Because of the pervasive heat and ongoing drought this year, the bird bath bed and front-of-the-deck bins have turned out to be an oasis this gardening season. (See previous post for bed closeup pic.)
With easy access to water (hose and garage rain barrels), these plants have managed to not only survive this summer, but have provided the bees and other pollinators much needed forage and the gardener with much needed color. It has also given me a place to TEND to, an outlet to help alleviate my drought-driven garden angst. Here I can grow veg in bins, tuck in colorful annuals, watch something green and growing and UNCONSUMED by the damn deer. It's been a therapy bed for sure.
Don't know if it was the mild winter, but all my coneflower and mum plants are HUGE (and it's not for watering - I only water the mums grown in pots in front of the deck).
The bed has also provided me with some surprises - delightful ones.
This past January I'd wintersown saved seeds from last year's salvia subrotunda, but for the life of me could not find my seeds for coral nymph salvia. So, instead of my usual ruthless weeding of the front corner of this bed, I let things sprout, hoping that there would be some self-sown coral nymph.
Well, boy HOWDY! Not only did a couple of last year's white salvia return (from roots), but there were LOTs of coral nymph seedlings to be had. (Also in the mix there are a couple of Lilliput zins and lavender agastache.) I may never weed that corner again. LOL
Funny story - the WS'd salvia subrotundas that sprouted so well and got planted out in front of the privacy fence where I expected their usual 6' height would soften the fence turned out to be - waaaaait for it - CORAL NYMPH. No WONDER I couldn't find my saved seed; I'd obviously mis-marked them. Now I've got coral nymph everywhere and the hummers and I are happy. Well, not totally happy. This year I've got no salvia subrotundas. Aaaarg!
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That clump of coneflower is stunning (wonderful colour), a beautiful bed to have so close to the house. I know it is not what you planned but the weather isn't something that even omnipotent beings like you & I can change. Perhaps an option for future years is to let the boundaries of your property become somewhat feral in summer - sod the neighbours and the golf course, you'll be providing habitat for all sorts of bugs and wildflowers for the bees.
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