This summer is going by way too fast and I am not liking that. Just a day left in July and then it’s August and once August starts my summer days are numbered, and it seems particularly frantic because I still have tulips and daffodils and snowdrops which I’ve been meaning to dig since June as well as a bunch of potted things which I’ve been whispering apologies to all spring and summer as I keep putting off that job as well. Don’t even ask me how the drip irrigation is going. It’s been raining enough that watering has rarely come up on the to-do list, so of course repairing the drip setup keeps getting knocked off the top of the list, and I mention that one in particular because I had to go around this morning and save wilted things since of course I don’t water until it’s too late. Have I mentioned in the last few breaths how much I hate watering? Probably, but let me say it again. I’d rather risk heatstroke weeding in the sun for a couple hours dripping sweat and covered in dirt rather than drag that stupid hose around.
The front border is lush and overgrown due to this summer’s steady rains. Even I think it might be a little “much” for along the street, but better too much than too little is what I say. This is lilium “Scheherazade” doing well, and also not on the lily beetle menu (yet) so that’s also good.
Risking heatstroke and actual heatstroke aren’t separated by much, and with our third day over 90F (32+C) I’m trying to walk the line and avoid drifting over to the actual part. Despite my love of lawn chairs and pool floats I’ve been far too busy outside feeding the gnats and losing water weight as I toil in the fields. Maybe that’s not the worst training considering our potential future, but for now I do it for the fun of gardening and imagine Martha and Monty just as sweaty and disgusting in the heat of summer when they have their own daylily farms to rebuild.
A daylily farm is rising from the ashes. I’ve regraded and seeded the grass path, and as of today I’m happy to report a green shimmer as the seeds begin to sprout.
My gosh, please skip ahead if you want to avoid the complaining, but it all started when I called the town a few days into staring at the bulldozed remains of my daylilies. ‘So what’s the plan?’ I asked… and then entered into a discussion which became quite vigorous after I realized they thought I wanted to do all the repairs myself. I did say that at the start when a hole at the street meant putting a few rocks back and maybe replanting a ninebark, but when the bulldozer and destruction moved twenty more feet into my yard and left a swath of raw shale and compacted topsoil, I assumed they might be able to spot me a little topsoil and mulch, even if they didn’t replace the farm or do any of the actual work. A meeting was set up. In the meantime I got to work.
First try to save a few things. About half the daylilies were left with crowns so I uncovered them and gave them a little feed. A few other things were uncovered along the street, and there might be hope for them over the next few weeks. All my stones were buried, but one of the backhoe operators set aside a few new ones he found, and I got brave and split a bigger one to end up with two big stepping stones along the street. The basketball hoop went back and then I regraded my little grass path. In all I probably pickaxed and hauled off about 20 wheelbarrows of stony, shaley dirt to lower the grade and then tried to spread whatever topsoil they left into the beds. That was awful, backbreaking work but then because I like a nice edge to a new lawn path, I dug up turf from in back and used it as sod to line the sides of the path. Then the easy part of seed, topped with lawn clippings to keep the seed damp long enough to sprout, and then wait. As of today, about a week later, the daylilies are sending up new growth, the grass seed is sprouting, and I’ve even popped in a few odds and ends like a new daylily or two, and some spare cannas and elephant ears to make it look less depressing.
There’s hope.
Since I took these photos, the town has come through with some mulch and topsoil, so more blood and sweat was shared for that, and we will see about the rest of the deal. Hopefully the next farm report will be overwhelmingly amazing. I have put some mulch down so I know at least that will be nice, and I’m in the process of picking daylilies to move in…. but enough of that… let’s look at where the rest of the garden is during these last days of July.
The agapanthus are blooming, and over the years ‘Blue Yonder’ has become a clump. I love it.
I have nothing bad to say about the agapanthus this year. They get no special attention yet are covered with blooms and have been perfectly hardy here for a number of years, with winter lows down to about zero and no protective mulch or sheltered location. It looks like a few have enjoyed all this year’s rains, but even in dry years they haven’t seemed to complain too much. I guess they’re as easy as daylilies, so I wonder if I can divide ‘Blue Yonder’ (my absolute favorite) and line out a row in the farm…. which would be awesome…
Some agapanthus from seed. These are A. campanulatus forms, the seeds of which were coincidentally saved from the bulldozers during the last sewer incident.
I guess I need to mention that not all agapanthus will be as hardy. If you’re in a northern area, check up on the hardiness rating before you plant it, out in full sun of course and then never do another thing for it other than admire the blooms and bask in the compliments.
A dwarf white form given to me as seedlings from a white Seneca Hills Nursery(Ellen Hornig) selection.
Here’s one more look at ‘Blue Yonder’ 😉
‘Blue Yonder’ has a richer color and flower heads packed with later flower buds, giving it a longer bloom time than some of the others.
I don’t know if I’d consider the agapanthus to be borderline hardy in my zone, I guess only a truly brutal winter would settle that, but I do consider some of the Crinum lilies I have planted to be borderline. Two other forms are less than enthusiastic about life here in NePa but ‘Cecil Houdyshel’ increases in size and puts out a couple flower stalks each year so we shall only talk about that one.
Crinum ‘Cecil Houdyshel’ in front of the dark foliage of ‘Royal Purple’ smokebush, alongside the driveway. Very elegant in my opinion.
As you would suspect, I don’t give this one any winter protection, and after our normal lows last year I was a little worried, but slowly he came back to life. All the rain and humidity and heat must really have him feeling at home this summer, so hopefully there will be several more bloom stalks to come.
Cecil has a decent form, not as sloppy a mess as some crinum like to be but that’s just my opinion based on one plant and almost no other crinum experience.
Seems like we’ve left the daylily farm for a Southern excursion, so here’s another thing from down South. Standing cypress (Ipomopsis rubra) is a native to Southeastern North America, or plain America as we in the US like to say, and it’s a cool thing. The hummingbirds agree, and they’re aways buzzing this part of the garden when it’s blooming. Two things though. Everywhere I see it referred to as a biennial or short lived perennial and that’s fine, these plants are from a new seed source and they grew fuzzy rosettes last year with a five foot stalk erupting this summer, but the ones I grow from another source are strictly annuals and never form rosettes and never live beyond year one. Who knows. It’s above my pay grade to wonder if they are all the same species but these are the curiosities which live in my brain so I’m sorry to put it in yours now.
Ipomopsis rubra, paired with the lovely neon green foliage of pokeweed (Phytolacca americana ‘Sunny Side Up’)
The potager is another curiosity. I wonder if I can still call it a potager when 90% of the plantings are not-vegetables, but can’t quite bring myself to admit it’s become another flower farm. Perhaps there’s an authoritative number listed somewhere in France for potager percentages but do supposedly-edible dahlia roots and figs-which-will-never-produce-figs count as veggies and fruit?
Cannas are blooming quite well in and around the potager. This is ‘Cannanova Rose’, an easy, quick to bloom selection which even comes true from seed.
Whatever. Potager it shall remain. If I can get away with calling a couple rows of daylilies a farm than I can stick with potager for this.
My little tropical hiding spot in the potager. Bananas are totally edible and potager approved even if there’s next to no chance I’ll ever see fruit, but the foliage makes up for any missing banana harvest.
I refuse to share a photo of my pathetically anemic tomatoes or the deer-chewed pepper stubs but I will share a single phlox photo. Only one because the rain-fueled hydrangeas have crowded nearly everything else out, but one should get the point across.
The garden phlox are a little late due to an early season deer pruning but they’re finally making a show.
Can I put in a good word for pears? As of today the tree is overloaded with a heavy crop, and although the gardener should have thinned them out for better quality (and to save the tree from collapse) my hope is that a few escape the deer and squirrels and chipmunks and make it to the dinner table. A bushel of Bartlett pears will really put the potager accounting into the black in a way that 3 raspberries, 7 gooseberries, and a half handful of blueberries will not. Someone really should have netted the berry bushes rather than continuously hope the birds ‘miss a few’.
This year’s Bartlett pear crop, heavier each day and hopefully not too heavy.
Maybe the berries didn’t go far in feeding the household, but they did contribute to a steady stream of fledglings coming out of the garden. I don’t really mind the loss, and actually resist netting the fruits since the dopey youngsters tend to get tangled and I prefer a fruitless pancake over a traumatic bird un-netting.
Yet another robin leaving the nest.
So that’s where we’re at. A lot of rambling so I’m wondering if perhaps the heat got to me more than I care to admit but hopefully there was something of interest in there. In spite of all the work summer is still quite excellent and so is the air conditioning when the heat gets to be too much so I really can’t complain. Enjoy your week!
sorta like suburbia 
We had a lot of rain for May and June but then the faucet turned off and we are behind. Jewelweed looks pitiful and yes, I, too, have rescued a lot of wilted containers. Things are looking good at your place.
I think we’re making up for the July lack of rain all in one day! Up to an inch and a half at my house since 8 this morning!
Sigh. Only half an inch here. An inch would have been better. But at least nothing will die.
Gosh I thought for sure you were getting the worst of it Kathy, I guess it’s just sneaking in between the two of us and giving Kimberley a soaking. I think we had about a half inch last night, but all at once and I bet it ran off mostly, and then today just drizzle. I was kind of looking forward to watching a downpour from the shelter of the porch. There’s not a drop of rain in the ten day forecast, it’s been a while since that happened and I’m going to miss being the one spot that keeps getting a good soaking rain… and has to cut the grass every six days!
Oh my goodness, what a lot of work to restore your lily farm and in the heat too. But your garden is looking wonderful. I love the lilies and the agapanthus are divine. Your tropical potager is very impressive too. You must have to do a lot of watering to get phlox like that.
Thanks Chloris, it’s been the summer of endless rains and I can’t remember things ever being this lush. Of course last fall was endless drought so I don’t even want to think about where the whims of our weather will take us next, but right now it’s been the perfect summer for tropical plantings.
I didn’t manage to get any iris seed planted but the dahlia seedlings are starting to look like something. If the bunnies would stop nibbling them so vigorously maybe I can actually see a bloom someday.
You, obviously, had no choice but to allow access for the works on the sewage pipework but it is very disappointing that your local authority wouldn’t make an effort to help restore the disturbed area at least to some degree. They would never do it as you would do it yourself but some help would not have been amiss – a load of topsoil, as you suggest. We have always enjoyed a reasonable amount of rain even in summer but are really struggling with drought conditions this year.
Sorry to hear you are still hot and dry, I far prefer a wet summer rather than drought.
The topsoil did finally arrive after a phone call, and mulch as well so things are on their way back to respectable. I don’t think I would be a good person in regards to having landscaping work done for me. I can turn a blind eye to four foot tall weeds bursting out of a border, but if mulch is lumpy or a path is bumpy I need it all redone.
Nobody will do your garden in the way you would wish it to be done. It’s a personal space!
Great post, Frank, I love reading about your garden. Glad recovery is in process after the latest disaster. You’re not one to stand by and let things stand in ruin! At least the town provided some soil and mulch after all that mess they made.
Hopefully, August won’t be as blistering as July, but time will tell. Enjoy what is left of your break, time just goes way too fast, as fast as weeds grow, it seems there is a correlation there!
Heh heh, I sometimes think this garden is one disaster after another, some of which are not even my fault! Fortunately all the rain has helped and I do like building a garden more than I do tending it, as the weeds and lack of pruning and staking in the rest of the garden proves 😉
Now I just need to finish this so that the berm can finally get some attention!
I never cease to be amazed by your industriousness. I really need to come visit your garden when it’s at peak. I’m traveling from August 19 and into most of September. Fortunate for me but unfortunate for visiting your garden this year.
Thanks Carol! I hope you get by here some day soon. It’s hard to say when and if it’s at a peak but there’s usually something perfect to make up for whatever didn’t last or has yet to come. You are going to have a wonderful adventure, I’m excited for you!
Hi Frank—- Enjoying your blog! Fighting with the township here about our prospective deer fence If you divide Agapanthus ‘Blue Yonder’ or ‘Cecil Houdyshel’ crinum, put me on your list, please. I’ll be happy to pay for them. Beth
I’m sure I can pot up an agapanthus division and get it to you, it will be nice to be able to “pay you back” for some of the goodies you’ve shared with me! The Crinum… maybe in a year or so the offsets will be big enough…
How annoying with the fence. You’re set so far back I don’t even know what they could possibly complain about but I’m sure someone found something. Good luck.
You’ve been working hard! That ‘Blue Yonder’ is a pretty one. I had to laugh at “too much is better than not enough” – words to live by! Great job, I look forward to your posts.
Wow Tracy, these last few days have been terrible for my “too much rather than not enough” motto. Clearance sales are my weakness, and right now I’m imagining taking it all in for the winter which will be ridiculous, but how can I let my new $3 white mandevilla freeze, let alone the massive $15 Macho fern which I divided into three pots and obviously also needs to overwinter! I pretend to be concerned, but it’s really so exciting.
… concern should be saved for the box of a couple dozen hens and chicks for the rock garden which hasn’t been started yet. I always lead with plants first 😉
I’m going to start calling my vegetable garden a potager! I do believe mine still has more vegetables than flowers, though if I let the self-seeded cleome have its way, things would be different, and the Joe Pye is making stealthy and steady inroads! I’m glad you’re making progress with the town and with your own hard labor restoring the lily farm.
Every time I read one of your posts, my “want to buy” list grows! Now I want a zone 5 hardy agapanthus!
Sorry but I think according to the French rules of garden naming, you have a ‘French intensive’ garden rather than a ‘Potager’. You would need two paths with stepping stones in order for it to be classified as a potager.
Or… I’m making everything up as I go along! Call it a potager, as far as I know we can still go by whatever names we choose, so enjoy it while it lasts…
I think we can find you an agapanthus.
Well, I do have stepping stones that, with a little imagination, could be seen as a couple different paths. Of course the beans and cleome have grown so large that you can’t even find the stones upon which to step!
I really enjoyed this post Frank and actually started reading it last night…. I kept getting distracted and looking up plants you mentioned! First I went down a day lily rabbithole, and then I searched for hardy agapanthus and ipomopsis seed! LOL! I got distracted again on the day lily supplier’s website. They have such a fabulous selection of Alliums…… Anyway, good to see your garden looking so lush and healthy, and the day lily farm being restored to a spot ready for planting. 😁 Your flowers in the potager are much prettier than most vegetables and the banana plant looks amazing!
Oh you’re worse than I am! But at least you take better care of your new treasures and give them the room they deserve. I’m a little questionable in that regard and fortunately there’s not a plant neglect police who will come and get me 😉
You mentioned alliums. I could probably use some new ones but if I look I may end up peeking in on some new daffodils and I really shouldn’t. But they’re so nice lol
You are being honest, and many of us appreciate that. I’m impressed with your recovery after the “dig up,” and your plants seem to be recovering, too. Sorry it caused so much work, but it looks great. The new landscaping is impressive! Your tropical hiding spot and your potager, overall, are wonderful. And the pears–wow! That’ll be an impressive harvest!
Thanks! I’m into the pears this week and there are A LOT! I gave a bunch away but still have plenty, and when they’re perfectly ripe…. mmmmmm! I still can’t believe how easy they have been. I hope it stays that way since the apple tree was a complete flop 🙂
Oh my, it’s all looking so green and wonderful, I’m envious. Rain – what’s that? Haven’t seen it for ages. Your borders look fabulous, I love the lily. And the pears, the Agapanthus…it’s perfection! Enjoy it 🙂
Thank you Annette! I hope you had a bit of rain or at least a break in the heat. The garden gets so boring when there’s week after week of hot and dry, and watering is so tedious. Your garden at least is still amazing even in the heat, but some summer rain always makes a big difference. Enjoy!