The lupins bloomed beautifully in July - tall, elegant spires of deep pink sat at the top of our sloping flower border on the South side of the house. Lupins are stunning in their elegance but short-lived. Because of the untidy and unattractive foliage after blooming, I cut the two plants back severely filling the space around them with petunias and later ready-to-go dahlias. Over the past few weeks I noticed how lush and green the new foliage was, attributing it to the copious amounts of water and Miracle Grow with which I'd blessed the surrounding petunias and geraniums throughout those hot, dry months.
Just take a peek at what's happening right now to these hearties:
Not quite so tall, yet vigorous and most welcome. I checked online to see what the flowering status of lupins was and found comments from different gardeners all saying that, "Lupins bloom once a year." Bonus for us!
This afternoon was hot and beautiful and I spent time pruning rose bushes and one large hydrangea whose gorgeous spring blooms had burned badly during the initially torrid July sun. I cleaned up a few flower beds and mixed what I think will be my last barrel- a large rubber garbage can-of fertilizer with the hopes of nudging the flowers into just a little more glorious blooming. This evening has gotten to be chilly...those long summer evenings are gone....and oh so many beautiful green tomatoes still waiting for a little more sun to push them into flaming orange-red beauties. No hint of blight - so glad for that.
This aster plant was lucky enough to be next to a rose bush and so received more water and fertilizer by default than its friends in other parts of the yard. Not spectacular but delightfully colourful.
Here's what my transplanted-into a larger pot-"Brown-Eyed-Susan" looks like today:
This is how I received it on my birthday on the last day of Spring:
Jared proudly presented it to me then..with so much love shining from those beautiful dark eyes! And now I've been able to enjoy them throughout the summer and gratefully remember my grandchildren...thanks again, Jared.
