While the Cat’s Away: Six on Saturday, 6-16-18

We are eager to go, and then eager to come home again.

This is the conundrum of going on vacation, or “holiday,” if you like.

I worked hard in the garden before we left, pulling weeds, cutting grass, planting and transplanting, positioning sprinklers.  It looked really good.  And, that is saying a lot, because I’m very critical of my garden.

We were gone eight days, but I’d call it ten, because when I got home it was in the wee hours and the next day was a blur.

When my focus returned, I could tell that the garden had been on its own for awhile.

Proud Parent

a yellow gold marigold illuminates the flower border
Double marigold flanked by veronica foliage.

It’s a “proud parent” feeling when you see a bloom on a plant you started from seed.  No one is quite as impressed by the bloom as I am.

Return of the Sawfly Larvae

Single rose "William Baffin" is pure, clear pink with yellow stamen
The last blooms of the climbing rose “William Baffin.”

I thought that insecticidal soap had eliminated the sawfly problem on the roses, but they made a comeback while I was off guard.  At least, the last few blooms were spared.

Our Garden’s ‘Heritage’

'Heritage' rose blooms a peachy pink and slowly fades to pale pink.
The Austin rose ‘Heritage’ is always an attention grabber.

Blame It on the Rain

The hosta have exploded in the garden, protected from browsing.  At first glance, the leaves look like they’ve been enjoyed by slugs.  In truth, we had a hail storm a month ago, and the hail tore into the leaves!

A variegated hosta leaf is light green rimmed with ivory. Holes from hail perforate the foliage.
Holes in the hosta aren’t from slug damage.

The Garden Star

We arrived home in time to see penstemon ‘Husker Red’ in full bloom.

Penstemon 'Husker Red' sports white blooms atop burgundy foliage.
The name “Husker Red” is for the foliage, not the bloom.

And Garden Co-star

Nepeta, planted just last year, provides a frilly lilac background in the flower border.

Catmint (nepeta) Send up flower spikes in a lavender "mist."
It’s hard to go wrong planting nepeta in full sun.

That’s the show for this week.  Visit our host, The Propagator, for garden news and views from around the world.

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Author: A. JoAnn

Here is where I share the beauty I find in everyday life; and the humor, too!

5 thoughts

  1. It’s an absolute buzz to see a flower you’ve grown from seed. I’m often not successful with seeds and so I know that feeling well.

  2. The rose ‘Heritage’ is really nice … like D Austin roses though. I also have 4 D Austin roses that will bloom very soon.
    About catmint, we like …or not …the scent but one thing that I know, my cat isn’t so far from this plant and he loves to be there when I pull the weeds around….

  3. Isn’t it true that there is nothing quite like seeing a flower on a plant you have grown from seed.
    I enjoy the purple haze of catmint but I’m not a fan of the scent.

  4. Of course I’m drawn to your Heritage! Beautiful white bloom. Your catmint has done great as it will do. Mine need persistent contro,l and after this week’s visitors I’ll do a hard chop all over to keep them in line. Nice six, Joann!

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