Early morning a few days ago I decided I'd better get some last shots of my flowers, because a killing frost will surely hit soon. I mean, it's October, and it's Maine, so frost can't be far away. Actually this area has had some killing frost already this fall, but we live on a hill, so the frost arrives here later than in the valleys.
Each summer it kills me to pay $25 for a mandevilla plant. This year, as luck would have it, I found a smaller mandevilla at a local greenhouse for a mere $6. And it has bloomed and climbed just as earnestly as the more expensive ones I've bought in the past. I've tried keeping my mandevillas in the house over the winter months, but they're pretty pitiful looking by the time spring arrives.
The petunias deserve to be in this post for sheer grit alone. I planted petunia seedlings in this kitchen window box about six years ago. I haven't planted any petunias there since. So, that can only mean that these petunias, which come up every year, think they're perennials! And I'm not about to tell them otherwise. I don't understand how they manage to survive our cold winters. It's their seeds that survive, of course, but I don't think this is typical of petunias in Maine.
It's always hard to look out the window the morning after the first killing frost and see that my flowers are all past tense.
It seems as if my annuals look their best just before frost hits them. It's their final attempt at putting on a good show, I guess.
The #%$@&^% Japanese beetles have themselves a picnic on my geraniums from early July to early September. They really tick me off. Now that they're gone for this year, though, my geraniums are enjoying some time to themselves.
Each summer it kills me to pay $25 for a mandevilla plant. This year, as luck would have it, I found a smaller mandevilla at a local greenhouse for a mere $6. And it has bloomed and climbed just as earnestly as the more expensive ones I've bought in the past. I've tried keeping my mandevillas in the house over the winter months, but they're pretty pitiful looking by the time spring arrives.
The petunias deserve to be in this post for sheer grit alone. I planted petunia seedlings in this kitchen window box about six years ago. I haven't planted any petunias there since. So, that can only mean that these petunias, which come up every year, think they're perennials! And I'm not about to tell them otherwise. I don't understand how they manage to survive our cold winters. It's their seeds that survive, of course, but I don't think this is typical of petunias in Maine.
The new header photo is pretty. Gosh your plants are just gorgeous, you must have two green thumbs. I didn't know that petunias would come back like yours did. Yes, they do deserve to be showcased after nicely blooming six years after they were planted. The geranium is a pretty color as well. My garden is looking pretty darn sad.
ReplyDeletetoo bad you can't bring the flowers indoors. they are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteFabulous flowers. You must be a master gardener.
ReplyDelete