Monday Miscellany
>> Monday, August 15, 2016 –
castor bean,
foliage,
plumeria,
vines
It's hot and dry in some parts of the country, but here in St. Louis the heat is gone and it's cooler than normal -- very wet too!
I haven't done anything substantial in the garden for weeks it seems, so today just another random collection of photos and observations. I never got around to planting the tradescantia around like I was going to, so it's just in a single tiny pot. How is it doing so well?
Also surprising is this "weed" vine -- Honeyvine Milkweed (Ampelamus albidus) -- which I'm finding more attractive than usual this year:
Maybe it's because the other deck vines have been slow to get going, or that this thing is covered in bees and other pollinators. I think it looks great here, don't you?
Passiflora incarnata (maypop) emerges sort of late and then goes crazy in late July:
I have these blooms all over the place -- so fragrant at the right time of the day!
Here's an interesting combo that you don't see too often, cactus and castor bean:
You don't see those huge leaves in proximity to the nopales cactus very often do you? The castor beans will reach record height this year, already at the top of the deck railing, and recent rains will kick them up another notch too!
Speaking of castor bean, this is not a great place for one:
When I saw this volunteer emerge right next to the patio stairs in early July I thought "how cute, a little castor bean would be perfect here!" Little did I know that it would be able to get so big so quickly! Not sure what I'll do...
Hey, remember the crazy voodoo lily (Amorphophallis konjac) that was putting out roots and looking weird a couple weeks ago?
It's still weird!
Its sibling though has decided that it does not need soil to grow foliage:
I should get these planted, but I'm so happy I got blooms and foliage in the same year!
One of the slow vines I was talking about earlier, this cardinal climber...
...has just started picking up speed. It probably won't bloom for another month at least, but that will be some nice late-season color!
You like color, specifically foliage color?
I guess I'll have to figure out what to do with my smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria). It can't live in this pot indefinitely, but it just keeps growing!
Finally, the plumeria seems to have overcome the black tip fungus...
...and is going strong. About 6 weeks later than it should be, but I'm happy about it!
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What a refreshing sight for my sun-scorched eyes :-). Personally, I'm enjoying your random posts. In a sense, that's how I experience a garden when I see it for the first time.
Your garden is looking pretty and interesting. It is fun to see all of the varieties of plants and flowers you have.
Did you see on the local news last week about the various cities in our area that have rules that people are not supposed to grow garden flowers that are more than 10 inches high? Apparently they are considered unsightly and against the cities' ordinances. Chesterfield and Maplewood are the cities that they mentioned. I couldn't believe my ears. It would be a pretty limited flower garden if all of the flowers were under 10 inches high, wouldn't it?
The last few weeks around here have not been very conducive to being outside doing much, too hot, now too wet.
Happy gardening!
Your photos practically drip moisture. I just bought my first amorphophallus, so now I need to pay attention as far as keeping it alive. The vines on the deck are a great idea. I do like the honeyvine, and that cardinal vine seems perfectly placed weaving around that handrail to show off those finely cut leaves.
Hooray for a break in the heat and for rain! Lots of great stuff happening in your garden!