I love flowers, especially when traveling. I take pictures of pretty ones and usually, share them on Facebook.
But I don't foray much further than that into gardening. Since where I live can run hot enough to burn down a plant or cold enough to freeze them, I try for ones that will live from year to year with minimal maintenance. This was especially true when my boys were little and every spare moment was spent raising them. I did get out my weeding utensil and work on the front yard while they played with their bikes and trikes. I swear to this day, there isn't a weed in that yard and I've not lived there for nearly twenty years.
Once, I read about a plant that was great for people like me--lantana. It would grow if a car ran over it. With an offering from a friend, I have a giant one by my kitchen door and three more in other areas of my beds. Daylillies are good too. I have crape myrtles that bloom in late July. Lots of lirope.
So when I see beautiful specimens elsewhere, I go ga-ga. Here's a few from this year. BTW, if you know their names, let me know.
So Mary, Mary, how does your garden grow? What is your favorite plant?
18 comments:
Pink roses are my favorite! But, I'm not much of a gardener, either. Once I tried to plant watermelon and all I got were weeds. Thanks for the pretty photos.
I come from a long line of farmers...but I didn't inherit that gene! The only thing that has survived me are my roses and Lillie's. The grand kids planted some flowers last year that came up again this year! I can't remember what they are. I tried planting tomatoes a few years, but they would start to rot on the vine, before they ripened! The bottoms would turn brown and mushy...and no, they were not touching the ground! The cucumbers were bitter and watermelon didn't grow very much. The only thing that turned out was the cantaloupe...they were so sweet and juicy!
I love flowers, but they don't like me, LOL! I have some plants in the front that someone else planted and they are still growing...especially my cousin's rose bush she brought with her from New Mexico when she moved here! It really needs trimmed back right now!
Hi, Angela! LOL maybe the seeds weren't watermelon???
Hi, Cathy! As a kid, my mom grew tomatoes, green onions, okra in our beds and they were great! Nowadays, the tomatoes seem so picky. I haven't tried since our sheepdog ate the red, then green tomatoes, and finally the plants. I'm having luck with red salvia, rock rose, and turks cap.
I love flowers and gardens. My dad is an amazing gardener but I seem to have missed that gene. Luckily for me, my hubby is amazing too. He's the one who makes my garden grow!
Vicki:
I have a brown thumb. I have never been good with plants. A few years ago, however, we put some watermelon vines (still in container) in a planter to be dealt with at a later date. We forgot about them and they soon broke through their containers, grew roots and spread out to grow several watermelons.
My kind of gardening!
Liese
I need flowers that could survive a car running over them! My favorites are wild flowers. Though, I do also love my Rock Star grasses. For some reason, this year they aren't looking very healthy. They must not be part of that get-run-over-by-a-car-and-still-thrive category. But I still love them! Your flower pictures always make me smile, Vicki. :)
Reading this makes me (1) jealous because of all the people who have a "green thumb" and (2) thankful for the helpful hints regarding plants that I might be able to grow without too much work.
Nice and informative post.
Thank you.
Patti
That green bulbous thing is an artichoke. They're really tasty to eat, but if you let them bloom, the flower is amazing! I tried growing one in our garden with not much success. We never got to eat one, but we let it bloom.
Finding a new lovely flowering plant is fun. Thanks for sharing your pictures.
I suppose I'm a lazy gardener. I love to plant, but the things need to hold their own out there without me! All my spaces become wild because of this.
I'm not a gardener either! But like you, I love to be near plants - they're very calming. So I leave that to the landscaping people, and visit parks and botanical gardens whenever I can. Sorry I can't help you identify any of your pictures - again, I'll leave that to the experts!
Hi, all! I truly appreciate your comments and how we can't identify anything except artichokes. I thought it fascinating how they grow as I've never seen how before!!!
I'm jealous of those who can make things grow, but I have to say it is probably because they work at making themselves good. Whereas I want something fast.
I kinda like Liese's thing about forgetaboutit and something wonderful happens. A surprise from nature is a good thing.
I come from a long line of gardeners, but, sadly, I do not have the green thumb. I love roses, and do have my roses at the front of the house, but they're easy. Or maybe my roses try to take things easier on me than other plants. ;)
Great post! I love to garden, but, unfortunately, can't help you with the photo ID, as all except the orange one don't grow in the NC mountains. Or if they do, they're hiding from me! Nature is wonderful in its diversity.
Hi, Red! Some roses are easy and some people (see my aunt) can grow them so well. I'm trying to get my green rose going.
Hi, Ashantay! Perhaps, these plants don't grown here (except for the artichoke!!! LOL) I like what you said about Nature. Sometimes, even weeds are beautiful. Thanks for posting, ladies!
Mary, Mary doesn't grow squat. I let someone else tend my lawn and flower bushes and enjoy from afar. I'd have to say that I have a black thumb :)
I have been loving all the beautiful flowers you have been posting on FB and now here. What a spectacular photographic series !!!
Hi, Florence! Squat--lol. I had so much fun posting pictures of flowers. They are so beautiful and think everyone pretty much likes flowers--right?
Sigh. Did come home to green rose is upright, but some curly leaves meaning it needed water. *yelling at #2 son now*
I came to gardening late, but now I'm obsessed. The weather here in Wyoming makes it a challenge, but I persevere. I also love pink roses and realized recently that I have four different pink rose bushes in my front flowerbed. I think I need to get a different color for contrast. Thanks for a fun post and discussion, Vicki.
Hi, Mary! I usually do better with plants I trust to survive the heat we get, but this year was way too rainy. I have friends that snuck out the minute the weather paused, but I couldn't get away. I love pink roses. When we moved here, I read about the Antique Rose Emporium, a nursery started to an extension agent who traveled backroads and spotted plants by abandoned farmhouses. I recently bought my aunt Seven Sisters because she remembered it from the farmhouse she grew up in. Thanks for stopping!
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