Grandma’s Garden & Mid-Summer Gardening

It has been so beautiful here this week.  The humidity left us Sunday night and Monday morning started us off with temps in the 70’s and wonderful breezes.  So Tuesday I went with my daughter and granddaughter to a wonderful nursery here called Grandma’s Garden.  There is so much inspiration and beauty here,  I just like walking around even if I don’t buy anything!

They’ve used some of my favorite summer sun-loving plants in their displays:  coleus and sweet potato vine. 

I took these pictures for inspiration for when I am doing my urns next year, but I will show you how well my urns are doing below.

How about these shutter window boxes?  My daughter and I just love these!

And check out this hanging basket of petunias!  My granddaughter is a good gauge for the size of this thing.  She will be four next week.

They also have a fantastic selection of fairy garden supplies from plants to houses to fairies to just about every fairy garden accoutrement you could want! 

This really makes me want to do some fairy gardens, plus fix up the little one I do have.

I bought a couple of annuals just to fill in some spots; Lantana for the front bed and two purple ones {didn’t get the name off the tag} for my front door urn.

The hydrangea I planted here didn’t flower again when the two blooms it had were spent, but it does have some fresh greenery sprouting up.  The sweet potato vine looks out of proportion to everything else, so I don’t know if I would do this combo here again.

My garage door urn is doing magnificently!  Here is a “first planted” picture and a current picture.

 

 

 

The only thing is you can’t see the cordyline I planted in the back.  I thought that would grow taller as well, but the coleus has outgrown it. 

And now maybe you can help me out with a problem I have this year {that just seemed to happen over the past couple of weeks} with one of my hydrangeas.  I planted these three hydrangea bushes shortly after we moved in and this is their third summer now. 

They were doing beautifully and the past two summers were very humid.  I watered them every day, sometimes twice a day and they pulled through.  The past two summers seemed so dry, but I think we’ve had a “normal” amount of rain this year, and the humidity hasn’t been as bad {so far}, yet this one looks like it is at death’s door.  

I don’t understand what is wrong with it, especially since the other two are just fine.  It does have some blooms coming out, as well as some fresh green shoots near the base of the plant.  Anybody know what the deal is with this?  And, if so, what can I do?

I have had hydrangeas for years ~ between here and our old house ~ and have never seen this before.  Thanks in advance for any advice and suggestions!