A Grower Perspective

 Do the fun stuff first. Eat the frosting before the cake. Eat desserts or your favorite things first as you never know what will happen.  In my garden I cut sunflowers and dahlias for cheery bouquets before I even put my gloves on.  Fill your home or work space with colorful joy in the form of bright late summer /early autumn floral beauties.  That done, you may adorn yourself with gloves, kneepads, pruners in hand and head out to spend some pleasant time with your plants. 

 

Today, I cut back the dahlias (deadheaded them so to speak) and the same with the sunflowers.  I was a tad bit more ruthless with the Italian White Sunflowers as they were lying on top of and smothering some of the lavender and other plants.  If the weather holds, and it appears to be doing just that, more beautiful blooms will come from both the sunflowers and dahlias.  I removed weeds and cut out dead bits from the evergreens, and fluffed the soil with my three pronged digger (I feel this allows the water to absorb better). After I finished a section I turned on the water for a deep soak.  Although the days are shorter and evenings cooler, the ground still dries out and we must not neglect to water when necessary. Some of the perennials were cut back to the ground.  If this is done now they will grow back a bit before winter and look very nice.  These are the ones I cut back today; scabiosa, daylily, veronica and a couple of heliantheums.  It’s not too late to take the flowers off the lavender, dry and add to sachets.  After the flowers are removed, shape the plant with the hedge pruners in the shape of the top of a muffin (see previous blog on pruning lavender).  Ashley mentioned our floral friend Jewel’s blog   on mushroom spore prints.  I went out and brought in a few mushrooms that I saw under the Japanese maples and we set about placing the mushroom tops on a piece of paper to have the surprise revealed tomorrow.  Have some fun in your garden and do a few chores to make it healthier and more attractive.