Container Flowers by an Idealist

Well, our heat wave has moved on, and so our temperatures are much more bareable. It is even overcast this morning, so I suppose there is a chance of a shower.

Last week I was not outside at all during the day if I could help it. I only went out in the evening, just before dusk, and moved the sprinkler from one end of the garden to the other to keep it well watered.

Mind you, on Saturday I was determined to get some things done, so I weeded half the garden in the heat of the early afternoon. Then after a nap, later in the afternoon, I went out again, and filled my collection of odd large pots or containers and hanging baskets - first about half with garden dirt, and then another half of peat moss. I mixed that thoroughly with some fertilizer pellets, and watered them, and then potted some impatiens in each of this first batch of 9 pots/containers.

I also sowed some coleus and some seeds for giant petunias into these pots.

I had another 4 bigger containers that needed a good cleaning, and filling too, but by the time I was finished stooping over the 9 I had on the ends of the back steps I was too exhausted to try the extras.

I was out on an errand Sunday afternoon, and decided to stop at a temporary plant nursery that is on the yard of the Esso service station on the corner of 22nd St and Ave. I North. (I have gone there before at about the end of the season when their prices come down dramatically). My timing was terrific, as their prices were slashed again. (By mid-July it is almost time to put all that away until next year). Mind you, their petunias were very leggy - that is, they had long stems hanging down with blossoms falling off. But at the prices, I could load down with a large armful and pay only a bit more than $10.

I had an appointment to take my car for serving yesterday morning, and while I was waiting for the call to go back to pick it up, I dared not go puttering outside. But after supper I was eager to get those extra big containers filled, and to plant the large petunias and four African Marigolds. (I'm hoping these flowers will give me plenty of seeds at the end of summer for this kind of larger Marigolds).

I went out just a few minutes ago to take some photos, but they don't look like much yet. You need my imagination to see what they will be like in a few weeks! I'll take some photos then.

About early May I had made a list of 10 projects I wanted to do in the garden and yard this summer. I've got 5 done now, and this morning realized I need to add another one. So I have 6 left to go.

Like the idealist I am, I'm hoping some of them will only take me an hour or two. I'll hold off reporting on them until they are done.

Do you know anything about being an idealist gardener?

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