{"id":2353,"date":"2016-09-19T06:48:39","date_gmt":"2016-09-19T06:48:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gardenescapades.com\/blog\/?p=2353"},"modified":"2017-02-21T05:01:34","modified_gmt":"2017-02-21T05:01:34","slug":"summer-is-coming-to-a-close","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/gardenescapades.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/19\/summer-is-coming-to-a-close\/","title":{"rendered":"Walt’s Visit and Summer is coming to a close"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>Brother Tim and I went to Walt\u2019s Organic Fertilizer<\/a> yesterday. \u00a0It is a charming little nursery in North Seattle.\n

I bought a few things, including a gorgeous Alstroemeria\u2013a dwarf with near-white flowers with\u00a0 $\"img_3720\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

I love that this has just a few spots in the middle, unlike the usual spotty versions.<\/p>\n

$\"img_3721\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

I got this Lewisia \u201cLittle Mango\u201d to grow in the greenhouse. \u00a0I love Lewisias, but I haven\u2019t grown one in a while.<\/p>\n

$\"img_3722\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

I also got this twinflower for the Doug fir bed. \u00a0I\u2019ve seen these growing near the cabin in dry shade\u2026so maybe it will survive. \u00a0Here is what it might look like one day:<\/p>\n

$\"Image$ <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

These are such amazing wildflowers\u2013I hope the little guy survives.<\/p>\n

I also got lettuce seeds to start in one of the raised beds. \u00a0Here are the three varieties I chose:<\/p>\n

$\"Image$ <\/div>\n

This variety is Lolla Rossa.<\/p>\n

$\"Image$ <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

This variety is Tango.<\/p>\n

$\"Image$ <\/div>\n

And here is Oak Leaf.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

I cleaned out the bed that I had already cleaned out a few weeks ago\u2013there were about two thousand calendula and borage seedlings already up and growing in there. \u00a0I rooted them out by hand and added potting soil on top to plant the lettuce seeds in. \u00a0If they get a quick, healthy start, they might just stay ahead of the NEXT crop of calendulas and borages that will inevitably push up in the next week or so. \u00a0I did water the bed with the sprinkler, and the other raised beds and Doug fir bed, too. \u00a0Things were extremely dry out there.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Here are some pictures of what\u2019s happening in the garden as summer transitions to autumn. \u00a0I had high hopes that we\u2019d get enough rain this week to matter, but I was deeply disappointed! \u00a0It rained overnight on Friday\u2013just enough to perk up some of the potted plants that weren\u2019t under the eaves. \u00a0The veggie beds under the Douglas fir tree didn\u2019t even get wet. \u00a0That tree absorbs so much water that it has to really pour for any to slip through all the branches to the gardens underneath.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06585\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

There is a precocious Daphne laureola that popped up in the Douglas fir bed. \u00a0You can see the flower buds for early next spring forming at the tips of the branches. \u00a0I have a soft spot for these shrubs, though they are invasive. \u00a0I should remove it, but I know I won\u2019t.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06584\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

As the flowers wane, the foliage starts to shine. \u00a0Here is the Aucuba japonica in the Doug fir bed, looking better than the Aruncus that died early in front of it.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06583\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

I plan to do some digging to identify this tree soon. \u00a0You can really see the red petioles here. \u00a0From a seed off a tree outside the Arboretum gift shop (that tree has since died and been removed), these two seedlings are getting some serious growth on them now. \u00a0I need to prune them back to keep them from shading the orchard.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06582\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Here is a shot of one of the leaves\u2013should help me ID it.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06581\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides blooming on the side of the orchard garden.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06579\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Close-up of the flowers\u2013actually a better blue than the tropical plumbago.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06578\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

These amazing huge berries are on Prime Ark\u2026very delicious, too!<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06577\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

A few more berries coming on in the summer batch.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06576\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

More flowers (and berries) coming on\u2013not sure if they\u2019ll make it before frost, but I admire their spirit!<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06575\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

More blackberry flowers.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06574\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

The beauty and symmetry of mullein flowers gets missed because they appear in spires, but they are amazing. \u00a0The crinkled lower petal really shows in this picture.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06573\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Here is the spire.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06571\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Serious gardeners would burn me at the stake for even showing this combination, but I think it actually is quite stunning. \u00a0The tall spires are dock seeds, with aster flowers and raspberry leaves.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06570\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

I seem to have two types of aster. \u00a0One is shorter\u2013I think brother Tim gave it me from Bette Higgins. \u00a0The other is taller\u2013maybe also from brother Tim through his friend Merla.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06569\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

The white hardy geranium that I started from seed this spring is still blooming in the pot Leon stuck it in. \u00a0It has \u00a0an interesting flower pattern\u2013the stems just keep elongating and sending out more blossoms, though they are a bit smaller and spaced farther apart than the first blooms.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06568\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Another great foliage plant that really looks great this month\u2013Lamium maculatum.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06567\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

The fragrant arboretum rose is getting a bit of a second wind\u2013and the clematis on the same arbor has a few straggler flowers, too.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06566\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Dahlias are the stars of the flower show right now\u2026not super prolific, but enough of them and a great variety of bloom types.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06565\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

The alignment of the petals on this particular cultivar are almost impossibly intricate.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06563\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

I cut most of the rose hips off when I pruned this arboretum rose, but a few still snuck through. \u00a0They are brilliant, shiny red.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06562\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Another dahlia showing off\u2026<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06561\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Another dahlia\u2026<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06560\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Another view.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06559\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

I cut back the seed heads on this Dianthus expecting an explosion of bloom. \u00a0I got two. \u00a0But in September, that\u2019s a treasure!<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06558\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Seeds from the voodoo lily\u2013spectacular color.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06557\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Hesperis seed pods split open and look kind of crazy\u2026I keep meaning to cut them back, but instead I\u2019ve grown fond of them.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06556\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Feverfew snapping back from the summer heat and blooming its fool head off.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06555\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Here are the asters that I added to the Doug fir bed last summer. \u00a0They aren\u2019t covered with flowers, but there are lots of buds and it looks like they might last for several months.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06554\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Brother Tim pointed out the seed pods on this Acanthus. \u00a0They are bright green against the tan bracts. \u00a0There are spines protecting the seed pods, too.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06553\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

The ripe pods are a burnished brown\u2013they look a little like acorns.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06552\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Garlic chives in one of the raised beds, an offset from brother Tim that is blooming especially well this year. \u00a0They make great cut-flowers, too.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06551\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Another dahlia\u2026<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06550\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

And another\u2026<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06549\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

And another\u2026<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06547\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019m not sure why most of the cane begonias died out, but this is the last of them. \u00a0The leaves look pretty good, but it isn\u2019t as robust as most of the starts I had before.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06546\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Some of my potted seedlings are showing autumn color.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06545\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Some more maples showing color.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06544\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

The showiest of all\u2013Acer davidii\u2026<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06543\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Close up of davidii leaf<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06542\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Great gesneriad flower\u2026<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06541\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Streptocarpus blooming in the greenhouse\u2026<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06540\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Nasturtium blooming in the greenhouse.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06539\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Geranium maderense very happy that it got repotted a month ago. \u00a0I might get flowers next year, though it is still puny compared to pictures I\u2019ve seen online, where the flowering plants reach four feet tall.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06538\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

The euphorbia brother Tim brought to me last weekend and a blooming begonia.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06537\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

More gorgeous gesneriad flowers.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06536\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Abutilon flower in the greenhouse. \u00a0The actual color is a deep, blood red.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06535\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

There are a few orb weavers in the greenhouse\u2013I like them in there eating bugs and they typically lay their eggs in there in the autumn.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06534\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Rain lily blooming in the greenhouse.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06533\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Another view\u2026<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06532\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Another view\u2026
\n $\"dsc06530\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Another abutilon flower.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06529\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Geraniums blooming in the greenhouse.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06528\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Fuchsia \u201cCardinal\u201d<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06527\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

More Cardinal flowers.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06524\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Seedlings on shelf outside the greenhouse.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06521\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Begonia blooming outside on the patio.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06520\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

$\"dsc06519\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

The coleus are coming into their own. \u00a0They probably will start to dwindle as the weather cools.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06518\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Two sculptures: \u00a0a stone beauty by Elaine McKay and a gorgeous begonia.<\/p>\n

$\"dsc06586\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

Wonderberries ripe in the raised beds.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Brother Tim and I went to Walt\u2019s Organic Fertilizer yesterday. \u00a0It is a charming little nursery in North Seattle. I bought a few things, including a gorgeous Alstroemeria\u2013a dwarf with near-white flowers with\u00a0 I love that this has just a few spots in the middle, unlike the usual spotty versions. I got this Lewisia \u201cLittle … Continue reading Walt’s Visit and Summer is coming to a close<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2353","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/gardenescapades.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2353","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/gardenescapades.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/gardenescapades.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/gardenescapades.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/gardenescapades.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2353"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/gardenescapades.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2353\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2769,"href":"http:\/\/gardenescapades.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2353\/revisions\/2769"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/gardenescapades.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/gardenescapades.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/gardenescapades.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}