Flowers in Hanging Pots

I love the hanging pots and baskets overflowing with flowers and foliage. In spring I decided to hang up my flowers in pots and I've bought special chainlets and hooks to hang pots up. I hope you have read that my new greenhouse has been installed in May therefore I planted seedlings in hanging pots which I left there before any risk of freezing is over in late May. Early June I pulled out the pots to have earlier colors in the garden. 
I planted one flower in each pot, because Petunia, Impatiens, Pelargonium, Surfinia etc. have wide blooms for my pots about 20 -30 cm.
Lets look at my hanging pots. The first one is Impatiens (above) that looks adorable and I think to keep it indoors in winter. Impatiens in reds, pinks, yellows, purples and whites, are a great addition of color to the garden. I've hung it on a pergola in moderate sunlight.

I'm sure many of you, my friends, love Petunias, these sun-loving plants with colorful blossoms that bring joy and color to any area wherever they are.

Surfinia is a new plant to me. I have always wanted to purchase it, finally it appeared in my garden. I chose interesting shape and color of surfinia. I have learned it was bred in Japan and has kept beautiful flowers for a long time. It is a kind of weeping, cascading petunia that produces series of flowers. I was glad to learn that plants are easy to maintain and they only require occasional watering.

 

 
I also love Pelargonium, as many other gardeners. These low-maintenance plants are perfect for any hanging pots. I have some pelargoniums of different colors, it's nice these plants can fit any kind of space :-). All they need is sunlight and watering fortunately this summer is enough sunny and rainy :-) 

 

It's said hanging flower pots require more regular watering than baskets or tub plantings. I agree. When I have to be in the city I leave my plants on their own. If the weather forecast is dry and warm I try to water them the most. But there were days when returning to the garden I discovered that my hanging potted flowers were in poor condition.

What is your experience in hanging flowers maintenance?

 

Blooming Garden, July-18

Summer is in full swing, night temperatures are about +15 C, summer rains are warm, days are sunny with clouds. Last month I was worrying about watering and now water barrels have long been filled, so vegetables and flowers are always watered. I love this season when one have time to relax not only to work.

 Meadow-rue

Meadow-rue (Thalictrum) is a very humble plant, its delicate leaves appear in early spring. As soon as it starts to bloom, insects constantly fly around the amazing Meadow-rue flowers. Just after the buds open, their petals fall, but numerous stamens stay that make the flowers look like fluffy balls or brushes.
Roses began to open their buds earlier than previous summer. Probably the very hot May warmed the soil and the plants began to grow faster. Climbing Flammentantz rose opened its bright red buds in mid-June and will bloom up the end of July.

Flammentantz rose climber

Floribunda 'Folklore' rose

Miniature patio rose

Floribunda 'Gertrude Jekyll' rose

  'Velvet' shrub rose

Floribunda roses are always quite problematic and capricious roses in our climate. Their wintering largely depends on winter temperatures, snow level, precipitation and ice. Due to these problems I try to plant patio, miniature, bush roses, hardy floribunda, Canadian and polyanthus roses, which grow and overwinter well here in North.

Canadian rose 'Martin Frobisher'

I'm pleased that I have grown many Pelargonium cuttings, now they bloom well in different pots all around the garden and make a bright note between conifers and perennials in the garden.

Pelargonium and Aquilegia

Pelargonium near the pond

Clematises bloom in the gazebo. This summer I have not sat there, because the gazebo is old and needs repair. But Lonicera caprifolium and clematises will have grown there until I finally decide which gazebo design will be installed in the garden. Then I will transfer them to another place.
This Philadelphus blossomed in June, last flowers faded previous week but I want to show you butterflies that love it. So do I :-)

 

And finally an unusual plant (maybe for some of you). It's Rodgersia aesculifolia, commonly called fingerleaf rodgersia, native to moist woods and stream banks in China.
It has dark green leaves with bronze tinting, it's often the main reason gardeners grow this plant. From June to August, creamy white (sometimes light pink) flowers bloom in large, astilbe-like panicles rising well above the foliage. Flowers are fragrant. Rodgersia grows well in shady gardens, bog gardens, water garden or along stream banks. 
Admiral John Rodgers (1812-1882), distinguished American naval officer has discovered this interesting plant during his Pacific expedition. (sourse)

I have been growing Rodgersia for 10 years and its amazing flowers with hard petals and the feeling that they are made of wax always astonish me.

What are your 'to do' plans in July? Do you have free time to sit and look at your garden, or at the park?

 

Green Harvest

Today I show you my first crop of green veggies that have grown in my greenhouse. As I wrote in February,  I bought many packs of flower and vegetable seeds. The sowing happened at the beginning of May, the days were hot and vegetables started to grow well.
Then I planted 20 large bulbs of onions and now have harvested a lot of spring onion. I guess I'll freeze some for winter. I also sowed lettuce of different varieties, it turned out the best is the "Curled" green lettuce. The whole leaves of lettuce I use to decorate the plates with meal.

Today I've gathered a nice set for green salad. It's arugula, parsley, cucumbers, basil and lettuce.

I love arugula and planted it in different places. I noticed that in the greenhouse it grows quicker, leaves are larger, with the tangy flavor. It provides many of the same health benefits as other vegetables as broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts.

Parsley actually grows poorly in my garden soil, because it's originally from the Mediterranean region. So I added sand and ash to the soil when I planted parsley seeds. Here is the first harvest, parsley is still young and has pleasant smell. It is consumed in many different ways, including garnishing, salads, and sandwiches. Parsley contains several antioxidants and unusual components that provide unique health benefits.

Basil is a rare plant in my garden because it always lacks more sun and heat. In the greenhouse Basil 'Lemon' variety has grown tall and sprawling, so I tear off the side leaves. I learned it contains beta-carotene, powerful antioxidants, vitamin A, K. I especially love adding basil leaves making tea. It has pleasantly lemon flavor.

Now the first cucumbers are, I gathered them in the greenhouse early in the morning and have immediately tasted one, it was sweetish and crispy, it's good for salad and to make pickles.

Well, I've told you about my green harvest. Do you love spicy herbs and cucumbers? How do you use them?