Daily Archives: 08/09/2012

The tale of two containers and a view from the porch

So very many puzzling things happen when you try to take a little piece of land and make a garden. Most of the time , if you observe long enough , you can figure out what is going on, but sometimes no matter how hard you look , the answer remains hidden.

So here is the puzzle of the week . Two containers, exact matches for one another, planted with some annuals. Each started with the same potting mix into which was planted 2 coleus plants in the center (from the same 6 pack) and 4 impatiens , one placed in each corner (also from the same flat). They were placed right next to each other in the garden and get the same amount of filtered sun and water .

So then why  did the coleus in one container take off running , filling out and now shadowing and crowding out the impatiens, and yet in the other the coleus remains small and it is the impatiens that have grown large and are definitely in charge .

Can’t figure it out. Makes no sense AND it offends my need for symetry and order . Now the question is…do I leave them planted  as they are and be happy they are  full and healthy …OR do I take then apart and try again for my matching bookends for the garden space in which they sit?

and the answer is…drum roll please……I have waaaaaay too much work to do around here to mess with anything that is doing well, so they will stay as is , I may just find a new home for them where their assymetry will be an asset and not a flaw.

Within the next few weeks, I have several plants that need to be replaced due to health issues , lots that needs cutting back, the remains of 3 yards of loam I am using to refresh some beds and augment  a new bed  that will soon be home to  be a new lilac hedge, weeding, deadheading, and so very much more. Anything that  looks good  will be left alone.

My favorite time of the year in what we refer to as the Dogs Grden, is just begining.

In bloom are the rose of sharons,……………………………

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…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..the limelight hydrangeas, .

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…………………………………the heavenly scented summersweet, (this is one called ‘Ruby Spice’ ) .

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the red knockout roses, the late daylily’ franz hal’,sunflowers, dhalias, potentillas in yellow and pale pink, and the ‘heirloom’ raspberries are about to errupt into full August fruit.

This garden is down near the front of our property and is the view from the porch where we often have breakfast lounging in oversize comfy wicker chairs, and sit to watch storms or enjoy a cool evening on the secluded couch near the back shielded from the street by a veil of sweet autumn clematis.

The garden has lots of issues up close, as it is the dogs playground and plants are constantly trampled, chewed and broken, but seen from the porch it looks wonderful, and as a bonus in August the drift of the summersweet scent makes any evening spent out there a true joy.

Here comes Pumpkin up the path to join us!