The End of August

I'm up early this morning. I have filled the bird feeders and washed the hummingbird feeder and filled it. The liquid gets so murky if it is left for longer than a week. Dead headed a few flowers in the back and pulled out some annuals that have not done well. I really don't want to pull out too many....the hummingbirds are having a hard enough time finding nectar in my yard this late summer. Out in front, things look better. The garden is closer to the house and people see it when coming in. I like it to look tidy. The knockouts are blooming nicely here, but not as nicely as the ones that I planted at the Grotto. Those red ones have bloomed like crazy. I found out a few things this first year for the Grotto...the little hostas (that were supposed to be OK in the sun) are suffering. I'm going to dig them out and bring them home to the shade. The petunias didn't do well at the Grotto, but flourished just a few feet away in Mary's Garden. Why? They both got the same care at the same time. The other flowers have done well. I have ordered some Red Riding Hood tulips for the border for Spring. My hanging basket in front is just beautiful. I might just copy it next year...my baskets have never looked this good at the end of August. I've made a few decisions for next year. In the narrow space going down the side of the house...I'm going to plant zinnias. Lots of bouquets for my bouquet of the month entry. More flowers around the mailbox for the dogs to water. New colors in the front of the house. I have pulled out those "prickly poppies" in the front garden. The foliage is so ugly...why have it for just the dainty flower? (An update since this morning... Lynn at http://lusarytole.blogspot.com/ did some research and she found that it is a type of hibiscus...in the mallow family. I think the plant has self seeded....I saw little seed pods just full of black seeds open on them just yesterday. I may try them at the woodland edge next year.)Now I have to go over to Church and take back some silk flowers that I used for door pieces and then over to Molly. She stayed here all day yesterday and went home at 9pm to spend the night in her own home. She just sat by the door and looked so sad when I left. "Are you going to leave me here all alone?" she seemed to say. We just want her to be in her own house for a time, so she doesn't get too attached to us....or us to her.

Balisha :(