Thank goodness for the sun this week, or I think Seattle would have to have been designated a rain forest! We’re seeing a lot of mold and fungus on leaves as a result – remove damaged leaves ASAP and dispose in trash (not compost). But all is not lost:
First sunflower seedling
Too many coffee grounds?
I check my garden chez Streetwise almost every day looking for signs of progress, affirmation that I’m doing something right (I’m weak that way). So far, this season has seen speed-of-light, stunted, and glacial rates of growth Is it just my garden, or is something off in the earth’s internal clockworks in Green Lake’s corner of the globe?
Much of my garden seems to be on fast-forward: ornamental salvia has been blooming to the delight of the bees (and me) since May, and goldenrod and helenium are about to bloom in late June. Some of the tomatoes seem confused, and are already blooming. (I pinch off the flowers to encourage more leaf growth for now.)
On Course
Seeds planted the first week of June are doing nicely. Sunflowers broke earth first, in about ten days. Nasturtiums next – their lily pad-shaped leaves crumpled like geisha fans as they emerged. Wish I had a pic of that, but here they are today. Check out the cool veining on the leaves!
Missing in action
I’m still waiting on: ascelpias (butterfly weed), and sweet alyssum, but that seems about right according to the seed packet forecast, so I’m not worried – much.
Likewise, my dahlia tubers are nowhere to be seen! The existing orange Bluto plant that was here before we were is up and thriving, but no sign of the nine tubers I put in. If you see them wandering the neighborhood, please tell them I won’t be angry; I just want them to come home.
Delayed reactions
Verbena bonarensis was just biding its time apparently, waiting for its moment, which I guess was last week sometime. The plants that overwintered just kinda sat there, making meager attempts at leafage for the last two months. All of a sudden they shot up at least 18 inches, and are at bud break. Sneaky devils!
Some crocosmia, transplanted repeatedly and hastily in April, took a while to recover but now is about 15 inches high and smothering my Sea Holly (eryngium). Looks like I’ll have to move it again. It’s like the poor guy in the movie “Office Space” who keeps getting moved to worse offices, and finally to the basement, through no fault of his own.
Critter Update
The veggie garden, sprinkled last week with organic, kid-and animal-safe slug bait, seems to be struggling to its feet to rejoin the race.
The spittlebugs have left! All except one – a lone holdout on my Lavender “Goodwin Creek Gray” who apparently missed the memo or overslept having overdone it on lavender sap.
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Read more My Green Lake articles written by Erica Browne Grivas, freelance journalist for hire.
Check out Erica’s blog In the Details for more garden adventures.
