Sultry Sunday

Not much happening today.  Tim finished mulching the back, but I can't post pictures of that yet because the battery charger of my brand new camera doesn't work.  Luckily I have a travel charger, but I can't use the camera until tomorrow.  This is one of the great reasons for having a garden.  When life is aggravating and dealing with the aggravations is just more aggravation - much can be improved by digging around, pruning a little, plucking at weeds.  An hour in the garden and mountains shrink back down to molehills (at least, most of the time.)

We've have new plants this year that are thriving, even in this unusual, early June heat.  Above is a pink gaura.  We have two of these, one in the border against the fence in the side yard, and one on the slope in front of the house.  The one in the back, which gets a bit more shade' is doing slightly better than the one sitting on that hot slope in front.   The soil on the side has a more balanced Ph than the front.  We had evergreens in the front in our pre-gardening days and they tend to leave the soil a bit acidic.   However,  both plants  are beautiful.  They are similar to some of the more airy salvia, but these are perennials.  However, they have held their bloom for over a month, and they don't seem to be winding down much.  I don't know how much they spread, but I certainly hope they do well over the winter because the second year of all perennials seems have the most impressive displays. 

And speaking of second year, this is the second season for our American Honeysuckle and it certainly is spectacular!   It also started blooming a month ago and the number of flowers seems to double daily.  This is a favorite of butterflies and hummingbirds, although I think we need a year or two for it to reach a height where the hummingbirds are comfortable.  Unlike that yellow and while honeysuckle that smells so wonderful, but far too invasive to be encouraged, this variety is definitely eco-friendly.

I saw a hummingbird the other day.  Last year the yard buzzed with them in early August.  It's nice to see one so early.  We are getting a great assortment of birds at the feeders this year.  We stop filling them in July when the sunflowers are in full bloom, but right now food choices are still limited for many birds so we keep the feeders loaded with black oil sunflower seeds and niger seed.  That's probably not a good rationale - the truth is that I just like seeing all those birds.

Oh - we are still the aphid victors.  As of this evening, those plants are still aphid free!