Counting The Days

I am counting the days until fall color change out can happen, and it can't happen soon enough.  Even though the containers have done exceptionally well through this intense drought, some are looking weary and ready to be relieved of their 24/7 hours of duty.  Some, I am happy to say, are still strutting their stuff; and there has even been a couple surprises in the batch.

As I mentioned before, the petunias are dropping off one by one.  Although good ole Easy Wave Misty Lilac is putting out a second (or it might be the third or fourth by now) wave of blooms.  For the most part, the plants themselves are buried under the heavy foliage of the true survivors, but straining for the sun as lots of pretty pink flowers, hanging over the edge of the boxes.

Who are those survivors?  Looking better than ever are the Dragon Wing Begonias.  Some of the pentas are turning into small shrubs.  And those alternatherias could vie kudzu for take-over status.  I am not complaining about these potential thugs though.  There really is a plan for the designs when I put at least three varieties of plants together at the beginning of the season.  I know that at least one group will fizzle out towards the bitter end of summer, leaving the hardiest ones to take over.  The container won't have its "wow" factor of colors and textures, but at least it will be full of lush foliage.

This week I put together the design for the fall plantings and sent it off to the supplier....with lots of prayers that I get my "wishes".  Notice I didn't say get my "order"....it always starts as a wish list and only after the supplier verifies which crops survived their planting schedule, and who on the ordering totem pole is ahead of me, will I be told what I can have.  And this year I have been told that the suppliers have cut back on what they are growing.  Keep this in mind when you shop for your garden gems.  Each year the list of available plants gets shorter and most certainly the unique, speculative plants are not being grown.  That's okay with me because I have to use only the survivors in the City containers.  Not so good with me when it comes to my own containers where I test out new things that might be added to the city group.  Fingers are crossed as I wait for my order to get approved.

Another quick note on the happenings in my back yard.  I think I told you that I have become fascinated with the life of caterpillars and butterflies.  Well, thanks to the generosity of my friends who grow herbs I had a goodly number of parsley plants -- hosts to a number of butterflies.  On just three medium sized plants I had over 43 caterpillars -- all to become black swallowtails.  More parsley needed and it came --- and so did more caterpillars.  I was up to 60 when I stopped being able to count.  Not sure where they all go but I have only found three cocoons scattered about the patio.  I can only hope the others made it to a safe place to grow into the pretty stage of their life and did not become dinner for the many birds that I also attract to the yard.  Ah well, thus is Mother Nature doing her thing.