Feeling a bit out of it this morning after a week of meetings and travel, and a walk around the garden didn't really help: raccoons dug into a couple of dozen pots that were waterlogged since it rained quite a bit while I was away. So I had to spend some time replanting little colocasia tubers and digging through the muck.
It was too wet to really enjoy the stroll but I did find a few things that gave me a bit of a lift. This is a new hardy hibiscus I'm planning on planting where my 'Grosso' lavender was. I can't remember the name right now, but it will add some foliar color to that section of the prairie beds.
Clematis contributes even after the blooms are gone:
Gaillardia blooms always delight, especially up close:
Bees really love these too -- I saw one of the larger metallic green bees on it last weekend. It was there every time I looked!
Speaking of things that bees (and everything else it seems) really like:
The common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is simply dominating the prairie beds right now. Not only because the plants are 5' (1.5m) tall and there are a dozen stalks this year, but because of the fragrance -- so wonderful! I'll do a separate post on this plant next week.
These look so metallic in person!
Enjoy the weekend, enjoy your gardens!
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Great photos to cap the working week Alan, have a fab weekend ahead!
ReplyDeleteRaccoons are very easy to trap and relocate using harmless cage traps. Ever considered it? -jeremy
ReplyDeleteUgh - raccoons. We have one who is only interested in our trash cans so we either have to bungee cord them shut, which is annoying,nor keep them in the garage, which is smelly. And doubly annoying when someone forgets to close the garage and he strews trash all over inside the garage. And local ordinance prevents trapping on your own - have to pay a professional. Extra annoying!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures! Amazing how a little garden time can boost your mood!
Lisa and Jeremy: Missouri state law prohibits the relocation of wild animals. You're allowed to trap and kill nuisance animals, but not relocate. I'm certainly not killing them just for being curious about a nasty (delicious?) scent.
ReplyDelete