Meanwhile, back at the jungle

How can this be? It’s barely a week since I planted up most of my containers and everything was just beginning to shoot up. Now the lilies are leaning every which way, the weeds are waste-high, and the roses are starting to bloom. It must have all happened while I was in Chicago.


In fact, I’ve already carelessly snapped off a couple lily tops that were in the way. Oops! Now those are useless for the season. There are so many things in my garden that need to be propped, tied, and arranged in some way. This is partially thanks to the shade, which causes stems to be thinner and taller as they yearn for the sun, but it’s also because I use a lot of containers, and have a lot of vertical plants. This year I’m trying a couple new vines: hyacinth bean and moonflower. I already have a huge tangle of climbing hydrangea, wisteria, trumpet vine and clematis over the pond, with clematis, porcelain vine, and climbing roses in other locations. Let’s put it this way: I just don’t have too many short plants.


And then there are the plants that grow all year round, like this jasmine and gardenia that were just repotted for the 4th time. Now they’re in fiberglass, which will be easier to get up and down the stairs when it’s time to bring them in or out. Thank you, whoever invented these! I’ve used the polyurethane pots as well, and there are also resin pots, which I haven’t tried, because the ones I’ve seen don’t have drainage and it wouldn’t be easy to create.


Sadly, the jungle period does not last too long. Things begin to slow down; the lilies and perennials bloom, and the fresh green of June disappears. It’s still unkempt of course; my garden manages to maintain that look in all seasons. And I'm sure there will always be room for a few more plants—like these currently in residence on the patio table.