My zinnias have been performing quite well.
This little bit is part of the new beds I made this Spring faceing sea side. I moved my veg and made new beds and a terrace I wrote about back then. It has been an experiment to see what I could get away with this side, where there is hours of bright hot sun and endless sea spray and wind.
Zinnias are annuals, of course, but in the beginning of the season I thought they were not going to make it, they were straggly and wind blown. But, I found once the other plants grew up in front of them they were fine. Thus, next spring, Zinnias Behind tall flowers. They have happily surrounded my terra cotta puti.
Gardening is always an experiment.
This little statue has been enveloped nicely too.
He actually wasn't even meant to stay here. I brought him back from my little cottage on the Cape a month ago and set him absent-mindedly in this little bed (another of the ones I created sea side) and forget about him. And then when I would notice him amonst the growing foliage I considered maybe he does want to 'live' here.
You can just see the Sea peeking out behind him there.
Another experiment I tried this year was planting my gladiolas around the base of my roses.
These always need to be staked, especially here as this is also sea-side. But I hate using stakes all the time, so I found some glads in the same colour family as my roses and they worked a treat! The strength of the rose bush are a perfect support for them and they did really well, even with all our windy days!
Lesson two: Plant more glads and more roses next Spring!
Now, a plant I would not try on the sea-side of our house (well have not yet tried I should say) is the Hydrangea. I love the hydrangea and it is rather a sort of Cape tradition to have these shrubs about the place. Our acidic soil makes the most amazing blue blooms.
And I have a few varieties around here, but they leave on the road side of our house, where we get a bit more shade and protection from the wind.
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Hydrangea colour is determined by the soil type. The more acidic or lower PH (5.5 or lower) the soil the more blue, the more neutral or higher ph (6.5 and higher) you get pink. To get the unique purple pink, you need to hit that sweet spot between the two which is about in between 5.5. and 6.5.
I never bother adjusting the soil, as I love the blue we get naturally. But these shrub here sits out front where our Washing machine grey water hose drains. I don't let that water go to waste into a septic system, but instead divert to this front garden. Hydranges love moist soil and cool shade, so it works out fine. What I have noticed, however, is the detergent changeds the soils ph so we have the bright blue blooms above as well as this one bush as both pink and purple.
I rather like that. And because of the extra moisture here I plant a variety of hostas and ferns, two of my favourite shade plants, amongst the hydrangeas.
#This time of year the garden is getting pretty well blown out in vibrant colour and the veg plants are supplying the table with endless produce.
I have found that corn seems to like it sea side, but a rabbit got under my fence the other day and ate a majority of to the ground! I saved a couple rows and am hopeful, if they make it to edible ears, I'll be sure to share it.
I haven't done a #sublimesunday in awhile, but I have been far too busy to be sublime? Well, that's not really true, but even today I have a long list, but wanted to share a few plants on this lovely cool Sunday. The heat wave has finally abated and the sky and sea are both a calming cool grey, thank heavens. So, I will go and enjoy it a bit before back into the studio to get work done.
I hope all of you have a lovely Sunday and can take the time to enjoy some nature, even if its a window box outside your city apartment.
If you like my work by all means upvote, resteem, and comment. I always appreciate comments.
And check out my other posts.
*Crypto Art Challenge - Fundition for #sndbox
- Sharing a section of my latest Singularity Painting.
- Elephants on Parade. Two older art pieces featuring elephants and the love of Story in art.
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