End of Summer Heat

It has just been too hot over the past few weeks to work in the gardens. I've done a bare minimum of weeding and deadheading, but my annuals just keep going and going thankfully. I've even been lax about watering. I've harvested a bunch of tomatoes and peppers and have been cooking with them almost daily. Also fresh oregano, basil, mint and parsley.

The clematis and calla lilies are in the same state, so I'll have to come up with a better climbing device for the clematis next spring, and chuck the callas. I already have a good-sized order placed with Blooming Bulbs, and I'm going to pick up a few more things as well. They actually sent me an email to let me know my 5-6 cm dwarf iris bulbs were only going to be 5 cm. I told them they have the best customer service of any of the bulb companies I've dealt with. And as I discovered when I called them a few months ago, they are located in Medford, Oregon!

A few pics of what is happening at the end of summer.



The purple variety of my dollar and change astilbe in late bloom:


This viburnum was a volunteer! It jumped from the window box on my pool shed, across the pool, and into one of my tomato pots. It had some help I think. I transplanted it to a hanging basket and this is what happened. It came from a dark red plant, interesting what happens with hybrid seeds.


New guinea impatiens are looking good with 2 clumps of surprise black-eyed susans that had been hidden under creeping juniper for years:


Limelight hydrangea turning pink. it will turn a dark pink before losing its blooms.


More annuals going strong - zinnias, cosmos and New guinea impatiens:


In front of the house - agastache, Russian Sage, coreopsis, and roses going strong: