Monday, May 28, 2018

A HOT Memorial Day Weekend!

This might be slightly skewed by the air conditioner ten feet away, but not by more than a few degrees....

Greetings! Hot days here in Iowa -- it's been in the upper 90s most of the past week, which has meant a very short spring, after being so cold and snowy until mid-April. As I wrote back in early April, I was worried that we'd have only about five weeks to work before it got too hot to move plants safely or work outside comfortably, and I was right to be worried.

I've been trying to do things outside in the morning and evening, but it was already 90°F by 8 a.m. today, and the evenings stay in the upper 80s (plus we've had our usual May gnats, which seem to be worse in the evenings). So I've mostly just been watering things around 11 p.m.by flashlight, which is actually a very pleasant time to be outside....




I have been working this weekend on the getting the fountain to function in my new Islamic-style Paradise Garden. I bought a fountain pump and, after cutting a hole in the bottom of the galvanized milk can, I set the can on several bricks in the sheep tank and installed the pump underneath the can, with the output tube inside the can, and sealing around the hole in the bottom of the can with lots of plumber's putty. I then filled the tank and turned on the pump.

The good news is that it looked very nice, water bubbling gently out the top of the milk can and overflowing into the tank, just as I had planned. The bad news is that the milk can is apparently just decorative in nature, not water-tight in the least. Water streamed out of every rivet hole in the can, which necessitated taking apart the fountain and buying some spray sealant, with which I sprayed the inside of every seam in the can several times. We'll see if that does the trick, after the sealant has dried and cured. Perhaps this evening I'll try filling it again.




I've also been giving the boxwood hedges in the Herb Garden their annual trim. You can see the difference it makes in the above photo, taken midway through the job. It's much easier and quicker now that I have a cordless trimmer, even if I do have to take a couple of (very welcome) breaks to recharge the batteries.

Ah. Much more orderly now.


Anyway, here are a few highlights of the late May garden -- but I've had to keep my eye out and be quick about taking photos, as the heat means that many of these lovely flowers go over in the blink of an eye.

A single peony in the Rainbow Border.

A beautiful deep red peony in the same border, 'Red Charm', I think.

These weren't open yesterday...

Lots of yellow irises in the Yellow Garden.

Multi-hued irises and Painted Daisies (Tanacetum coccineum) in the Front Border.


We bought a large rock and rolled it off the back of our pickup truck into the North Border, and I think it looks quite nice there, drawing the eye.

Clematis and veronica near our front steps.

Anyway, I'll spend the afternoon today inside keeping cool in the air conditioning -- much like nearly every other day this past week. It will give me a good chance to read and catch up on what's going on in your gardens.

Hope you're enjoying cool and pleasant days in your gardens (I can't believe I'm already writing this, after all my wishes for warmer days until very recently...).

Thanks for reading! -Beth




11 comments:

  1. Beth, It's equally as hot here. I've been waiting until after the sun dips behind our hill to do some projects. Let's hope for some relief before July hits!

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    1. Hi Melissa, I'm sure it's every bit as hot in your corner of the state -- maybe hotter out west! It looks like this weekend should be a bit cooler -- what a relief... Thanks for reading! -Beth

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  2. Wow, that's hot. It has been pleasantly warm here. It's lovely to see your summer flowers. Your box looks beautiful after its haircut. You're not afraid of heavy machinery are you? And rolling boulders about, I am impressed.

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    1. Hi Chloris, It was actually my husband who rolled the boulder off the truck -- when I say "we," I mean I directed him to do it... :-) Thanks for stopping by and for your very kind comments. Best, -Beth

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  3. Gorgeous! I hope you got your fountain sorted. It's been really hot here, too, although today is back to sweaters and hot drinks. The flowers are weeks late but, like yours, going over in the blink of an eye. It's lovely to see yours at their best.

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    1. Hi Jo, Your cooler weather sounds delicious right now -- I hope we'll get some too before long... Thanks for visiting! Best, -Beth

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  4. Flores encantadoras. Feliz dia.

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  5. Wow, so hot! We've gotten to 90 a couple times, but thankfully not over. The things I've planted recently are protesting, and my deck is filled with plants awaiting a better, cooler planting time. I love your boxwood hedge!

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    1. Hi Indie, I'm glad it hasn't been so hot in MA as here, although 90° is still pretty hot. To cooler times.... Thanks for stopping by! Best, -Beth

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  6. This is just lovely. I love the milk can and sheep tank fountain. Have you thought of adding some peacocks to your flock? Beautiful but noisy! I feel encouraged to trim our box wood jump which is too tall to jump. Thank you for sharing this. ...Lyse

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