How are Your Gardens Doing?

My garden consists of container plants.

I have gotten into container gardening this year, too! I've been growing lots of herbs from seed in the greenhouse and then transplanting them into large containers.

We aren't doing veggies this year, but we have harvested huge, sweet blackberries from the bushes I planted three years ago. Also, our one blueberry bush is bearing like crazy this year! And our fig tree.....I planted it as a baby three years ago. This year, it is about five feet tall and has at least 33 figs on it (yes, I counted!)

I'm having trouble with zinnias. I don't understand it, because zinnias are usually so easy to grow. I think I've worn out the soil in my front yard - I really need to add a lot of homegrown mulch to the soil next year if I am going to continue planting annuals.

My perennials are doing well, as usual. I have an orange trumpet vine that I grew from seeds I poached from the vine in front of East Hill Post Office five years ago.   This is the first year it has bloomed in abundance - I am so excited! Last year it had only two blooms on it. I was bummed when I found out trumpet vines are considered a pest plant in Florida.   I don't care - I'm keeping it!

The autumn clematis is healthy and spreading! I thought I had lost my red passion flower plant to the ice storm, but no. Instead, it is growing back twice as large, at least. I am trying to contain it to a seven foot tall metal lattice my husband welded for me, but this vine is already trying to take over the garden. It has the most gorgeous blooms in late summer and fall, but this vine has a mind of its own, for certain. Also, I have new little red passion flower vines scattered all over my front garden. My main vine must have fruited last year, which is always good news.

I didn't put in any gloriosa daisies in my front garden this year. I still haven't gotten over the theft and destruction of my garden three years ago - that morning I came home from work to find my gloriosas and hydrangeas neatly cut at the stem and several of my plants uprooted and stolen. My prize plants live in my back yard now.   It's a damned shame, because so many people in our neighborhood enjoyed my front garden. Ah, well. I hope they like the vines.

I forgot to mention the lantana.   Ha! This is an ongoing "issue" between my husband and me. He can't abide the lantana, but butterflies love it, so it's all staying. I planted most of it about nine or ten years ago, and now it gets HUGE!

My husband helped me in the garden this spring. I witnessed him cutting some lantana down to the ground. He cut it as far down as he could, hoping the plants wouldn't return. I laughed to myself, 'cause I knew he was pruning the plants just the way they should be pruned for best future growth.

Anybody know where I can find some milkweed? I usually have some pop up in the front, but there is none this year. The monarch caterpillars use it as a food source.

And Z - I am intrigued by your description of your wife's container garden. I think I will give that a try next year, or possibly this fall. We have had such problems trying to grow veggies in our soil, even if we amend it. That's why we didn't even try this year.

I'm with your husband on the lantana.....the multicolor variety, years ago, was considered an invasive weed.  The yellow and purple are smaller and easier to maintain....

Joanimaroni wrote:I'm with your husband on the lantana.....the multicolor variety, years ago, was considered an invasive weed.  The yellow and purple are smaller and easier to maintain....

Hahahaaa! I know. I do have some small yellow lantana, but no purple. Instead, I have those huge, happy orange, red and/or pink plants. I bought them as sprouts at Walmart years ago, before I knew they were considered invasive. I planted them out front after I dug up the grass.

My husband is convinced the lantana pushes out all the other plants. He is still upset, ten years later, that the lantana apparently caused the demise of my banana plants.   

You are both right. It is invasive, and it is considered a weed by many. However, you can't beat it for attracting butterflies, birds and bees, so that's why I keep it. You should see the influx of butterflies we get in late September and October! It is a phenomenal show, and now it happens every year. it is astounding to see all those butterflies in our yard, while there are no butterflies in any other yards close by.

Good thing I don't have to abide by homeowner's association rules, eh?

PB, your garden sounds lovely! I lost all my milkweed this past winter. I ordered some online this past spring. I have never seen red passion flowers. I have the purple plant. I love lantanas too!

Z: Thanks for sharing the information about planting in those reusable bags. I am going to try that; we have not had much luck with our soil, no matter what we do.

Z, if your wife does the Facebook thing, she can join the Container Gardening Alliance group. I have learned a lot from that group.

Thanks, Queen, for the compliment. I think my garden is lovely, but I'm sure there are some who consider it pretty wild (which is just how I want it to be!) We are thrilled with the number of songbirds living in our yard this year.....and the frogs, lizards, dragonflies and so on.

I will try to find a picture of my red passion flower vine. I know I have one hidden away somewhere.

will be getting mine planted this week. A little late for me, but all good in the end

I have 3 tomato plants that are still growing as of today--  

Very nice Z- man and z- mam.

OK, Z, you and your wife have convinced me. I have got to try this. Our tomatoes never looked so good!

Great work, Mrs. Z!

Those are good looking plants, Z! Do you keep water in the wading pool all the time?

Looks great.

Joanimaroni wrote:Looks great.

Thanks!