Buried in Marigolds

It is useful to keep copious garden notes. And even more useful to read them over from time to time. My notes from last May detail the planting of the patio pots and boxes. On May 19, I planted two large pots of acidanthera surrounded by lobelia crystal palace (the only lobelia which does not fry out in the heat) and pink dianthus. The two big cedar boxes received orienpet lilies with an edging of pansy, lobelia and dianthus.. The notes mention the cedar box of feverfew and a decorative pot of marigolds surrounding evening stock, not a successful pairing because the strong scent of the marigolds wipes out the sweet scent of the stock. I planted a long box of geraniums and various pots of herbs. Two small boxes of nasturtiums grace the top of the fence

But what is this? A big pot of white geraniums surrounded by tiny yellow mariglds? I had forgotten all about this arrangement. I go outside to check and see that the supposedly dwarf marigolds had grew ten inches high and filled the pot from rim to rim. . I push them aside and spot, cowering in the middle, three tiny geraniums barely alive. Quick action is needed. One pitiful plant has even set a bud trying to make a flower even though buried in marigolds.

Out they came and sit in individual pots on the back steps. By nightfall, they’d perked up. Not a moment too soon.

The cedar waxwings, birds that wander the continent, are in town. They’ve probably come for the mountain ash berries but in my garden they are eating the lilac seeds. Every once in a while they scarf down a bug even though they are not primarily insect eaters They always travel in flocks and keep in touch with each other by whistling a high call noe.

Tip. Hot and dry weather. Time for the soaker hose. Or use the regular hose to trickle water here and there. Less water is evaporated with this method and the water gets to the roots rather than settling on the leaves.