2014 Garden Retrospective

American Meadows had sent me some seeds. They bloomed well, but I didn’t get many pictures of them. I was neglectful of the garden, while visiting family for almost 2 months.

In many ways, the garden season of 2014 was challenging. The losses were probably the result of cumulative stresses, but I am sure that the very hard winter contributed to the vulnerability and subsequent losses.

I hope my Hinoki cypress survives another year, but it lost its top portion to disease.

I lost an Arborvitae to the worst bagworm infestation I have ever seen. Nothing I did stemmed the ultimate denuding and death of the young tree.
On the plus side of my year, the cucumber crop was spectacular.

Flowers planted in the vegetable garden flourished, and my herbs did well. I learned that Cilantro springs up readily, reseeding itself.

This time, I’ll let some photos tell their own story.

Princess Spirea in Early Summer

Little Princess Spirea, blooms reliably every year. Looks best at the beginning of the season, then stays in the background. They look blue here, but actually a very pale pink

Late Spring Peonies

One of my pink peonies.

Oh How I Love This Geranium

I loved these geraniums and Swedish ivy on the porch. Trying to keep them alive through the winter.

A Winter Scene

Last winter was so long and so cold. Here, the garden has scant snow cover.

The Cucumber Crop of Summer

My cucumbers were delicious, thanks to regular rain throughout the summer.

This summer was unusual, too. I wonder if Ohio has “normal” anymore! Our grass stayed green and needed mowing clear through to fall, none of the usual dormant, dried brown period that we usually experience in late summer. This may have contributed to fungal disease on the Chamecyparis obtusa.

The Backyard Beauty Bush

The Beauty Bush, ‘Dreamcatcher’ bloomed in keeping with its name this year. Flowers in June

Pink Petunias and Their Dusky Leaved Friends

Some pink petunias in a pot by the driveway.

Surprised by the self seeded black “sweet potato” vine.

My purple leaved fennel reseeds every year, and it comes up strongly in the areas where it has established itself, but the burnished leaves of the Sweet potato vine were a surprise. Perhaps snow cover made the difference?

I picked up some pink petunias and put them in a broken pot with Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix.

They bloomed like crazy all summer. We had more rain than usual and I didn’t have to water the pot at all. I wouldn’t normally expect to get away with that, but this year was different. Even though I had bought some “Flexable” hoses that made watering a cinch. I loved them.

Jack Frost in the Summer

I love variegated leaves- to a fault, but in the semi-shade, Jack Frost Brunnera gives a good show, long after the forget-me-not blue flowers are gone.

As I look forward to the coming year, I hope to divide some of my favorite plants, like this one, and make a few more.

Looking forward to the spring and a new gardening year.