Sunday, July 27, 2008

Hot Summer Days

As July draws to a close, things are really getting hot here in the middle of the country. Some of my flowers are giving up on blooming (and the grasshoppers are getting fat on the rest). My beautiful pink primroses are basically stalks standing bare. I'm busy deadheading and pruning back some of the spring plants, but the purple cone flowers and black eyed susans are flourishing in the heat. The daylilies add bright spots of orange and the old fashioned tiger lilies add a big burst of orange with black spots. I love the way the garden transitions from one view to another as the season progresses. If I keep the faded flowers deadheaded - which I have to admit, I get rather lazy about - then there is a continual show of colors right into fall.
Besides the mums and ornamental grasses which will soon be ready for their show, I'm thinking of other ways to dress of my garden for fall. I think some colorful plants in containers with dried wheat or sorghum heads or even some interesting branches might make some great ways to dress up things when the summer flowers are finished. I'll add some pics when I get them together.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Welcome Guests With Flowers in Recycled Pots



I'm an incurable collector of junk pile finds and I love to find ways to incorporate them into my garden. The top arrangement is made up of an old rusty rake that I found and hung a welcome sign on the tines. I found the old rusty galvanized bucket in a ravine in the neighbors pasture and carried it home to use as a planter. I set it on the step going up to the front door.





This planter is by the back door. Don't know what the rusty old pot was used for - I found it several years ago. It doesn't have a bottom, but I just dug it down into the earth a little and I usually plant moss rose in it every year. I found the old hoe tool with a short handle here on the farm, and it was a simple matter to paint "Welcome" on it and stick it down into the planter. The rusty hen doorstop was a gift from a friend and adds a little charm to the arrangement.


Of course, these rustic arrangements fit right in with a 140 year old farmhouse, but they would look good in just about any garden. It's fun to come up with some pretty ways to show off your flowers in "recycled" containers.