Garden Notes for August -

These photos are from yesterday morning. 

All taken with iPhone 11 Pro.

The garden has really changed in the past few days.  

Early morning air is feeling slightly different but days turn hot and humid quickly.

Clouds roll in by mid-afternoon and rain is almost daily, damaging the leaves of

 many plants. Black spot and Anthracnose is rampant.

 Leaves are dropping, especially from the hydrangeas - they look very sad.

The grass is green due to the rain - much greener than usual in August.

We've not used sprinklers all summer.

Are you familiar with re-blooming azaleas?

These I planted many years ago and I must say they haven't disappointed.

They are now on their second bloom of this year, brightening up what

is now a mostly green side garden area. I was able to take photos from my

neighbors side of the fence when going over to feed Nala cat!

Below are some notes on the Encore Azaleas, which these are.

"Encore Azaleas have a special, multi-seasonal bloom cycle.

The bloom cycle begins in spring, along with all other azaleas. However, when other azaleas start losing their flowers for the year, Encore Azaleas are busy setting new buds for a second blooming. Before the last spring flower falls, summer flowers are ready to explode.  But they aren’t done yet, there is still another blooming cycle in fall. We’re talking about vibrant flowers three seasons a year—the show is never cancelled – even the evergreen foliage brings life to barren winter! 

Encore Azalea makes a multi-season landscape a reality, offering re-blooming shrubs in 31 varieties ranging in color and size. And, these high performers are pest resistant and sun tolerant with 24 varieties that are cold hardy to zone 6."

A surprise on the back side fence (bottom middle photo in the collage above).

The tangled jasmine is re-blooming and smells divine.

I put in one plant there 20 years ago. It now runs about 30 feet, completely

 hiding an ugly chain-link fence a long ago neighbor installed to keep

two Boston terriers in check.

Beautiful in early summer. Hosta leaves, large and textured, but

 now they are in their 'death throes' - though hopefully plants feel no pain - if

planted in full sun as this one is.

I love to add a leaf to a vase of flowers - these below are some of the

 hydrangeas I'm drying for fall/winter arrangements.

Summer, so different in many, many ways this year. Garden and gardening

 have taken up a lot of time, mostly in a good way. Weather has not been very

 cooperative much of the time, but on the other hand we have, so far, escaped

 the wrath of hurricanes here. 

In my garden I feel free not having to wear a mask.

I also feel safe. 

In all honesty can't say I feel that way anywhere else yet!

What's happening in your late summer garden?

It's an uphill climb . . . . . . . .

Here it is, already August and the 'dog days' of heat and humidity will no doubt continue.
I was out earlier this morning doing a little pruning of the unruly jasmine on the porch - it 
seems to be thriving - and some much-needed watering of pots and plants.

The garden has few blooms, due mostly to the very high temperatures every day of June 

and July, lack of rain, and perhaps the overly cold winter. Flowers just aren't doing much 

of anything, very much like us, too hot to even get going in the mornings. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . unless you're a morning glory!

Bless these little clambering beauties making their way up whatever they 

can grasp in the hot, damp air. These deep purple trumpet-shaped flowers, 

bring me smiles each morning as the vines scramble up the front porch. 

Later they curl within themselves as the heat intensifies, but happily more 
appear the next day. Such a welcome splash of color in the garden.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend - stay cool.