Moon Garden Plants

I'm not quite done with the Moon Nook, but I managed to get the other Brunnera in the ground, so I'll share pictures.

This is the one that was totally root bound. I actually dug it up again, broke up the roots even more and replanted it. Now it's not wilting at the end of every day like it was. This one is called 'Alexander's Great.' The root bound condition is probably why I got it marked down, but that's OK, it should be fine in a while.

The surface of the Moon Nook still needs one more block, but enough is done that I could get the placement of the Brunnera at the other end. This one is 'Alexandria.' As I think you can see, the leaves are more solid white. I've really fallen in love with Brunnera, and the deer hate them because the leaves are as rough as sandpaper.

I picked up some end-of-season Artemesia 'Silver Mound' for $3 each. They look all scraggly now, but should be fine next year. At that price, I couldn't pass them up. They are in the foreground of this shot. You've seen the other plants here previously. This is such a tiny beginning, but it counts! I'm still watering these every day, but they didn't seem as wilty this afternoon, which is amazing because it's SO hot outside. I think they are getting established.

I do need to move that grass yet this year, but there is plenty of time yet.

Now, for the super exciting one (to me, anyway). I paid full price for this. I hunted up the palest blue hosta I could find that was actually available to buy anywhere. (Yes I know 'White Feather' is almost pure white, but it can also be tricky to keep happy, and it's not white all season.) Anyway, I LOVE this. It's called 'Steal the Spotlight.' The undersides of the leaves are extremely pale. I'm leaving it in the pot for a while to develop some better roots, and I don't have the space where it will go dug up yet.

The deer are partial to hosta. So, except when I'm showing it off, it's currently in prison.

I ordered another plant today too. About 60% off and shipping wasn't outrageous. This is a good time of year to get cheaper plants if you aren't too impatient for a "finished" garden.

In other news: I did my little summer job in the morning. Thankfully the laundromat is air conditioned. The afternoon was pretty much a bust. It's 85° here with 70% humidity. I managed to keep breathing and read a bit. That's about it. Went to the library and the senior center briefly. Qualifying seniors can get $25 of free produce, so I signed up.

See Moon Garden Beginnings

Today's Cleaned Garden Space

 Today, I worked my way up along the retaining wall by the steps.

I have a love-hate relationship with the Blue Fescue Grass. I love the blue mounds- they are a nice size and they are quite blue. But... the ones you can see have been given a haircut three times this season. If they aren't trimmed, they look like this.

They also get stuffed with old thatch down near the base.

The first trimming of the year cuts off the seed heads. They are pretty, but if I don't do this I have thousands of tiny fescue clumps to weed out. These were just trimmed today.

I haven't showed you the 'Sparkling Bright' Thyme this year. It's spreading nicely. In fact, I took a clump and put it in another place, but it's not as happy. I think it got shaded and maybe too dry. (I haven't looked up how much it rained while I was gone, but I'm thinking not a lot) Oddly enough, the leaves smell a bit minty, not like thyme.

And this is a thyme I bought this year. I used to have one, but it did not survive the long neglect. It is called 'Archers Gold.' It seems pretty happy.

Here is a mystery. The first part is no secret. This got chewed off completely last year, but it should bloom this year. It's one of the tall autumn sedums, and it survived from the original rock garden. The thing is... the one in this location should be 'Vera Jameison' which is a deep purple. I did have an 'Autumn Joy,' but not in this space. Huh. Perhaps the variety reverted. Anyway, I think I'll get a chance to see what flowers I get from it.

And this is just a show-off picture. This is Artemesia 'Silver Mound' with a background of the Bronze Ajuga. Well, there's a violet in there. I pretty much let any violets live this year. Next year I'll decide where they get to stay. (And yes, they are chewed. Something small that got around the fence likes violets and one of the sedums.)

I already did my evening mowing because the internet was being a pill for a while. This is hard mowing and the result looks like crap. I'll have to do some raking, but at least it's getting done.

All day long I did things I was supposed to do. That should give me satisfaction, but it mostly feels like a big bore.

See Rock Garden Goodies