well we had more storms and my garden took a beating. Not to mention the two trees that came down. Thought for sure I had lost the hostas but no, they were just fine. It was the nasturtiums that took the hit and they were blooming so well! oh well. there is always next year right? there was a few orange blooms on there and was starting to enjoy their quirky way of growing. They have lots of turns and twists on them. Course it would have helped had I read up on them "before" I planted them. Had I done that, would have placed them where they could have hung down with a curtain of blooms. But there's always next year lol.
I have learned quite a bit this year with my gardening. It's not an exact science. There's just no way for every plant to grow the exact same way in every region. What works in one place may not work in another. It's only in the getting out there, planting and seeing it for myself that I have learned so much this year. Right now, the storms have come to an end and now it's killer heat! my goodness. from one extreme to the other. Heat index of 110 in Ohio!? seriously, El Nino needs to go back south again. I'm missing our normal 82 degrees with a cool breeze in the summer time. But the tomatoes are loving it! still amazes me. One plant almost wilts to powder and another one thrives.
I did, however, lose my clematis. it was so wonderful last summer. climbed the lattice and full of pink and purple blooms. This year, with all the rain and then the heat, the blooms formed but they molded before they even got a chance to bloom. The soil isn't the greatest where they are so hubby and I will be building soil boxes at the base of the posts so they can be planted there with lots of compost and goodness for them to grow in. But, once again... there's next year.
The Blue enchantment morning glories? seriously, I was so hoping they would be big bold and blooming.. nope. barely over a foot tall and it's july already! The year is flying by so fast I'm not sure the flowers even know to get moving. So my post arbor of blooms will have to wait..lol.. for next year.
Sounds funny, but already getting things ready for fall. The greenhouse will be prepped for winters use. I've been wanting to grow during the winters months and so with wrapping the inside with bubble paper, hay bails on the west wall ( winter's winds come from that direction for us) and the small heater we use.. should be able to grow the basics most of the winter. Course they are calling for a mild winter here but hehehe they said that last year too. Minus25 wasn't mild in my opinion. But we will do what we can.
So, we have most of the trees that came down cleaned up. In a few days, brother in law is bringing his 5 ton winch. One portion of tree is caught in the fork and wrapped in vines. it's not dangerous as the base is jammed in the earth and it's locked up like a thief in the neighbor tree but we still need it down. been cleaning up the first tree all day. cutting, hauling logs and still have a few large pieces of it yet to cut up. But it added to our wood pile. We've been working to have what we need should we lose power over the winter. We don't use the fireplace much cause I really don't want to burn up the supple should something happen.
In a few weeks, we also have 2 bushel of half runner beans coming our way. Yep, ya'll know what I'll be doing. Our beans grew really well but we cooked them up for dinner that night so there was none left to put away. I must say, I do like the Cherokee Trail of Tear beans. look like half runners but the beans have purple on them. Makes for a great conversation at the table.
So, I'm wiped out from tree clean up and trying to get the wood shop cleaned up. not to mention I really need to get out there and pull some weeds. And I still wonder, does any place actually still carry the dinnerplate Blue Moon roses!? ya know, those huge pale blue ones? had one years ago and would like to find one. Speaking of roses, I need to check on that new one we just put in. It was almost gone at Lowes on the clearance rack but I got it anyway. it's a knockout but they do so well and getting starts from them is easy too!
goodnight gardening fans... tomorrow is yet another day!
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