Giant Flowers and Other Garden Conversations
Season 6, Episode 40, August 21, 2024
This time of year, giant flowers are on our minds. They’re great because they take up lots of room in the garden when other things are thinning out. On this week’s episode, we also discussed more information about soil fertility, a classic book of nature writing, and trees.
In our garden updates, Carol ran to her local nursery and ended up with more houseplants. I worked very hard in the garden on a hot day and replenished with LMNT Electrolytes (Amazon link) which I like.
Our favorite plants this week were Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ and my crapemyrtles. I don’t have crapemyrtle scale so far, fingers crossed, and I hope it never comes here.
In our flower topic, we discussed giant flowers like Hibiscus 'Moy Grande'. We also discussed Heuchera 'Autumn Bride.’ I may plant Carol’s heuchera where some of my hostas are being eaten by deer. August is a good time for garden editing.
The question of the week concerned peppers and how to know when they are ripe. Listen to the podcast for more information.
In our vegetable topic, we continued our discussion of soil fertility, and Carol found some information on green sand from Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Green sand was a favored amendment in the past.
On our bookshelf this week, is a classic, Sundial of the Seasons by Hal Borland. We decided it was well worth reading, and my copy is sitting by my bedside to read at night.
Our dirt concerned the intelligence of trees: Trees don’t like to breathe wildfire smoke, either – and they’ll hold their breath to avoid it.
In addition to the gardening book on our bookshelves, we also mentioned several other books. Here’s a list:
Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady, by Edith Holden (Amazon link)
The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady, by Edith Holden (Amazon link)
Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden by Christy Mandin (Amazon link)
Unexpected: Finding Resilience through Functional Medicine, Science, and Faith, by Jill Carnahan (Amazon link)
Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health, by Dr. Casey Means with Callie Means (Amazon link)
Homeland, by Hal Borland (Amazon link)
When it’s hot in August, what do gardeners do? They work jigsaw puzzles and read. We hope you’re having a beautiful August in your neck of the woods, even if it’s scorching hot.
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For more info on Carol visit her website. Visit her blog, May Dreams Gardens and check out her new weekly newsletter, In the Garden With Carol.
For more info on Dee, visit her blog, Red Dirt Ramblings.
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