Late summer blooms!

Getting ready to BURST with color!

I was so glad this morning to see my gladioli (plural for gladiolus) or glads are starting to bloom!  I know, I'm corny.  I planted these on a whim in late May.  I found the corms (bulb-like structure) on clearance at Walmart and decided to give them a try.  As I've said before, I can't resist plants on clearance.  I truly didn't expect them to do much but to my surprise they are doing quite well!  Something I didn't know (until just now when I googled it) is that, apparently, you have to stake gladioli to keep them from falling over.  That makes sense now.  We had quite the storm last night and some of them are looking a little floppy.  I'll be sure to remember that for next year.
Presently, they are kind of interspersed in my front flower bed.  Next year I plan to create my own separate "cutting garden," so I'll move the bulbs there.  These flowers are perfect for cutting and bringing indoors.

Some interesting facts about gladioli:

• Of the Iris family, or "iridaceous" (I think that's a cool word)
• The word "Gladiolus" is Latin for "little sword"
• Glads are not hardy here in Zone 5, so you plant the corms in mid May and dig them up again in late September, then store them inside until they are ready to plant the following May (ideally a cool garage or refrigerator, just don't freeze them)!
• During the summer, new corms form under the old corms.  You remove these old corms in the winter and discard

For being such a showy flower, they are relatively low maintenance.  I've practically ignored them since planting (other than some occaisional fertilizing) and they are doing well.  So next spring if you are looking for an easy and elegant flower to add to your garden, maybe try some glads....I bet you'll be glad you did!  (I know I am)! 

Will All the Martha Fans Please Stand Up...

It's the most wonderful time of the month and NO I'm not talking about Mother Nature's monthly gift.  I'm talking about the day each month when I receive the newest issue of Martha Stewart Living.  September's issue came in the mail yesterday.  I have a ritual when I get a new "Martha" (as I affectionately call my MSL magazines).  I go into my room, close the door (no kids allowed), snuggle up with a nice cup of coffee and slowly flip through all the pages.  My family is starting to learn that this is "my time" and that they probably better not interrupt unless someone loses a limb.  I absolutely love Martha Stewart.  She is the inspiration behind domestically inept.  Its me....trying (and failing) to be Martha Stewart.  Even if you're not a crazy Martha Stewart freak like me, I think you could still benefit from her magazine.  Unlike most junk magazines out there....Martha Stewart Living is full of very practical information.  Recipes, cooking and cleaning tips, gardening and craft information.  And don't get me started on the photography.  The pictures alone are worth the subscription.  

My Marthas

I get so much inspiration from my Marthas.  I only started subscribing a few years ago and have since started buying back issues.  I periodically go through some of them and every time I pick up an issue, no matter how many times I've looked at it, I still learn something new!  The subscriptions are usually pretty reasonably priced and they make wonderful gifts!  So if you haven't discovered Martha....I suggest you do.  

Some Like it Hot...

This summer has been exceptionally hot and humid and most of my plants are struggling to keep up.  Even with daily watering they are looking pretty sad.  I'm happy to report there are a few exceptions.  Below is a picture of my Mexican Male Fern, which is one of the few plants I have thriving in this un-Godly heat.  Who new a Mexican fern would thrive in southwest Ohio???  I just planted it this spring and according to plant tag its hardy to Zone 5, but we'll see if it survives the cold Ohio winters.  We have a saying here in SW Ohio....the only predictable thing about the weather is that you can't predict it!

Mexican Male Fern...thriving in the summer heat

Another one of my plants that is thriving is some Munstead Lavender I planted by my porch.  This was kind of an impulse buy.  I can't resist clearance plants and I got 3 pots of Munstead Lavender for about $2.00.  The only problem with clearance plants is you then have to find a place to put them.  I finally settled on a place close to my porch.  Hopefully it works out.  Since they were on clearance...you can imagine they looked pretty sad.  I wasn't sure if they were going to make it and in fact 1 of the three is dead...or mostly dead.

Mostly dead Lavender

Not to despair!  The other two are actually starting to turn around!  After poking around on the internet, I found out that Lavender actually does quite well in high heat.  It's native to the Mediterranean area.  Now I know SW Ohio is a far cry from the Mediterranean but I'm still going to give it a shot.  After all, Lavender is such a wonderful plant with so many uses.  I think I'll leave the dead one in the ground for now....after all it is a perennial and sometimes they surprise you.  It might come back next year.  

Lavender making a comeback!

As my friends and family will tell you I pretty much never by annuals.  Planting and replanting year after year seems like a lot of work, not to mention a waste of money.  However, I broke my own rule this year and decided to plant some wave petunias out by the mailbox.  This area of the yard receives full sun all day.  There aren't too many plants around these parts that can stand up to that kind of heat.  Well wave Petunias are certainly one of them!  They've gone absolutely viral over there.  And they don't call them wave for nothing....these things spread like mad!  

Purple wave Petunias

Of all the plants I have, these are by far doing the best in this scorching heat.  I guess some really do like it hot!