Sunflower seeds

I threw these sunflower seeds in a pot after they dried out in late August this year.

They germinated as you can see already.

So its good to save any seeds for next years growing season.

Late season Pics

 Cross Pollinated Zinnia, nice variation.  Saved the seeds.  

 Zinnia about to pop

Somewhere out there on that horizon
Out beyond the neon lights
I know there must be something better
But there's nowhere else in sight

 

Leave the Leaves

My Golden Rule.

In the Fall. "do not rake or blow leaves"

I leave them on the ground in the beds. I feel that they act as winter insulation for Seeds, Perennials and Half Hardy Annuals.  When spring time comes along, usually in March where I live I use a back pack blower to rid my beds of these winter blankets and collect the leaves into a piles.

You can even make some sort of make shift large container or area where they can decompose and used for topsoil or compost after a year or two.

Places I've known
Things that I'm growing
Don't taste the same without you
I got my self in
The worst mess I've been
And I find myself starving' without you 

Huge Sunflowers

Amazing Perennial sunflowers

These guys have to be 10 feet plus and gorgeous.

If I am identifying them wrong please correct me.

 "I gotta admit that I'm a little bit confused
Sometimes it seems to me as if I'm just being used
Gotta stay awake, gotta try and shake off this creeping malaise
If I don't stand my own ground, how can I find my way out of this maze?"

P F

Myrtle Beach Palm Tree

This large palm tree that you see hidden behind the other deck plants was transported up from the south about ten years ago or so. The tree was so small I was able to wrap it up in a wet towel and stick it in my side pocket of my golf bag.  Ever since then I have been putting the plant outside in the spring and bringing it back inside for the winter. Its now to tall for being inside at my place so a friend of mine is adopting it where it will have room and light to grow inside.

It originally was about the size of the smaller one you can see in the same pot in center of photo.

It is now flowering for the first time ever which surprised me.

Late summer seed starting

Its that time to start collecting seeds for next years planting season.

I collect seeds from my own garden,other peoples gardens (permission or not) and even at local nurseries but don't get caught.

I started a tray of Maltese Cross which is a perennial seen below.
These seeds were taken from my own garden and started about a month ago.
You can see how fast they grow and I have given half these seedlings away already.
They are ready for planting.

Not always the case with some seed trays but I still have hope with below picture.

"The road of life is rocky and you may stumble too,
So while you point your fingers someone else is judging you"

Watering Overcrowded Pots

One problem I am finding is that within certain pots the root systems are very crowded, especially with morning glories.  This causes the soil to dry up very fast and the plants start to wilt with the lack of water. You can water them but the water runs right through and the soil really never gets properly soaked. I use a method called the submersion technique.

Basically fill up a water tight container of some sorts with water, which is bigger that the pot itself.

You can stick the pot in the container first and fill up with water to where water level is just below pot with plant in it.

This gives soil a chance to act like a sponge and soak up the water. 

I usually leave it in for about an hour then just lift pot out and your done.

Photo below I have some cosmos in a peach basket which I turned into a planter.

 "Say you'll be alright come tomorrow
But tomorrow might not be here for you"

New Deck Buddies

Just found this little guy hunting around in my plants on my deck.

A nice welcomed visitor.

And His friend....

I suggest we learn to love ourselves before it's made illegal.
When will we learn? When will we change?
Just in time to see it all fall down.

Bee Balm Maintenence

Bee balm being one of my favorite perennials forces me to take very good care of it.
When its basically done flowering I cut it all back to the ground. This prevents powdery mildew and other diseases its prone to.
I take all my cuttings and throw around perimeter of garden to deter the deer.  They can't stand the overwhelming scent, I hope.   

You also might get another growth spurt and maybe also more late season flowers after cutting back.

One idea I came up with is that you can substitute leaves for mint and use in some nice refreshing Mojitos.

 
 "Hey farmer farmer
Put away the DDT
I don't care about spots on my apples
Leave me the birds and the bees
Please!"

Garden Pics--08/10/12

Late summer action from Connecticut.

Starting from left in picture you see Oak leaf hydrangea, Hydrangea Tardiva, and Ligularia.

My prized Ligularia Desdemona

Blackberry Lily in Below photo

I named this section "Bernie's Garden"

My Castor Bean Plant 

 Very Poisonous

Herb Garden