Tag: monarda

2018 Garden Recap: Flowers

Now that the outdoor growing season has officially ended here in Chicago, I thought it was time to look back and see how things went.

It was definitely a mixed year weather-wise, but for the most part everything looked pretty good all summer. Except for the weed infestation that took a while to get under control!

Here’s some highlights:

I was excited to get my zinnia and marigold beds laid down from seeds that I had collected from last years’ flower beds.

I waited for the soil to warm up enough, prepared the beds, separated out the seeds and spread them out over the soil, then watered.  The seedlings were about 3 inches when disaster struck! Some wayward weed-wacking had pulverized them after mistaking the seedlings for weeds.

So back to ground zero, but it was now mid-June and everything was pushed back quite a bit. So, replanted what little seed I had left and added some new Burpee Cut and Come Again Zinnias and Burpee Boy O’Boy Marigold Mix.  Much to my delight, I did end up with beautiful flower beds before too long.

Like last year, I collected up all my seeds to keep for next spring.  Check out my previous post, Cheerful and Bright Zinnias Bed, for an easy how-to to get dense flower beds like these.

The Monarda added mid-summer festive colors and are always a favorite of the bees.

Monarda didyma ‘Purple Rooster’ Monarda

I’ve enjoyed the summer color from my current Monardas who have grown really well in their new locations (The Bee Balm is Very Happy). I added another variety this summer, Marje Pink Bee Balm (Monarda ‘Marje Pink’). Hopefully it grows as well as the other two have.

Monarda 'Marje Pink'

Other garden standbys did well this summer. Hostas, Daylilies, Phlox and the newly added Summer Beauty Allium (Allium Tanguticum ‘Summer Beauty’) added plenty of summer color

I moved some plants around and put some new ones in. We’ll see how they look in the spring!

I replaced some scraggly looking daylilies next to the front walkway with the much neater Summer Beauty Allium (Allium Tanguticum ‘Summer Beauty’), and filled in some holes n the side and back gardens with Flames of Passion Avens (Geum ‘Flamers of Passion’), Max Frei Geranium (Geranium Sanguineum ‘Max Frei’), early summer blooming Pumila Astilbe (Astible Chinensis ‘Pumila’) and late summer blooming Visions Astilbe (Astible Chinensis ‘Visions’)

I also took out this Russian Sage that never looked quite right in the midst of the yews. I tried to transplant it, but I didn’t really like being moved mid-summer.  We’ll see if it comes up anywhere. I’m sure there will be some stragglers to remove and try again to transplant in the spring.

Overall pretty good year, but I’m excited to see what next spring will bring. Feel like it’s going to be a long winter…

Time for the Yarrow to Go

I posted before about the problems I was having with my yarrow and I’ve finally decided it’s time to go.   It’s been a garden invader for years and especially this year, just downright ugly.

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So I pulled it out.

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This left an ugly gaping hole, but by next spring it’ll have something new in it’s place.  I’m thinking I’ll move the red Bee Balm (variety unknown) that is currently almost in full shade under a River Birch.

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That was one of those mistakes made by a landscaper before I knew to ask questions and look into plant choices myself.  Sure, it was only lightly shaded back when the tree was planted almost 15 years ago.  But now, it’s dappled full shade and much too shady to grow a sun loving plant like Bee Balm.  I get a few meager flowers each year, but mostly it’s leggy, sparse and often gets a powdery mildew.  Time for a new home. There’s plenty of great shade loving plants that can take it’s place.