Thursday, September 9, 2021

Midwest Gardening 2021: Summer's Winding Down

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I took these photos last week. 

Hope everyone has survived the storms, heat, school starting and the end of summer. It almost seems like someone turns a light switch off, and then Fall begins here in the Midwest.

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Almost two weeks ago, Hubby committed Tomatocide and Zuchinnicide in the main garden. We have one Yellow Summer Squash plant left and one Zuchinni.  Here on the East Fence we have some huge Hubbard squash happily lurking under the large leaves.



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We love Hubbards because they are great keepers just in our vegetable cabinet in the kitchen.

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Here's the Chinese Lanterns before they turn orange.

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We have them growing everywhere, and they are just beginning to turn brilliant orange...I can't wait to decorate with them.

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Our Chinese Eggplants had shut down during the heat, but are now producing some lovely long eggplants.

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Our Dill is still going strong and waiting for the Monarchs, which have been very few this year. Perhaps the heat and smoke has altered their summer patterns?
Do you have Monarchs this year?

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Our Giant Sedum is busting out---still in whitish fronds that will turn pink, then rust with the cooler weather. This is a great plant for hotter and dryer conditions, which seems to be the trend here in Upper Illinois.

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The Hot Peppers are struggling, even with watering all the time...but they have peppers more than we will use in a year. First pot has Basil and a Red Pepper.

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Look at this...in the middle of my Candy Cane Zinnias...lovely bloom I'd call this ==Quarter to Two== or Last Call.  Not too long after this photo---this bloom disappeared, ripped off the stem apparently by a delivery person? 

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Here you can see the normal blooms on our front stairway. It's a shame, I was going to save the seeds on that one? We are in the process of installing security cameras. So, Beware, you will be on camera soon!

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This crazy (squirrel/bird planted) sunflower continues to bloom...and my 8-10" marigolds starting from seed in the greenhouse are monumental and almost 18" tall, thick and green, under this tree. This is another hearty variety that was happy where it had some shade relief from the sun. 

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The focal Dahlias I planted in these pots---are finally starting to bloom. This is the only Petunia still going out of a dozen or so, I used in my planters. They just didn't survive the heat.

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Nature is so beautiful in all stages of growth---here's a pretty lady in tatters.

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The mailbox planter gets continuous sun and wind. It's really had a hard time this year. The Petunias are done and even the marigolds are struggling. Purple sage is starting to bloom. 

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On the front mound, all the perennials have shut down, except this rose is giving it another shot. 

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Under the Spruce tree, the Caladiums and Hostas, try to win over the peppermint...lol. Guess who will win! The plant on the left is the remnants of the white Alyssum I grew in the greenhouse that was fabulous and huge all summer and now winding down.

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Every Hosta has huge blooms. A profusion of stalks with varying shades of lavender/pink.

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This Giant Sedum begins to blush! 

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The Elephant Ears have survived several storms. Tuesday we had a real tough one, I actually went into the basement. The aftermath is a lot of branches and greenery down, and a huge limb (12") landed in the pumpkin patch. No photo---yet.

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There are bits of lushness here and there.

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Even the Sweet Potato Vine was limp...it was still very hot when I took these photos last Friday.

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I will say, insulated pots---do help in the hot summer.

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The Rex Begonia finally recovered. I almost lost it in Spring to frost. 

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We are winding down too, but Hubby keeps busy and painted the trim on the greenhouse on the outside. He took out the sandbox, and now the hammock has a place on new paver base. Way better than moving it to cut the lawn.

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Hoping your end of the year Midwest gardening goes well. 
We had a Pig Roast over Labor Day...and it was gorgeous outside, but that's a separate post, see you then.

Hugs from the Midwest!

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Sandi 
 
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