Annual Report

Let's see if there is anything left out in the garden. It's been hot and dry, and I"m inside recovering from minor knee surgery, so who knows what's really going on out there. But I still have a few photos left from last week that I haven't shared here. One thing I can depend on is that the annuals will keep on blooming as long as they are kept watered. The mandevilla on the front porch is just as lovely as ever. Has anyone figured out how to overwinter this beautiful plant? I've tried many times without success, but I admit that I've never tried cuttings.

I've kept this cute little polka dot teacup planter for a few years, but I never found just the right plants to set it off until now. I put a lantana in it, with portaluca around the edges. Now it blooms in bright orange and yellow, and just glows there sitting on the bright green bench. Do you get the idea that I subscribe to the clown pants theory of gardening?

I've never used torenia before in my container gardens, and I've been quite pleased. This is a really pretty blue.

And here it is in the urn pot on the front porch. This pot has really filled in nicely already.

I put a few different coleus in a shady spot out front, and have really been enjoying the splash of color it provides without flowers. Kong coleus is the large one here, and the big leaves really show it off. It's unusual for me to eschew the use of flowers in favor of foliage, but once in awhile I do.

Although I did this container without the use of any flowers, and it's gorgeous, if I do say so myself. I know I've shown it off here again, but I like to update it's progress over the summer. I always use this red/purple/lime green theme here in next to the garage, and it is my absolute favorite container every year.

My tithonia Fiesta Del Sol is blooming early this year, so I hope to see it attracting butterflies soon. This Mexican sunflower will have to do since my regular sunflower seeds didn't even come up. I suspect the birds dug down and ate them up! And yes, there is a giant weed growing in the window well behind it.

I usually plant zinnias in the theme color out front every year, but these multi color ones were extras from the neighborhood, so I planted them instead. I do like multi colors, of course, but I really did want white!

Another annual that I often use is Pretty Much Picasso petunia. Look at the great color combo! This one is in my new garage wall planter, and is really filling in quickly. I love it! I usually plant it on the ground to wander, but in the future, I'll let it cascade out of a container like this. Fabulous!

I always keep two pots flanking my front walkway with arborvitea in them, and a few annuals around the edge. This time I've got nemesia and callibrocha in them, along with the random leftover pansy. They haven't filled in very well yet, but I'll be glad come late fall when the callibrocha scoffs at the cold like they usually do. Yes, that is a flat of zinnias behind the pot. Long story, but suffice it to say, that's where the multi color zinnias came from.

So that's the "Annual Report" from here. Hot, dry weather, but the annuals still bloom on!