A week of much-needed rain and storms brought us some welcome relief from the August heat after a dry summer.
Normally by this time in August, the garden has gone to pot. ;)
It’s amazing what rain showers can do for the garden as opposed to daily watering with a hose.
The mandevilla vine planted on a trellis between my window boxes has climbed to new heights since June.
And the sweet potato vine has to be pruned weekly to keep it in bounds.
Mr. Frog has retired his bowtie and given up tarts, back to his day job as a birdbath, but still enjoying the Limelight. ;)
And heat-loving annuals and planters enjoyed some relief and a short break from the sun and heat.
Evolvulus ‘Blue Daze’ is a cousin to the morning glory and blooms all summer. It’s grown as an annual here but hardy in zones 8 – 11.
Cleome or spider flower is an old-fashioned annual that blooms from mid summer to fall and attracts hummingbirds. Older varieties have spiny stems and will reseed while newer varieties are thornless and sterile.
Petunias have a fresh flush of blooms after pruning and some ‘Bloom Booster’ flower food.
A basket on the back door hangs in welcome, filled with some wet flower foam and flowers. . .
Limelight hydrangea, coleus and foliage from shrubs, along with some sweet potato vine.
We are back to our typical August summer weather pattern of dry and hot temperatures, so daily watering is back on the schedule. I enjoyed the break while it lasted!
How’s your garden growing. . . are you dry or wet?
Hope you’re enjoying the last days of summer!
Thank you for your visit!
All your flowers are beautiful. We have had a beautiful growing season for flowers in pots here also but with daily watering when it didn’t rain. Most of our July and early August days were close to or in the 90’s but we did have plenty of rain. Our garden looks like a jungle as does everything else around here and still green. I didn’t know you could trim back sweet potato vine, mine really took over my pots, Next year I will do that although I swore to never buy them again. Also with the ornamental cabbages which I was given, I wont be so accepting next time. It is almost time for mums and I am so ready.
Absolutely Beautiful. Your posts always lift my spirits! Thank you for all you do!
Thanks so much Kathi. :)
So beautiful! You truly have a “green thumb”.
Thank you Carol! I hope ya’ll are well and we can see you soon. :)
Mary, the rain has made your garden grow for sure! So much beauty to gaze on. Many place in our county have had abundant rain while we have remained dry, but finally relief over the past four days. My garden thoroughly enjoyed the rain over the sprinklers! Pam @ Everyday Living
Your garden is gorgeous Pam! I can only imagine how much work it requires to keep it so lush and blooming. :)
I just remarked the other day how rain water makes everything look brand new even though we watered everyday, it still wasn’t enough!!! Mary, how do you trim you sweet potato vine? I didn’t know that could be done!!! Your gardens are beautiful!!! Mine are a little washed out we don’t have any shade and I think that helps..glad the rains have stopped..especially for Louisiana!! ☀️☀️☀️
Hi Ellen, You can trim your sweet potato vine back like any other plant. Make your cuts roughly 1/4 inch above leaf nodes to keep it in bounds. It does seem to make it grow more aggressively when you cut it back and it can be a bully in the garden or container mixed with other plants :)
I have enjoyed this virtual walk around your potting shed this morning, cup of tea in hand. If I could really see it in person, I’d be out there every day! Everything is so beautiful, especially those Evolvulus ‘Blue Daze’. I will look for it to plant next year, since I adore Morning Glories!
I gave my Mom a basket to hang on her back door, just like the one you have. I wonder what happened to it ..hmmm.
This week things have finally cooled off a wee bit here. We’re getting rain about every 3 days, but I still water my flowers each morning in between. I think I need to find some of that Bloom Booster, too! Thanks for mentioning it.
Have a nice week, Mary.
Thank you Rett! I use Bloom Booster once a week this time of year when the annuals are tired and start to look shabby. :)
Holy Hydrangeas Mary!! I have never seen so many blooms, it’s like you sprinkled magic fairy dust over everything and it grew 3 times its size!! Incredible! Mother Nature at her best, helped along with your very green thumb and vintage watering cans, Wow, I know you’re in heaven!
Jenna
I’ll have to remember ‘Holy Hydrangeas’ Jenna! You comment made me smile :)
It’s a beautiful morning, perfect time to sit out on the porch and check out your gorgeous post!! Your potting shed is like a little slice of heaven on earth. Such a splendor of your wonderful gardening work.
Thanks so much Ann! Early morning is the only time I can enjoy it, it’s way too hot!
I was watering twice a day some days but still the flowers were drying up:( We got some mUCH needed rain yesterday and what a relief that was. I am pruning and fertilizing hoping for new blooms for fall. Your door basket is gorgeous and I want to make one now:) Have a beautiful day!!!!
Thank you Pinky, I’ll be over to visit soon. :)
All the blooms are just gorgeous. The basket on the door is stunning. I just love your potting shed posts. They make my day. Sadly after some 90 to 100 degree days my flowers are trying to recover from the heat. I do agree that rain is so much better than any watering you do from the hose.
Thank you Becky! We’re have our 5th hottest summer on record. I’m trying to recover myself with 90+ degree days and triple digit heat indexes. :)
Definitely wet here! We are still enjoying rainy days with more predicted this week. Sadie doesn’t like the rain, but the garden certainly does. My blue daze isn’t blooming as abundantly as yours. Perhaps I need to get out the Bloom Booster. Everything in your garden is gorgeous. You have done a fabulous job of planting things that compliment each other. Artistry in the garden as with all you do, my friend!
I agree that there is nothing like Mother Nature’s natural watering system. Everything thrives. My iris were yellow and sad, but after all these rains have greened up again and standing tall.
Love the row of watering cans. ;-)
Sarah, I was wondering how much rain your neck of the woods was getting and if you were in danger of flooding. Thanks for your sweet comment and high praise. ;)
I am further South and even with afternoon showers 2-3 times a week things are looking peaked. Almost time to redo my window boxes with fall colors. My lantana is still looking great as well as my ferns. I do fertilize every 2 weeks.
Hi Sandi, I’m ready for ALL THINGS fall but it’s always later arriving for us, and you too if you’re further south!
Your gardens (vignettes) are just breathtaking!! A wet one here…up to 20 inches of rain and WIND…endless task of picking up sticks, branches, etc. *sigh* franki
20 inches is A LOT of water Franki…hope you’re not in danger of flooding or floating away!
Mary, you are absolutely right about the rain! When God does the watering, everything thrives. (Hey, I think that would preach!). Here in Clemmons everything is still looking green despite all these days of 90+ degrees. I love the way you lined up your watering cans on the wagon. They looked like soldiers reporting for duty!
Hi Darlene, I agree! Thanks for your visit :)
Stunning, refreshing and calming! Especially love the blue daze…and Mr. Frog returning to his post as bird bath. Thank you for sharing, Mary. Have a wonderful day.
Thank you Donna!
My mother worked in a greenhouse for 35 years and always said water will keep a plant alive but it needs rain to flourish and grow! Love your floral arrangement on the door. Just beautiful as always
So true Marlene! Thanks you for your visit and comment :)
Thank you for sharing your post of an explosion of colorful flowers and plants. We’ve been lucky enough here in this part of Virginia to still have green grass with rain at least once or twice a week. Our flowers haven’t been so lucky as they are done for the summer.
Hi Melodie, My flowers always start to look shabby in July. I use Miracle-Gro Bloom Buster once a week when I water.
What do you use to keep bees, wasps etc. out of your potting shed?
I don’t have a problem with bees but I’m always having to knock down wasps nests. They’re more a problem for me building nests on the eaves of the roof than on the inside.
Perfectly beautiful! The temperature dropped here in North Eastern North Carolina yesterday but not much rain so we are still watering? I collect over ten gallons of water for my potted plants from the air conditioning condensation line every day. Gives my plants untreated water while helping with my water bill. A friend shared this tip with me many years ago when we had a terrible drought and were not permitted to water. She also recommended putting a large bucket in the shower to collect water. Beautiful gardens such as your Mary make the world a prettier place. Thanks for the pictures
Hi Virginia, Great tips! We do the same by placing a large watering can where our condensation line drains. We started about 8 years ago when we had a drought and stayed in the habit since we’re on a well. It’s amazing how quickly the can fills up. :)
Your talent for combining colors, textures and forms is apparent everywhere, but makes a huge splash in your gardens… Absolutely beautiful!
Thank you Sonia, You’re too kind *blush*
Your potting shed garden is great and beautiful.
The Potting Shed Garden looks Beautiful!! I did not plant potatoe vine this year but looking at yours makes me want to plant every year. Glad to know it can be trimmed. We have only had a brief shower come thru our area one day. I have to water once or twice a day. This morning woke to cooler and less humid which is a releif. I So enjoy seeing your Potting Shed inside & out!!
Thank you Nancy! We’ve missed lots of rain opportunities recently. I’ll get a ‘heavy rain’ alert from a local weather app on my phone and I’ll look at the radar and watch the storm split up and go right around us.
Everything looks very happy Mary, especially for late August-enjoy:@)
Truer words were never spoken when it comes to rain water vs. hose water! Your mandevilla looks terrific. I planted moonflower vine on my trellis this year, alongside my mandevilla, which often end up looking puny in the leaves by late summer. Ours has been a good summer for the garden, but I always enjoy the break the rains provide from the daily watering too. Around your shed looks great, and I can’t wait to see next year around your newly planted circle.
All your plants look so lush around the potting shed, Mary! The mandevilla vine looks beautiful climbing up the sides. We’ve had lots of rain after our 100 degees days, and it’s been so nice to not have to drag out the hose on a daily basis. It was nice seeing Mr. Frog back doing his duty as a bird bath. Your blue daze sure looks better than mine. Hmmmm maybe I need to give it some plant food?
Just wonderful! Truly blessed my otherwise dry, colorless day. Thanks for sharing.
~Mary~
I was like WOW, your plants look amazing !! Did you plant any veggies?? I didn’t plant to much this year and glad I didn’t because of how dry it has been, the weeds did great hehe! It was wonderful finally getting rain here, now everything is green and growing :)
Paula
IN.
Hi Paula, I have herbs planted but no veggies. It’s so much easier to buy them at the farmers market! :)
Mary~ I totally agree :)
Beautiful!!! Your door basket is beautiful! Hot in Broadway, NC and we water daily !!! Some of my us loving annuals have bit the dust… Oh well … Ready for fall and cooler temps!! Much less humid here today!!
Thank you Robyn! I’m ready for fall and cooler temperatures too!
Your potting shed flowers look fantastic! Love the mandevila vines and that coleus! Everything looks so full and picturesque. You must be very pleased with this- I think it’s your best ever! I love the Blue Daze- what a fabulous blue color! We had a bunch of rain too and everything looks very lush. Some of my plants could use a trimming I should do another fertilizing.
Mary, you are so witty! Love the story of Mr. Frog in the limelight back to his regular duties! Yes, your plants have enjoyed Heaven’s provision and look lush and beautiful. Dragging hoses exhaust me.
In years past, wasps and dirt dobbers love to build in my eaves and windows. I spray them with Home Defense every three or four months now and it seems to help some.
Thanks for the info about Blogger changing the way it pulls RSS feeds. I’ve got to get on all that. Life has been crazy!
Your flowers make me feel so happy ♥
summerdaisycottage.blogspot.com
BEAUTIFUL!
Mary…your garden always amazes me and I am more amazed at the beauty of your plants and flowers flourishing in this intense summer heat….they must be very happy around the potting shed….embracing the home that they love! It has been drier than we would like around here … and battling the deer constantly….May I ask how often you fertilize your plants around the potting shed?
Thanks, Shirley! I use Miracle-Gro Bloom Booster every two weeks in the spring and then increase it to once a week in the summer when I’m watering daily. :)
Oh Mary, your garden is BEAUTIFUL!!! It makes me so happy to look at the pictures; it must make you really happy to see it in person every day. All your blooms look so full and healthy! Your potting shed grows more charming every year; you’re so fortunate to have such a fun place to putter and garden. :)
Yes, North Carolina has been hot this year, hasn’t it? I hate to wish time away, but I’m looking forward to fall! I enjoyed your post, Mary, and have a wonderful weekend! Visiting from “Foodie Fridays.”
Hugs to you,
Denise