Bogturtle's Garden- Sept 1-14, 2014

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This is the hardy Begonia, B. evansiana, and there doesn't seem to be too many species that are. Some confusion in my mind, as some sources list it as B. grandis.  Neglected and spreading in the shaded area of the little perennial bed between where we park and the fence for the inground pool. 

This is the same species, but the named, pinkish sort called 'Heron's piroette'. 

The Moonflower vine, Ipomea alba, bloomed. Maybe 4 inches across, and, like all Morning Glories, fading around noon. You can detect the opening of the bloom, at the end of the day, if you are patient to the point of being silly. Planted among the vines in a windowbox on the little landing off the addition. Never have gotten seed, so it is an annual spring purchase. I don't bother to abrade a little area off the tip part of the seed, which is supposed to speed the appearance of the seedlings. They do fine.

Three strange little turtles support the strawberry jar full of Semperviviums. Cannot say where I got them, but my grandson painted them, yesterday. 


Originally from Scotland, I believe, Buddlea 'Honeycomb' will bloom until frost.


Ilex verticellata, the Winterberry. Looking good, but, as I have seen in all the years it is here, Robins will come in flocks, in Winter, and take them all. What with the native I. opaca, the normal appearing American Holly, and this decidous species, they are well fed. As with all the Holly sorts, here, only the female will have berries.  Shown is likely the clone Red Sprite. Little I have not said before, but Longwood Gardens, on the Maryland, PA border, has a field of these, spectacular even by Christmas. Leafless branches brilliant with red. How they keep them unmolested by hungry birds is a mystery to me. Berry netting did work, but I get tired thinking of putting it on.

Days with no rain. No need for the weekly, or more than weekly, lawn mowing. But I consider the renovation of the center island something of a success. The Daylillies had responded, as that sort always seems to here, by getting many yellow marked leaves, for lack of water. Cut back after main bloom, they came back beautifully, and being the reblooming sort called 'Happy Returns', they have bloomed a little until I may be now down to the final flower. And I see some dried out, tan or yellow leaves again. But only this week. The sort must need soil that does not dry out. This sandy soil easily does. New, young 'Celebration' Azaleas replace the leggy ones that had so much dead material in them. 'Blushing Knockout' Roses are surviving the constant harrassment by the Deer. And the appearance of the mulch might be off putting, but enough was spent on the new shredder, chipper, and weeding has not been needed. A couple of old red 'Ironclad' Rhododendrons have put out new growth. Not what I would buy, now. Sorts exist that don't tend get leggy. Attention must be given to the new candles that emerge after each Spring bloom. Cutting them to half or 1/3 length before July 4 would keep them denser. Nearby, more modern Red sorts are not acting like that.

With all the brilliant reds the Japanese Maple sorts can display, the yellow barked clone called 'Bihou' turns this brilliant yellow. I assume the plant is thriving because it has now rooted right into the ground under the pot. Fine with me. No plans to move it.


Seldom see buck White-tailed Deer. Here is one roaming around in the rain, 9/26. Every night the cameras usually catch what look like doe Deer crossing the entry drive or elsewhere on the property. I don't know why hunting pressure would not give advantage to the rare, anterless buck, making that trait more common, but the ones I see, certainly, look like females.



The Moonflower vine has bloomed again. The first photo was through the kitchen window, of the bud a day ago. And it grew until it opened this evening. The second picture, and the flower must be 5 inches across, was taken at night. It will stay open until tomorrow, about noon time. Cannot say I will think about it or notice it, so I just took the photo. I think they smell nice but did not check.


 

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