Cold Climate Gardening

The growing season gets a slow enough start around here that many annuals don’t really strut their stuff until September. This is a real liability for the frost-sensitive ones like cosmos. I learned to seek out early blooming varieties because the old-fashioned ones often only had two weeks of bloom before shriveling in the first frost. On the other hand, many of the spring bloomers, enjoying the return of cool evenings and plentiful rain, make a comeback. This includes pansies, foxgloves, mountain bluets, and catmint.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Improvisational Container Planting
I am pretty lackadaisical when it comes to container plantings. I have three window boxes hanging on the porch fence-cum-railing and a rusting metal washtub that I found in the barn when we moved in. I never really plan or purchase plants for these containers. I count on something showing up due to the kindness of friends or excessive seed sown, and then I try to make it work. Let’s call it improvisational container planting to give it some credibility. (Click all photos for larger–and sharper–image)

Popularity: 7% [?]

No thanks to me, but we have been enjoying some fabulous lettuce from the garden lately. Except for one week in early June, it hasn’t been especially hot. So it might be the weather, or it might be the varieties, but we’re eating salad every day.

Popularity: 9% [?]