Garden Gone Wild

Category: Starting and Maintaining the Garden | Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 11:07 pm

This gardening year has been one of things growing wild. Why on earth would a normal phlox (Phlox paniculata) grow six feet tall?

arrow points to 6+ feet tall phlox not yet in bloom ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Most of the phlox has stayed within somewhat more normal ranges, but are still taller than usual. The Speedwell and calendula are looking fine still.

None of the plants got so out of control last year. Another offender is the Shasta Daisies (Leucanthemum maximum). Come on I don't want to have to get a ladder to view the flowers. They are the white blob in the background. (I shouldn't be taking photos with my phone...but...)

Shasta daisies as tall as the hollyhocks ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Although most of the foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) were shorter than normal in the three foot range one crazy one got over twelve feet tall.

top of foxglove above and beyond the arrows ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Plants are stretching out as well as up. I had to start pulling the deciduous ferns since they were beginning to suffocate other plants. One clump of ferns I took the ax to (quite literally) since it had covered one of my favorite hydrangeas (Hydrangea serrata 'Blue Billow')

fern take over ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

fern axed ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Then there are some phlox that have decided to send starts into the pathways. More plants to divide in the spring.

phlox starts in the pathway ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

I am pulling lamb's ears (Stachys byzantine) out by the wheelbarrow load. They are covering the walkways and paths.

blue-willow hydrenga ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

pathway after clearing lamb's ears and ferns ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

I chopped the gorgeous Knautia macedonica back to its base as it was another plant that needed more room than it was allotted. It will be a memory until it regrows.

( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

The fig leaf hollyhocks (Alcea ficifolia) are doing great. They are just coming into their own. The mallow (Lavatera thuringiaca) is beginning its bloom. Both look somewhat small compared to the plants that have gone giant this season.

figleaf hollyhock ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

mallow ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

I have to come in and take a break at the computer and relax. Somehow being out in the garden right now makes me see all that I need to be doing and not what has already been accomplished.

starts of iris, columbine, ferns ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Take a breath and relax

Patroit hosta in bloom ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Peace in the small spaces ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

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Comments

mart wrote on Sun Jul 22, 2012 2:26 am:

Somehow you got some giant phlox !! All of mine are giants !!

AgnesKS wrote on Sun Jul 22, 2012 2:32 pm:

Namaste Jewell,
You have a beautiful garden. Mother Earth is evolving so will the plants. I put down lots of giant zinnia seeds but none of them make it this year. We will just have to honor the energy and allow the flow to go as smoothly as possible. I do miss my giant zinnias this year. Happy gardening, Jewell.
Blessings,
Agnes