Through the Garden Gate: Monday, September 7th

In the interests of full disclosure, the Head Gardener insists that I tell you the above pictures were actually taken on Saturday, September 5th, and not this sultry Labor Day. Whatever! We were busy out there on Saturday and it was truly a day of labor, therefore I say it qualifies. As much as I enjoyed seeing the Blackie sweet potato vine spilling over and around the borders by the garage wall in back, I was growing ever more concerned that their rampant growth was negatively affecting other plants. Much to my chagrin, I was right: I lost several Peachie's Pick Stokesias in that area. My theory is that they do not like being overgrown by other plants and vented their displeasure by rotting where they were planted. The Stokes' Asters were such stellar performers in the spring that I am most upset with the Head Gardener for allowing the Blackies to run amok. So those pools of dark purple in the photographs above are the SPVs that were unceremoniously yanked and consigned to compost. The center photograph shows the fence outside the garden gate: the Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much sign was a gift from my baby girl and the Garden Tours sign is something my boy found when he was gallivanting around Louisiana with friends. They're pretty special (the kids AND the signs).

So today the Head Gardener did battle with weeds in the rose and daylilies beds. A very helpful lawn crew came by at my request last week and cut new edges on my front beds, taking out a good foot of grass along the length of those beds. I'm happy with how that looks, especially now that most of the weeds and some of the manky zinnias have been dispensed with. Much as the Head Gardener and I hate to yank zinnias, since they're such butterfly magnets, we're at the point where we've got to clear some of them out. There are still quite a few left and we have no fear of there being no zinnias sprouting next season. In fact, any of y'all who want Alleyway Mix Zinnia seeds, let me know. I hate throwing away all those potential plants and would be delighted to share them.

The Head Gardener and I continue to be stymied in our efforts to grow Abutilons. They evidently believe that they are Abusedtilons on my corner of Katy and sulk accordingly. A Marilyn's Choice that was in tiptop condition when purchased at the nursery has gone steadily downhill since then. When it was recently determined that to allow it to continue to grow where it was planted would be akin to a death sentence, the Head Gardener dug it up and discovered that there were 3 separate plants jammed together and competing for root space. @)(&#$_&(. Confounded growers. This really ticks us off. All that remains of a once beautiful plant is two lanky stems and a few pitiful looking leaves. Then there's the trailing Abutilon ... it puttered along for several months pretending that all was well ... this week it stopped pretending. So today as we were aerating the root area, we found that it had never really rooted into its new home at all. What's more, there were 2 separate plants jammed together. ARRRGGGGHHH! One plant went into a pot, since its trunk was not in great shape; the other was replanted in a different spot. The Head Gardener is making a note as I type that we must not neglect to water the little diva. (That would be the Abutilon, not the HG. Although truth be told ...)

For those who are wondering, we did get some rain last night but you could barely tell in most areas. We shall not complain, we shall soldier on, we shall be valiant and stout of heart. Maybe. HOWEVER ... the Head Gardener wishes me to report that the following words neither of us ever thought to hear ourselves utter, to wit: we were excited to see that the first Oxalis of fall unfurled a leaf this week! This would be the weed version of Oxalis, which my chere amie Amy felt should be investigated as an alternative fuel source, given how plentiful it is in our area throughout fall and winter. Mind you, the HG and I did not allow said Oxalis to remain in the ground. It was consigned not to compost but to the rubbish bin. Why, might you ask, if we hate Oxalis that much, are the HG and I celebrating its arrival? Good grief, people, do we have to spell it out for you? It's a fall weed! That means that fall is really and truly on its way. 23 days till October 1st!