A colorful garden border can accentuate any landscape setting. The use of sun- loving bright flowers like Petunias, Marigolds, Zinnias and Black Eyed Susan’s can add flaming color to any border. Did I mention that this selection of flowers is also drought tolerant? This year my front yard garden boarder consisted of several varieties of Rudbeckia in front of a rock retaining wall which were the result of several years of re-seeding. Enjoy!
The “dog days of summer” are here and The Heat is On! There has been no relief this season from the high temperatures and blazing sun in zone 4. The hot, dry conditions continue to take its toll on people and plants alike. Over the years I have applied simple methods of hydration to get through these difficult periods. I water my plants during the early morning hours because my garden will have full sun at 7 am. In addition, I water at the base of my plants to reach the roots. The water is well received when the ground is cool. Try a couple of these tips and hopefully your garden will excel during these hotter than average temperatures. Cheers
A last minute addition to my vegetable garden this season was tomatoes. Seeing my first ripe, juicy tomato made me realize that I’d reached a summer milestone that is very important to most gardeners. There are more than 250 varieties of tomatoes. Did you know that tomatoes support healthy eye sight, cardiovascular health, cancer fighting and more due to a high concentration of nutrients and antioxidants? I will be utilizing my tomatoes in combination with my jalapeno peppers for salsa. Sow seeds indoors 6 – 8 weeks before the last frost. The seeds should germinate in 6 – 14 days. Plant them 18 – 24 inches apart. Enjoy!
Over the years I have written numerous articles about and taken several videos of butterflies in flight. I am always amazed as I witness these beautiful creatures. This week I noticed one lone butterfly lingering throughout the day. At times I thought I was seeing double but I was not. The single Tiger Swallowtail was now being joined by three others hovering over a patch of delphinium. What a delight! I have never seen this many all at once during any season. I discovered they are known as Sulphers and are common along roadsides, in fields and in gardens. They are especially attracted to alfalfa, clovers and other legumes. Please enjoy the video below, I call it “ Butterfly Madness”. Cheers!
Today I am feeling very blessed, I have been witnessing a wonderful scene occurring in my garden. A few seasons ago I wrote about delphinium https://zinniaboy.com/delightful-delphinium/ and now that it is blooming I am witnessing the interaction between flowers and insects. Watch as a butterfly performs the miracle of pollination. Enjoy!
Affinity with Flowers
