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Thursday, July 17, 2014

Grandma’s Garden & Mid-Summer Gardening

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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!

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

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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.

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

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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.

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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! 

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

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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.

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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.

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

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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. 

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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. 

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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.  

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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?

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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!

 

16 comments:

  1. What a fun nursery and so many beautiful plants. Your urns look fabulous too.

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  2. What a fantastic nursery. Those bright shutters are amazing.

    Your urns are great, I need to fill mine! I don't understand why some plants make it and others don't.

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  3. Lindas as flores, adorei as belas inspirações.
    Tenha um ótimo dia.

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  4. Could be a fungus Kathy. You may need to cut it almost down to the ground ,spray it and pray. I would take a couple of the bad leaves into that nursery you just visited .they usually have somebody there that can troubleshoot plants. Don't give up on yet.

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  5. My hydrangeas are the pits this year too. Not sure why either. Dad asked what we were feeding them. I have no idea????

    Jeanine

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  6. Oh my gosh, such beautiful urns, Kathy! I agree with the other responder....looks like a fungus maybe or spiders? I'd take a couple of leaves to the nursery before cutting it back. Good luck!~~Ang

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  7. thanks for taking us along on your trip, kathy:) i have no idea what happened to your hydrangea--3 of mine look great, but, aren't blooming this year-weird.

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  8. What a lovely nursery! Your urns are beautiful! I'm having difficulty with a fungus, I in the ground, that is attacking my Azaleas. I have no idea what happened to your plants. So sorry.

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  9. Strange. I had four hydrangeas, but one died this year, too. The weather we had last winter probably got it, but the other three have been beautiful. Never so many blooms! And I have not "fed" any hydrangeas this year. Gardening is a science experiment for me. Linda@Wetcreek Blog

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  10. Well, Miss Brown Thumb here can't give you any advice on they hydrangeas, but wow, those shutters are a great idea. Drat, to think of all those shutters I hauled off to GW before we moved. :(

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  11. I've always loved visiting garden nurseries. Love the fairy gardens here!!!
    Have a great weekend!
    xoxo,
    Lin

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  12. Hi Kathy, what a wonderful garden center to visit. How cute your little grand looks standing under that huge gorgeous hanging basket. Love those shutters. Your flower beds look gorgeous and your urns are so pretty!
    Not sure what is going on with hydrangeas this season. Mine are lush and green and only a few blooms.
    Have a great weekend.
    Hugs

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  13. Beautiful gardens. I have no gardening advise though lol. Those painted shutters are so fun!

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  14. The planters are very pretty and those colourful shutters are adorable. Our normally full blooming hydrangea in our backyard barely grew this year but I hesitate to pull it out because it still has two stems with leaves and one perfect flower head. I think it was our ice storm or wild rabbits. The one in the front which was much smaller is blooming beautifully so maybe not the ice just the rabbits that are prolific around here.

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  15. Good golly that's the biggest planter of petunias I've ever seen!

    Your urn of coleus looks particularly pretty.

    Poor hydrangea! It sort of looks like leaf scorch. Was the soil amended for this one and is the drainage good? They really do need a lot of water (especially in sunny and or windy locations) and if they can't absorb the water they need it's a problem. It could also be a fungal root problem.

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  16. I love sweet potato vine too! Wish I knew how to help with your hydrangeas. I had 3 of them die over the winter. The one next to the house is okay though. If you have a county master gardener program near you, you can take the photo or even a leaf to their office and they can help identify the problem and tell you what to do.

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I always enjoy reading your comments! Kathy