I was lucky enough to have some time to deadhead the mums this morning. They were trying to bring some color in a relatively colorless lily bed.
I noticed something nibbled the tops off my garlic chives last week. I inspected it this morning and noticed it was growing back. I can’t think of anything roaming about in the cold, wet few days that feasts on garlic chives. One of the variegated society garlic clumps nearly got uprooted since it had been in the way. (I have several common chives potted up that were untouched.)
Asters and mums are making a second round of blooms. Obviously not as floriferous as the first round, especially since I neglected to deadhead them.
The larkspur seedlings are coming along…I’m thinking of uprooting the yarrow in this bed and replacing it with a stand of angelonia come spring.
We had a brief respite from the cold weather this week. And so far, this week has been full of rain. With temps in the 50s and 60s, I put out the ginger lilies so they could catch a bit of watering. The big one could use some trimming. These ornamental plants could make great indoor Christmas decor, if I were a bit more industrious in their upkeep.
It’s been a good two weeks since my last post. The climate has turned to rain to freezing temps back to chilly. Since we experienced a solid week of sub-freezing wind chills and temps, it’s natural that the annuals have succumbed to the frost. Where certain parts aren’t buried in leaves, my garden transformed into a graveyard in a matter of days. I hope to clear out the debris when the weather turns mild. Thankfully, the man started with pruning the Midnight Blue rose.
Goners: basils, vincas, marigolds, cosmos, ornamental peppers, salvia coccinea.
Dead top growth: caladiums, sweet potato ornamental vines (not sure if these Illusion potatoes will come back next year), callas, Sinaloa salvia, the purple oxalis in the blue bed, most of the asters.
Subject to change: foxtail ferns, Mexican heather.
Surprises: a few of the petunias are still green, all of the coreopsis have green foliage and appear to have grown, the larkspur seedlings appear unaffected by the freeze, one of the Autumn Embers azaleas actually had a (wilted) bloom on it, succulent planter looking pretty.
Annoyances: the yarrow continues to spread, weeds have invaded my lily bed!
Warning: images of dead plants ahead. On my Xmas wishlist: a compost bin from the city’s Park & Recreation dept.
