It's always neat to see what can happen in a garden when the gardener is away for few days! This time of year things aren't really changing at a rapid pace, but I did still find a few surprises when I got home. The castor beans were the biggest surprise. They really didn't grow that much all summer, but seemed to be focusing most of their energy on ripening seed. Right before I left for Canada, I harvested almost all the dried pods, lest they should burst open while I was away. And when I came home, I was surprised by lots and lots of new growth and flowers! It seems like they grew a whole foot higher in the four days I was gone! My sister says my eyes were just sharpened by absence, but I'm not so sure! The phlox was just starting to come into bloom, and is now in full flower. I believe this is 'Franz Schubert'. This is its third year in my garden and it gets bigger and better every season! The 'Picotee' cosmos is starting to redeem itself. It did get fairly tall after all. A lot of the blooms are just a normal cosmos pink and white, but there are some nice picotees too. I loved these two blooming side by side! I love these petunias! They have a strong, sweet fragrance too, that modern hybrids can't match! I know I've said it before, but I can't get over how well this patch of basil did! Normally my basil only gets to be about 8 inches tall and is rather spindly. I guess they liked having a bed all to themselves! I think the mint is getting ready to take over the world! Something tells me I'm going to be fighting it back next year... It's harvesting and canning time too. I was excited to find several chokecherry trees at the edge of the woods just loaded with fruit. These berries got made into jelly yesterday. It is delicious! My little garlic harvest. I never liked garlic until a friend gave me this kind from his garden last year. It is very mild and I actually loved it! I don't know what variety it is...he bought it at a farm stand and the lady who sold it said it was just a garlic her grandmother grew. I'll probably be planting at least half of these this fall. For now, they add to the kitchen window decorations... This has nothing to do with the gardens, but I just couldn't wait to show you this beauty! This is Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine). I've been waiting eagerly all summer to see it in bloom, and then almost missed it! Fortunately, this plant was still in bloom near my trail. At first glance it isn't particularly striking. But when you get a little closer, the flowers are stunningly beautiful! Closer still... Summer is nearing its end here in the north, but we'll certainly enjoy what we have left! :)
4 Comments
It is amazing how things grow during our absence in summer when we aren't there to see them everyday. Picking the seeds probably triggered the bloom on the caster beans. A second harvest!
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AuthorI am a passionate gardener and seed-saver, who also enjoys playing the violin and accordion, running, spending time with my 4 golden retrievers, keeping chickens, photography, and reading. Archives
March 2019
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