8/30/05- at this time we enjoy gentle and badly needed rainfall, while also praying
for those who have received an over-abundance via Katrina.
About an hour ago, I rain between the raindrops to re-fill our hummingbird feeder.
The garden beds were absolutely magical. The many branched pink & white
Cleome that currently graces the front page has become even more vibrant; the
self-seeded china aster growing among its branches now has several new flowers.
In front of this arrangement, a large container full of Sunset Agastache continues
to bloom full tilt. This plant has become a favorite stop for the beloved
hummingbird, along with Japanese Honeysuckle and the Physostegia.
The rain weather is perfect for digging in the northernmost bed, with the intention
of planting some of the flowering kale in the bed's many bare spaces. This time of
year would rely heavily on strong rainfall for lush growth. The Black Cohosh and
Blue Bervain suffered dreadfully in the dry heat. Recently, a quiet 'star' has been
the Candy Lily growing at the back of the bed. It's been raised from seed and this
was its first year of flowering.
Up at SL2, I've harvested Tomatoes, more Zukes, Cucumbers, jack-be-little
Pumpkins and an astonishing 17 flower essences in one week!!! The Tithonia
bushes have been attracting many happy butterflies who add an extra special
overlay of healing medicine to the garden's northern quadrant.
Thanks to a few well-placed thunderstorms and increased physical rejuvenation
allowing me to attend to more regular watering, the central Brugmansia grove has
begun to revive its incomparable spirit. A new set of buds has set and I see no
reason to suppose they won't thrive. Whether they consent to photographs
remains to be seen. Down at the southern gateway, a Datura metel bush is
blooming full-tilt and so are the scarlet runner beans. Eggplants are finally
coming into flower and the Lemon Verbena crop is doing splendidly.
A recent infusion of the Generosity Fund insures that I'll have a few more air-lifted
plants...currently growing in a VERY wonderful place that holds quite compatible
and comparable vibrations to the underlying signature of the Hillside. I've had
quite good luck with container gardening this year - based on years of practical
experience. I also admit to studying pictures in books about this form of
gardening, but I've yet to actually read anything. Perhaps this winter
that will change.
Who knows how the neighbors feel (though I'm able to take a few relatively
confident guesses ... ) about my co-creative habit of 'bordering' my garden beds
will masses of self-seeded wildflowers. As always, the southernmost bed and the
old tomato patch were fully surrounded by thriving Queen Anne's Lace. I allowed
Evening Primroses to grow where-ever they seeded themselves at the garden's
borders and property edges. Last year, I learned how much goldfinches love the
seeds and we certainly have enough of those pretty little birds seeking
nourishment! During the worst of the oppressive heat, I purchased a new bird
bath and now there are even more finches. The evening primroses pictured below
are between 7 and eight feet tall. The birds seem very pleased ...
September 3, '05 - Today I finally did get part of the flowering kale tribe in the
ground. They look very pretty in the northernmost bed. The rest will go in the
original bed sometime over this long weekend. The pruning tasks of the evening
were very pleasant - I worked mainly with hyssop bushes and proliferation of spent
lemon balm stalks. Tomorrow I'll water the pruned bushes and rattle for them.
Yes I know it's an unusual point of the lunation cycle to prune but this is what the
plants requested several times...
