Getting Better With Petunias

I have never been happy with my petunias. Despite efforts to deadhead them, I am always left with a leggy hideous display of spindly yuckiness.

This summer I determined I was going to figure out how to handle them. I have a neighbor who has such beautiful petunias and I asked her how she did it...She said whenever they look scraggly she just hacks them back. Then I read about a technique of cutting them back one third at a time, so you are never left with completely sheared plants. So I have been trying this technique and so far, so good. Will keep you posted.

Petunias

probation

Can't decide what to do with my Ramona Clematis. The Ernest Markhams are behaving themselves and producing a profusion of flowers...The Ramona...not so much! Just one little flower. Part of the problem might be that due to the fact that they are on a terrace, I have been hacking them back so I don't have a lot of unsightly leafless vines, or worse, vines covered in blackened dead leaves, all over the place in the winter. Maybe the Ramona needs old growth to get a decent first flush. We'll see what happens in a month or so. Maybe I can find a place where the dead looking vine won't be a problem and let this clematis do what it wants to do.

 

Ernest Markham, Ramona

 

 

 

Another pic of my new love. Very flower power '60's!

 

 





I Am In Love!

Here it is...my new love. These are the flowers I drew from imagination as a child, come to life. It's like I wished for them and then they appeared!

 

 

 

Ganzania



The clems have arrived but I haven't gotten a satisfying shot yet, so I will just post what I have. More to come.



Every Day Flowers

I am learning to love begonias! I used to look down on them as ordinary and ridiculously ubiquitous. But they are sturdy troopers that have a simple charm when used appropriately. I can't stand to see solid rows of red and white ones all lined up like an American flag minus the stars. But in a pot by themselves or mixed in with some other plants they can be quite becoming and they are hard to murder. Oh, and speaking about ordinary and hard to kill, that's bugleweed (Ajuga) behind the begonia!



 

                                                            

 

white begonias

 

 

 

I also love jolly little violas. I don't know how much longer these little guys will last...the heat is about to be on. But I am enjoying them while I can.

 

 

 

 

violas

 

 

 

My palette is so subdued. I really can't wait for the clematis to explode and add some color to the balcony. My cone flowers are arriving too. They infuse a little life into this cool cool scene!

 

 

 

cone flowers

 



 

 

 

Son of Starry Night

Here are more rose photos...Just in love with the idea of having roses on my balcony! Clems need about two weeks to pop...hope the rose is still going strong then.

 

Starry Night Rose



Starry Night - the sequel

Still revelling in my new roses. Maybe I always will. I tend not to take flowers for granted.

 

Starry Night, Portulaca, Scaveola, Million Bells, Creeping Jenny



Starry Night

Here it is...my first Starry Night Rose. My first rose period. Eagerly anticipated. An experiment. To see if roses can survive on the balcony.

 

Starry Night Rose