan to take samples of all to Florida this winter and root for speedier growing next spring.

Don't Worry. You Won't Kill It

That was the popular consensus when it came to trimming back this fine Clematis vine. Only time will tell. It looked great in late April....

But once I got the scissors to it...another story.

And about those Coleus. I may just get lucky and have them reach decent size when the first frost hits. Then it's over for the season. This is almost four weeks progress.

And another well thought out purchase online, but I probably won't be able to enjoy them until 2012 considering it's getting late for seeds(received last week). Bunches of Petunias that if I'm lucky once again may show good size in mid October.  Oh well, they make it well into the colder November weather in these parts. Going to have to start some of this stuff in Florida next January providing I get out of  Google's Panda Prison.

Shown here is the status of some trailing wave Petunia seeds started the last week of March. They took forever to get moving but just the past few days with very warm temps have they made some good progress.

Daylillies planted from root last year. Calla Lillie's in the background also planted last spring that have yet to bloom at all. Perhaps a few weeks?