summer gardening

August 1, 2022

Reliable Sun Perennials for Hot Dry Summers

In Northeastern Massachusetts where I live and garden, we’re sadly experiencing a severe drought this summer. On a daily basis I check the extended 10 day weather forecast, searching for any showers or thunderstorms that may be heading our way, but every time rain is predicted it often fizzles out before reaching us. This lack of adequate rainfall, coupled with searing temperatures in the 80’s and 90’s, has created a harsh environment for our flower gardens.

Since drier summers and water restrictions have become the norm in many parts of the United States, it’s a good idea for flower gardeners to familiarize themselves with drought-tolerant perennials that will grow well in their particular hardiness zone – plants that can be counted on to perform reliably when the going gets tough!

If you’re thinking about adding sun perennials to your garden, planting in autumn is a great time to do it. Roots will benefit from more regular rainfall and plants will get a good headstart on growth for the following year. In this way, they’ll be more robust and better able to withstand whatever the dog days of summer throw at them!

Here are a few remarkably heat and drought-tolerant perennials you can plant in your garden this fall:

Echinacea and Friends (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

CONEFLOWERS

Modern varieties of Echinacea, also known as coneflowers, come in a rainbow of colors and heights so it’s easy to find one to fit any flower garden. The common Echinacea purpurea is a tall pink/purple native with dark golden centers that attact butterflies, beneficial wasps and bees. The large seed heads also provide nourishing food for birds come fall, so don’t be in a hurry to deadhead these beauties! Echinacea are prolific summer bloomers with some repeat bloom into early fall.

YARROW

Lacy-foliaged Yarrow is a native wildflower here but there are many modern cultivars now available in a variety of colors. These versatile plants have a long history of medicinal applications including use in the battlefield to staunch bleeding from wounds. In addition, yarrow is beneficial in the garden as it attracts a variety of pollinators and enriches the soil with nutrients making it a great addition to the compost pile. Yarrow grows well in poor soil and shrugs off the heat with ease; it’s also tolerant of both dry and wet conditions.

Each yarrow bloom is actually made up of many tiny flowers clustered together. The color of each cluster changes through the season as older flowers fade and new ones emerge bright-colored. This creates a lovely effect of many color shades being present on one plant at the same time. Here in Zone 6, yarrow begins to bloom in June with repeat bloom throughout the summer.

SHASTA DAISY

My favorite daisy is the cultivar known as ‘Becky’ whose pure white blooms with yellow centers bring classic cottage garden looks to any flower bed. Lovely with daylilies, catmint and roses, she also combines beautifully with native wildflowers.

Becky is one robust daisy with strong stems and a long bloom period that begins here in late June. She makes an excellent cut flower and regular deadheading will promote repeat blooming.

RUDBECKIA

Black-eyed Susans are native to North America and are as common on windswept prairies as they are at the edge of woodlands. Dark centers contrast boldly with their golden yellow flower petals, so bright that the eye is instantly drawn to them! They provide a long season of bloom from summer to early fall and are beloved by pollinators and birds.

PEROVSKIA

Native to high elevations and harsh environments, rugged Russian Sage tolerates a wide range of growing conditions. Blooming in the garden at a time when many flowers are flat or disc-shaped, Perovskia sports long, graceful wands of powdery blue, adding a desirable element of airy movement while also providing cooling contrast to hot summer colors such as yellow, orange or red. If you prefer softer colors, a lovely and simple pastel vignette can be created using blue Russian Sage with pink and white Echinacea!

Perovskia atriplicifolia tends to be a large, sprawling plant that is best placed in the back of the flower garden. More compact varieties include ‘Denim n Lace’ and ‘Little Spire.’

NEPETA

Nepeta or Catmint adds a softness to the garden with its gray-green foliage and blue, pink or white wands of flowers. Taller nepetas like ‘Six Hills Giant’ are great ‘filler’ plants for any open spaces and shorter varieties like ‘Little Titch’ make a lovely edging. The foliage of catmint is aromatic when brushed up against and repels aphids and Japanese beetles, thus making it a perfect companion for roses! Although most nepetas flower heavily in June, they repeat bloom over a long season.

‘Montrose White’ is a stunning summer blooming variety that will provide dainty sprays of cool white blooms through fall. An added bonus is that this catmint attracts honey bees and other pollinators like nothing else in the garden!

Of course, this is but a short plant list for there are many other heat and drought-tolerant perennials out there. Choose varieties and colors that appeal to you and fit into your garden space and look forward to enjoying their care-free beauty for many summers to come!

February 25, 2019January 26, 2020

Gardens Lost and Found

I have always lived with gardens and throughout my life I’ve enjoyed an ongoing series of gardens lost and found.

Bond Street — My childhood home had a large enclosed back yard and garden (Old Photo)

The earliest memories of my childhood home revolve around the large perennial garden my mother tended in our backyard. Most of the plants had been growing there for years before our family moved in but my mother happily adopted them as well as adding many of her favorites including Lupine. My father loved planting vegetables such as green beans and tomatoes in another small garden patch. A row of large hostas that he planted in the front of the house survive to this day and still bloom every September, almost 66 years later! In addition, we had fragrant white and purple lilacs growing by the back porch and a pink rhododendron that grew so large it was the envy of the neighborhood! I can see my parents even now, planting and picking flowers and vegetables, cherishing every minute while they worked their own little bit of heaven on earth!

Old Garden 6 — Some garden magic – a robin’s nest hidden in a clematis vine (Photo by Walter Allen)

When my first husband and I bought a house in the same seaside town, it wasn’t long before we started gardens of our own. The yard was small but we used all the available space to create a vegetable garden and several little flower gardens. It was here that I first started planting bulbs and roses, squeezing in more and more plants every year. Although I took pleasure in other hobbies, gardening had become my first love and there was nothing I enjoyed more!

15 Revere Street — Our first home and yard were small but we still had gardens (Photo courtesy Realtor.com)

Twenty years later I moved with my second husband to another town about 25 miles from the coast. This was a very different setting with two acres of heavily wooded land and lots of room for gardens! We created a large, fenced-in area for growing vegetables but, over the years, I filled it with flowers and shrubs as well. Rubbing shoulders with the vegetables were lilacs, hydrangeas, roses, peonies, clematis, and honeysuckle. An asparagus patch filled one end of the garden while a pea trellis and tomato stakes dominated the space at the opposite end. The center was filled with nasturtiums, herbs, kale, zucchini, and eggplant amongst others. Even though the surrounding tall trees cast afternoon shadows, the garden had enough sunlight for the plants to flourish and was a sight to behold in high summer!

Boxford — Our new home had space for lots of gardens, front and back (Photo by Walter Allen)

We continued to live in garden bliss until, late in the summer of 2016, disaster struck in the form of a new septic system. The old system dated back to 1964 and was literally crumbling in upon itself. It had to be replaced but doing so also meant digging up the entire back yard with our beloved vegetable garden situated in the exact center!

Old Garden 5 — Chickadees nesting on the garden pea trellis in early May (Photo by Walter Allen)

In the brief window of time before the work started, we managed to save many perennials by potting them up. Briefly, we thought of saving the shrubs we had lovingly cared for. I say “briefly” because the sheer effort and cost involved in digging up and relocating each mature shrub was daunting and more than we could handle. Sadly, I had to face the fact that many of my garden plants were soon to become casualties of war. When the heavy equipment rolled into the yard and we were left with a huge gaping hole, I mourned that garden like the loss of an old friend!

Old Garden 3 — The old garden was carpeted with salt hay and had plenty of room (Photo by Walter Allen)

Because I simply cannot live without a garden, you might have guessed there’s a happy ending to my tale. The following spring my husband and I began a new garden to take the old one’s place. Wisely deciding against building atop the new septic system, we chose a narrow but sunny site next to our kitchen. I was able to replant the saved perennials in one area while still leaving plenty of space for a few favorite vegetables. The overall garden space was much smaller but provided easier access right off our kitchen deck; it would also be much more manageable in size for us aging Boomers.

Boxford Back Yard — Garden gone – nothing but a lawn is left of our previous vegetable garden (Photo by Walter Allen)

This year I will begin replacing some of those wonderful shrubs that once filled our yard. I’ve already ordered Hydrangea paniculata “Little Lime,” Honeysuckle “Gold Flame,” and Rose “Coral Cove.” These smaller-sized shrubs won’t dwarf the new garden and will add color and texture all season. What was once lost will be found again. I just can’t wait to get planting!

Veggie Garden August 2018 — Our new vegetable garden last July (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

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October 18, 2018

Singing the Geranium Blues

If you haven’t yet explored the many types of hardy geraniums, you’re missing some amazing garden plants. By staggering varieties and bloom times, you can enjoy these cheerful blooms from spring to fall.

Close-up of hardy geranium “Rozanne” (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

Hardy geraniums, also known as Cranesbill, are generally carefree plants that tolerate some shade and do best in rich humusy soil. The larger ones make excellent middle of the border plants while the smaller varieties look best softening the garden’s edge. Hardy geraniums generally have a mounding habit with round, open flowers that bloom on long wiry stems. I like to think of these plants as “fillers” as they tend to weave and tumble through surrounding plants, filling in any available space and creating that flouncy “cottage garden” look I adore. They are not all blue, of course, but I love shades of blue with all the pinks, purples, reds, yellows and oranges that make up my summer gardens. Below, I will showcase some of the most popular blue varieties.

“Rozanne” still partying on in mid-October (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

There are some plants that deserve a gold star for effort and hardy geranium “Rozanne” is certainly one! It’s mid-October here in Northeast Massachusetts and most of the perennial garden is looking ready for a long winter’s nap, that is, except for Rozanne. After a few nights already in the low 30’s, just missing a freeze, this prolific bloomer is still partying on while everybody else in the garden has already gone to bed. Rozanne begins flowering here in late June and continues on and on until frost.

Geranium “Orion” (Photo courtesy of Annie’s Annuals & Perennials)

Slightly larger in size, another favorite blue geranium of mine is “Orion” which blooms in June well before Rozanne and has a similar purple-blue color and habit. Although Orion generally flowers for only a couple of months (still an amazingly long time by perennial standards), it’s another prodigious bloomer that is simply stunning next to the early yellow daylily “Happy Returns.” The photo above is a good example of how this serene blue complements every surrounding color.

Geranium “Dragon Heart” (Photo courtesy of Geranium Collection)

A few years ago I was fortunate to have some “Dragon Heart” which is a large and vigorous hardy geranium with a deeper purple hue and dark veining. Unfortunately, the plants were in my vegetable garden in full sun and succumbed to one very hot, dry summer. Dragon Heart is another early bloomer that I paired with pink roses and sparkling Allium Christophii (Star of Persia) for a lovely early summer vignette.

“Johnson’s Blue” Geranium (Photo courtesy of Michigan Bulb Company)

One of the most popular blue geraniums dating back to the 1950’s is “Johnson’s Blue.” As shown in the photo, this lower-growing, periwinkle blue geranium makes a lovely groundcover for the garden’s edge and, with enough sun, the foliage turns a striking red in fall.

Here are some hardy geranium facts:

Perfect cottage garden companions
Can be used as groundcovers
Tolerate full sun to partial shade
Prefer humusy, compost rich soil
Range from 12 to 20 inches in height and can spread up to 24 inches
Many boast colorful autumn foliage
Most are reliably heavy bloomers
Grow best in Hardiness Zones 4 – 9

Hardy Geraniums complement their neighbors (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

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August 18, 2018

Welcomed Weeding

How much do I love weeding? Let me count the ways!

For starters, weeding is good exercise. When I’m out in the yard, bending, stooping and pulling at unbidden greenery, I end up getting a pretty good workout. And then there’s all that walking to and fro, covering each area of the yard as I move. The thick layer of mulch that’s applied in the spring keeps most weeds under control but there are always stragglers popping up, especially at the garden’s edge where there’s plenty of light for germination.

There’s a certain satisfaction in weeding, that job-well-done kind of feeling. While working I take heart in knowing that I’m rescuing my beloved perennials from a pack of bullies. As all gardeners come to know, weeds tend to be thugs. They have no respect for their neighbors, usurping valuable moisture and crowding everybody around them. If left to go to seed, they will return again and again, so it’s always best to pick them young if you can.

Another side benefit of weeding is that we get a close-up look at how our gardens are doing. Since you’re already near to the ground you can easily spot any insect or critter damage. You can see which plants are thriving and which may need to be replaced. It’s an opportunity to assess which plants needs dividing or where additional plants could be added to fill in gaps.

Weeding is also meditative work but I find this to be true of gardening in general. When I’m outside working in my garden, I lose myself completely in the act. I forget my troubles and focus only on the here and now, immersed in my precious chunk of real estate and constantly tweaking the garden design in my mind.

When we look upon weeding as a chance to be closer to the natural comings and goings around us, it becomes a gift rather than a chore, and who doesn’t love to feel rewarded with a well cared-for garden after a satisfying day’s work outdoors!

bloom blooming blossom blur — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

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August 6, 2018January 16, 2020

Watering Wisely

There’s no denying that this has been one hot summer not only in the United States but in Europe as well. Record high temperatures, when the weather men put a “heat advisory” in effect, can be dangerous to our health. We are advised to seek shade, air-conditioned rooms and increase fluids. Even those of us in good shape are told to avoid vigorous outdoor exertion. Our pets also need extra attention during hot spells. We’ve all heard the horror stories of pets (and children!) being left in closed cars and dying from exposure. Since high temperatures can adversely affect us and our environment, they need to be taken seriously.

Severe heat, like intense cold, can drive us inside for the duration. But unlike cold snaps in the winter months, intense heat has a more devastating effect on our outdoor environment. Weeks of high temperatures combined with lack of rainfall, a typical summertime scenario for many of us, take their toll on our reservoirs. Small ponds quickly dry up, leaving fish stranded. As we drive through neighboring towns we see the familiar signs banning outdoor watering and sprinkler use. In particularly dry years, the leaves on the trees and shrubs actually droop, looking exhausted after their ordeal!

Our town has private well water and so we are immune to the signage warning us away from summer water use, but even though we can water, I prefer not to. For one thing watering during a heat wave is kind of like running through a sprinkler – the moisture only lasts for that very short period of time and the heat evaporates it almost immediately. It’s counterproductive since the much-needed moisture never really gets to where it’s needed most, the plant’s roots, and shallow watering leads to shallow roots which can compromise a plant’s health. Also, when all we do is wet the leaves and soil surface, we leave our plants open to disease-spreading fungi.

Many experts say that to maintain a healthy garden we should water deeply, about an inch of water, at least once a week. When you have a large garden and summer water restrictions in force, this can be impractical. Soaker hoses are a great alternative to sprinklers because the water goes directly to the plant roots but, again, watering restrictions and drought conditions may limit the time you can use them. Just as our climate is changing, so our watering practices must change. We have to learn to water wisely.

So, how do we care for our gardens in the hot and often dry conditions of high summer? Take a good look at your garden on a very hot day. You’ll notice some plants drooping under the intensity of the heat while others seem to just shrug it off. As time goes by, you’ll want to plant more of the “shruggers” or those plants which can take the heat and still thrive. Additionally, don’t bother planting a garden without mulching it since mulch is the best water saver of all. For more on the benefits of mulching, see my previous blog, An Ode to Mulch.

Because hot summers are spreading far and wide and water is now such a precious commodity, xeriscaping has become popular in recent years. According to Wikipedia, “Xeriscaping is landscaping and gardening that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water from irrigation.” In other words, plant your garden with heat and drought shruggers! I talk about some of these plants in my blog, Summer Power Perennials. Look for plants that will grow in your hardiness zone but I’ll also list a few that you may already be familiar with and may already have in your garden.

Herbs such as lavender, oregano, thyme, rosemary and sage tolerate tough conditions with ease. Prairie wildflowers such as coreopsis, rudbeckia and yarrow make excellent choices as do perennial grasses. Daylilies, once established, are remarkably drought tolerant. In the shade garden, hostas, ajuga, lamium and many ferns continue to look cool and serene even on the hottest and driest of summer days.

By gardening with heat and drought tolerant plants, we can create easy care gardens that will not only look fabulous all summer long but will help us conserve precious water as well.

purple bee insect violet — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

July 27, 2018January 21, 2020

Killing Ticks with Diatomaceous Earth

We have to face the fact that we cannot stop the deer, mice, chipmunks, squirrels, and raccoons from bringing disease-carrying ticks into our suburban yards. We can only work to kill the ticks that are already here and try to do so with safety in mind for all living things.

animals cute deer fawn — Photo by Artur Roman on Pexels.com

What is Diatomaceous Earth and how does it work:

According to the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) website, “diatomaceous earth is made from the fossilized remains of tiny, aquatic organisms called diatoms. Their skeletons are made of a natural substance called silica. Over a long period of time, diatoms accumulated in the sediment of rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. Today, silica deposits are mined from these areas.”

“Diatomaceous earth is not poisonous; it does not have to be eaten in order to be effective. Diatomaceous earth causes insects to dry out and die by absorbing the oils and fats from the cuticle of the insect’s exoskeleton. Its sharp edges are abrasive, speeding up the process.”

How we started using Diatomaceous Earth:

About four years ago my husband sent out an email to friends asking if anyone had suggestions for getting rid of ticks in the yard. One person suggested trying diatomaceous earth (DE) since it had been used successfully in kennels and the “food grade” type was considered safe and non-toxic. This was good news for us since we drank water from a well and were against using chemicals. We immediately did an online search and purchased a 10 lb. bag of what looked like white talcum powder.

At that time we could not go out into our yard without finding deer ticks crawling on us. Both my husband and myself had been bitten many times and I had already been diagnosed with Lyme disease. Although we took every precaution such as wearing light-colored clothing, tucking our pants into socks, using Deet repellents and religiously checking our clothing and bodies after being outdoors, it still wasn’t enough – the ticks were winning every battle!

It was late spring, prime deer tick season in our area of northeastern Massachusetts. Before using the DE outside, my husband decided to try an experiment. Using the “white sheet test,” he dragged a sheet over the grass in our yard to see how many ticks would cling to it, thus getting a tick count. There were 22 ticks in a three hundred square foot area! In addition, he took some of those ticks and placed them into a small container with the diatomaceous earth overnight. In the morning they were lying on their backs with legs up, completely dried out and looking very dead. This was all the encouragement we needed to put the diatomaceous earth to the back yard test!

After checking online for a recipe of sorts, my husband mixed a ratio of about 1 1/2 cups of the DE to one gallon of water in a large watering can. This was then “sprinkled” over the areas in our yard where ticks congregated. It left a fine white powder on the grass, plants and rock walls that surrounded our lawn. After a rain, the powder disappeared but we hoped it would not lose its effectiveness. It turned out we were not to be disappointed. Two weeks later a second “white sheet test” in the same area came back with no ticks attached. Although we were still waging war, we had won our first battle!

The Continuing Saga:

Over the course of the last four years, we’ve applied diatomaceous earth to our yard twice a year, in the spring and fall. We’ve since upgraded to using a sprayer which makes the application faster and easier, but a watering can is fine for small areas. Each spring has brought fewer tick sightings until this spring when, amazingly, we found no ticks at all! Is it the DE or just environmental changes that are affecting the tick population? We can’t say for sure. All we know is that this is the first year in many that we haven’t had to deal with deer ticks and we are very pleased with the results!

What you need to know about using Diatomaceous Earth:

The DiatomaceousEarth.com website suggests purchasing food-grade DE. They state, “Generally, this is the best grade to use. For almost all the uses described in our articles, we recommend using food grade. It’s a multipurpose product that can be used in your home, yard or garden.” They also recommend wearing a dust mask when using the product to avoid inhaling the fine powder and wearing gloves to protect the skin from the drying effects of DE. Visit their website for more information.

You can purchase 2 lb. and 10 lb. bags of food grade Diatomaceous Earth here:

You can also purchase appropriate dust masks here:

July 21, 2018January 16, 2020

Summer “Power” Perennials

I’ve been gardening most of my adult life and have some favorite plant “vignettes.” One of my most beloved plantings for high summer includes perovskia (Russian sage), purple coneflower (Magnus) and white daisy (Becky). I call them “power” perennials for good reason. All three are easy to grow and take up a lot of space quickly, making them perfect for the beginner or someone starting a new perennial bed with a big area to fill. They are hardy, drought tolerant and pest resistant. In addition, each flower shape is different from the others – perovskia has long slender flower spikes, coneflowers have a shuttlecock shape and the daisies sport a round flat disc.

All of these plants enjoy full sun and average soil. On the tall side, they’re perfect for the back of the flower border, creating a living fence of sorts. They quickly become large clumps and bloom prodigiously for weeks. If you choose, you can extend the blooming season by dead-heading spent flowers, thus continuing the show well into fall. I give a brief description of each plant below:

PEROVSKIA ATRIPLICIFOLIA, commonly known as RUSSIAN SAGE:

Hardiness Zones 5 to 9. Low maintenance and drought tolerant member of the mint family. Deer, rabbits and insect pests tend to avoid this plant. Shrub-like in proportion, perovskia can easily reach 3 to 5 feet. The flowers are a lavender blue held on long panicles that look like exclamations points in the garden. Blooms July to October.

ECHINACEA PURPUREA, commonly known as PURPLE CONEFLOWER:

There are many purple coneflowers to choose from but I like the tall variety, “Magnus.” Hardiness Zones 3 to 8. Low maintenance and drought tolerant member of the aster family. Deer and pest tolerant. Can easily reach 3 to 4 feet tall. The flowers are a rosy purple-pink with striking center cones of golden orange-brown. Attracts butterflies and birds love the leftover seed heads. Blooms late June to October.

LEUCANTHEMUM SUPERBUM, commonly known as SHASTA DAISY:

Again, I like the tall variety, ‘Becky.’ Hardiness Zones 5 to 9. Low maintenance and drought tolerant. Formerly included in the genus chrysanthemum, now considered part of the aster family. Deer and rabbit tolerant. Can easily reach 3 to 4 feet fall. The typical daisy blooms have bright white petals with a yellow center. Attracts butterflies. Makes a long-lasting cut flower. Blooms July to September.

Once you have these plants in place as a foundation for your garden, you can easily add other low-maintenance and complementary summer perennials including black-eyed Susan and daylilies; then, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy your beautiful, easy-care garden. And, that’s what summer gardening should be all about!

July 7, 2018August 13, 2018

After a week in the 90’s, this morning dawned (almost) crisp and cool. Refreshing air from Canada pushed through yesterday with thunderstorms, clearing out the oppressive heat and humidity that had been plaguing us here in the Northeast. It will be a perfect day to get out in the garden!

I personally find summer gardening a challenge. Although I love to be outdoors, I have to choose my time carefully. The sun in early July is high in the sky and heats up the air quickly. Hungry insects abound, including deer flies, black flies, mosquitos and (ugh!) ticks. The flying types work me into a swatting frenzy soon after stepping into the yard; the ticks wait for me to step in their path where they can easily hitch a ride.

If I’m going to spend any time in the yard, I have to “suit up.” This includes donning light-colored clothing for comfort in the sun as well as protection from ticks; you can easily spot a black deer tick on white fabric. Depending on the time of day, I may also wear a wide-brim hat, but I’d rather get some sun exposure if possible. I love the look and feel of sun-kissed skin but don’t go for an all-over tan anymore and sunburn is definitely shunned.

Once properly dressed I’m ready to tackle the garden chores. This includes dead-heading my flowers to promote fresh blooms, cleaning out any dead or damaged plant debris, weeding and generally offering encouragement to my vegetables. I’ll work until (1) the bugs drive me crazy or (2) I begin to wilt from the heat. In spite of these obstacles, I still remain enthusiastic. Today will be a perfect day to get out in the garden!

nature flowers garden plant — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com