A walk around the yard....

Well finally... my Rose of Sharon 

(Althea, Hibiscus Syriacus) is blooming!  

It's certainly taken it's time this year to bloom!  Actually I am glad to know it's alive and seeing it bloom was a nod to the fact that I didn't kill it last year when I gave it quite a cutting back! There are a lot of buds yet to open but they are all facing the neighbors house!  I figured I better take a picture before I forget to!

You'll notice the bumble bee was visiting too!  The flowers are a purplish blue double bloom.

Such a pretty flower...

Now on to some random shots

 These Black Eyed Susan's haven't amounted to much this year.  They seem shorter than normal too...

The Stella D'Oro lilies are blooming again, but of course not as prolifically as the first time.

 Some more Delphinium

The Yarrow and Coreposis are still blooming

The Russian Sage has a very wild look to it this year.  I think they prefer to be planted in a spot where they can be on their own.  At least is smells good!

 The Sweet Alyssum that returned from last year has filled in nicely

Smells good too!  We have leaves dropping here and there....the fall season won't be long!

On the deck...I am awarding myself the "ugliest potted plant" award...this Sweet Potato Vine has been polite enough to produce flowers but I can't say that I 

enjoyed the plant.  

Very mixed about my plants I chose this year.  I need a better plan next year!

Let's wander to the back...

The arbor has Sweet Autumn Clematis...no blooms yet...and Morning Glories growing with no flowers too!  What gives??

Along the path some hostas with unusual flowers!  

 The shade in the back yard provides a great environment for these plants

 I only fertilized once this late spring with the Flower Tone and Plant Tone and the annuals
got a sprinkling of Osmocote as they were planted.

The always reliable Impatiens make a great display...the Golden Japanese Forest Grass, Hakonechloa "Aureola" gracefully lay along the stone wall...

Lastly, my planters in front of the garage took off rather wildly! The Sweet PotatoVine really got a run on and has just about taken over!  I do like the red Supertunias...they made a good show. 

One of the bloggers I follow Cabin & Cottage left this sentiment on a beautiful post she did- it grabbed my heart strings and expressed my sentiment!  
With her permission I'm sharing it...
(please click the link to see her beautiful post!)

When the season finally changes, it will be sweet and a bit sad.  I will want to hold summer tightly for a moment as you do with a loved one when you wish you could stay forever.  Already waiting, though not idly, until the next time you meet. . . .

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Thanks for visiting!

Liz

I'm joining 
Fishtail Cottage for
Garden Party #17
and
Today's Flowers

Favorite Fertilizer, Hydrangeas, Watering and Drying

Yesterday I was out fertilizing my hydrangeas and roses and I got to thinking about how steadfast I am about this product line.  I'm including pictures and links to make it easy to identify the products. 

(I am not compensated in any way, just sharing my favorite products)

Many years ago I became more interested in using more organic forms of fertilizing and I tried "Flower-Tone" by Espoma

I had always seen it at my local garden center but up until then I always used products like RapidGro liquid or MiracleGro fertilizer so I decided to give it a whirl. 

Their products are natural and organic and it breaks down in a slow gradual way that provides a safe, long lasting food reservoir for the plant throughout the growing season.

Last year I started the season with a dose of their Plant-Tone and gave everything a dose of it.  My hydrangeas get a dose of 

Holly-Tone

which is good for azaleas, rhododendrons, holly's and hydrangeas.  

My roses were treated to their Rose-Tone product also.

I have also used "Soil Acidifier" from their 

Organic Plant Food line

I have a very alkaline soil so decided to try the soil acidifier to see if I'd get more blue coloring.  I had a range of pink, lavender and blue last year on my Endless Summer hydrangeas. Notice the rich heavy leaves on the plant too.  The plants are really healthy.

The Limelight hydrangea is my other favorite and I was real pleased with it's growth last summer.

I adore this hydrangea! 

This was a newer one I put in the year before called CityLine- Venice.  It's a short compact  pink hydrangea.  

I have more but I better stop before you fall asleep!!  

Picking the right location makes a difference and keeping them watered does too.  They definitely react to the heat and wilt easily.

I water early in the day so the plants can dry off and be ready for the days heat.  I use this

 Touch'n Flow watering wand by Dramm

A lot of garden centers carry them, but my favorite is this handle with the easy grip and lever actived handle.

I bought one version with a shut off valve rather than the lever type and didn't care for it.  These provide a very full but gentle rain that can't be beat.   I like this 16" version but there is also a 30" version if you prefer a longer reaching one.

At the end of the season I snip off stems of the hydrangeas- once they are what I call "past perfect" and starting to get that paper look.  

I set them in water for a few days, and then let them dry out. If you pick them too early the flower will shrivel and won't be good for drying.

 Freshly cut early in the season

End of season cut

Lastly I use this pelleted fertilizer that I add to my annuals and a fertilizer enhanced plant mix for my potted plants to ensure they are getting a good amount of fertilizer  

Annuals are hungry little guys!


Thanks for stopping by and I hope I provided some useful information for you!