It's Not Work, It's Gardening!

Sweet Summer Love

>> Thursday, June 30, 2016 – clematis

'Sweet Summer Love' Clematis is starting to bloom in my garden now.

Climbing up one of the deck supports, its small purple blooms are visible from below as well as from above!

Thirsty, and Not

>> Wednesday, June 29, 2016 – water

Some before and afters of very thirsty plants. Starting with bamboo...

...which curls its leaves when things are dry, especially in direct sunlight. When in shade or in the evening and leaves stay curled, that's a very thirsty plant!

A view of the back garden

>> Tuesday, June 28, 2016 – foliage, panorama

Since you saw a little of the garden that surrounds the patio in yesterday's post about the bananas, I thought I'd show you a little bit more today.

This is mainly for comparison later in the summer (and for winter soul recharging).

Bananas

>> Monday, June 27, 2016 – bananas, foliage

Last week I posted some photos of the side garden that included some shots of the hardy bananas, Musa basjoo. Technically they are in the back garden, but since you can see them in the long view along the side of the house I tend to think of them in the side garden too.

Since there was some excitement about them (okay, one comment, but I'm easily guided into post topics these days) I thought I'd post an update.

A look at the side garden

>> Friday, June 24, 2016 – foliage

The south side of the yard is not wide, but it gives some long views. I'd like to share a few right now, starting with the back half:

Which is essentially me standing at the back corner of the house and looking to the back. All foliage right now -- hardly a bloom in sight, which is a big change for this area from just a few years back.

Late bamboo shoots

>> Thursday, June 23, 2016 – bamboo, bamboo shoots

My latest-shooting bamboo is Shibatea kumasaca (also its close relative, the almost identical Shibatea chinensis).

Gets going mid-June, a full 8-10 weeks after the first species start shooting. Like most of my other bamboos it's really putting on a growth spurt this year after a mild winter.

Potting up some agaves

>> Wednesday, June 22, 2016 – agave, transplant

I've had several Agaves in plastic nursery pots for over a year. Some of them were inherited, and some I bought.

I finally put them into permanent pots, or at least pots that will hold them for a few years.

A little bit of red

>> Tuesday, June 21, 2016 – blooms

These little red moths rob me of salvia blooms each year, their caterpillars feasting on the buds:

It looks great in this setting though!

Brief look at front walkway

>> Monday, June 20, 2016 – foliage

I guess you'd have to say that my youngest part of the garden is the walkway, as I built it just a few years back. Its addition was a huge positive change not only for me as the gardener, but for the wildlife and neighbors.