Flower Power

After a late start and several interruptions, the flowers are all set in their places, the gardens are ready for the summer and fall seasons. It’s been a struggle this year, but the effort will pay dividends until the first frost in late November.

The perennials – azaleas, peonies and native mountain laurels, dogwoods and wild orange azaleas have already bloomed while the rhododendrons and hydrangeas are coming out now in white and blue colors. The woods are ablaze with color each spring as a prelude to the planting of the annuals around the cabin.

Each spring I try to supplement the native blooms with reliable annuals that, for the most part, take care of themselves until the cold weather arrives. These include impatiens, hibiscus, petunias, and geraniums. Since there is little direct sun around the cabin, I plant lots of impatiens which continue to bloom nonstop throughout the season. The geraniums share priority for the openings where the sun comes through for six hours each day with assorted herbs such as basil, chives, rosemary, parsley, sage, thyme and oregano.

Most of my gardening time is spent removing dead blooms and pulling up weeds. While I do water every so often, it is not critical given the frequency of rain here. The geraniums, of course, require little water for as my mother always said “they don’t like wet feet.”

It is a good feeling and relief to get the flowers in place. Now I can divert my attention to the many things that need repair and for new projects.