As a gardener, the remainder of this season will pretty much pass me by due to my recent shoulder surgery.
I am left with much time to read and reflect, to consider my life and wonderful family... to appreciate so many good friends, some of whom know me only through this blog, and yet have cared enough to send a card or leave a message in the comment area... and of course, a lot of the aforementioned reading and reflection includes gardening thoughts as you can well imagine. My post today will relate to the arbor area of the gardens.
The 2nd and 3rd photos are from gardening season 2008, two years after the arbor's inception. By the 2008 season, I was firmly attached to the concept of a rustic cedar structure of my own making, dripping with bloom. I held firm to this concept until this very season, when due to my shoulder problems, I realized maintaining such a number of baskets would be a difficult endeavor. I also theorized that cutting back here would be a good way of making the gardens a simpler process in terms of maintenance. While that is indeed true and this year's ivy geraniums have needed minimal care and watering, I have terribly missed the prolific bloom of seasons past. Somewhere in the midst of this endeavor, is a compromise which may well involve petunias and a limited number of hanging pots.
Again... 2008... the blue petunias are Surfinia 'Sky Blue'. These are a wonderful grower that don't seem to mind hot and humid weather. Along about early to mid August, this particular cultivar may show some yellowing of foliage. This can often be attributed to too low a ph as Sky Blue prefers 5.8 to 6.2. The pink petunias are Surfinias as well. The verbenas are from the Tapien series and the Tamari Patio series.
I have been having problems locating these plants from the Suntory Collection and am wondering if this company is even in business any longer, although certain selections from the collection still seem to be available.
As a rule of thumb, I feel most landscaped areas need to be evaluated after seven years of growth. It is with this in mind, that I am planning for an update about the arbor next season, as I will be coming into year six. Following are photos from May of '06 when the arbor was completed and the ready for plantings, and the first hanging pots of flowers...
In 2007, the blooming duties were shared amongst grape and white Avalanche petunias, and Tidal Wave Silver which is a part of the Wave series and does very well in hanging pots as well as bedding. In the second photo are Solenia Begonias and calibrachoas also from the arbor.
2008 was pictured previously and here is 2009 which relied heavily on the Surfinia 'Sky Blue' petunias accompanied by Opera Supreme Pink Morn petunias...
In 2010, I retained a cool palette although I can't recall what petunia cultivars were used...
That brings us to the big change that didn't measure up to my expectations... Freestyle Dark Red Ivy geraniums... perhaps it was the season... unusually hot and humid.... I still have some hopes for the cooler fall and these plants. While certainly not unattractive, it's just not the blast of color that I do so enjoy here...
Next year it going to be Supertunias all the way... the old "in your face" Larry will be back... renewed shoulder and blasts of color that, while perhaps not all that tasteful, make me very happy!!
Take care, Larry
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