I saw Zebrina blooming in a
friend's garden and added it to my wish list. Felt so lucky when I found
one at a box store recently. Brought this one home and planted it by the
door in an area being reworked. Imagine my fury when two days later it
had been eaten to the ground.
So now rabbits are on my list of garden terrorists.
My sister says place cat fur
around the plant and the bunnies won't bother it. I did that immediately
and the plant is making a recovery. So now the question is, did the cat
fur repel the rabbit or maybe the bunny just hasn't taken that same path since
his first visit to the plant. Luckily, mallows are tough, fast growing
plants so it seems this one might return to bloom IF the bunny is indeed
frightened by cat fur.
July is the month of the
daylily.
Almost the perfect plant. The foliage is pretty, like a
graceful, green fountain even before the blooms appear. In my
garden daylilies have no pests, no disease, and are very forgiving of both dry
and rainy conditions and a wide variety of soil types. Established plants
have a long bloom period even though each bloom only lasts for one day.
And they are edible. Imagine having guests for lunch and bringing a
bowl topped with daylily blooms to the table. Nice touch.
I'm very partial to the
double varieties with ruffles, textured petals, and picotee edging.
Siloam Double Classic is my favorite. Look at that yummy, peachy color
and all those ruffles. SDC is one of the first to bloom in my garden in early June and
is still pumping out blooms almost to the end of July. The blooms on SDC
are down low in the foliage and not waiving up above the plant. This is a
plus in my mind.
Moses Fire below is another favorite. Photos don't do the color justice. These are large, double flowers in a hot, hot orange color that draws the eye across the garden straight to this plant. Lots of ruffles and a yellow picotee edging.
Night Embers has a smaller bloom that must be viewed up close to be truly appreciated. NE is so dark it almost looks black from a distance. I love the ruffles, of course, and the yellow wire rim around the petals.
Not sure of the name of daylily below but it is a very prolific bloomer. Love the creamy color shading into yellow and then blending with the pale mauve. The dark edging looks like spun gold wire.
Spiritual Corridor below is like an orchid. Big ruffled blooms in muted shades of purple. This one is very photogenic and I have dozens of photos in various lighting. I just purchased and planted two more of this one.
Most people are contemptuous of this common Kwanza but I love it. Layers upon layers of ruffled petals in the blazing colors of sunshine. What a shame it is sterile and cannot contribute to breeding programs.
Don't laugh:)
I ordered the fashionable bug jacket below from Amazon and wear it everyday to plant, weed and water. My friend from the Rambling Woods blog suggested it. It works with some additions but the arm seam is already giving way. Just a little uncomfortable but not nearly as uncomfortable as mosquito bites, west nile fever, or spray on Deet. If anyone decides to order one, get at least one size larger because the netting should not lay against the skin. Hat not included, mittens removable. I hope no one drops by while I'm outside wearing it.
