Imagine our surprise to come home from 19 days in Europe to…ta-dah!
A watermelon!!!
My first-ever, home-grown watermelon. I’m so excited about it.
The deer thought they might like to eat the vines, so I made a makeshift lean-to with some screens and sticks and twine, and it seems the deer weren’t interested in working for it, so we now have a cute little watermelon ripening on our vine!
Since I had a friend watering for me daily, my clusters of pots all look great now, in spite of this broiling heat. I did have to group them — they were in the trees and scattered about, but that’s so hard to get watered.
And, I’m not scattering them about again, either, because it’s easier for ME to water them every single freaking day this way!
I also came home to find a nice collection of Agapanthus blooms. How exciting that they are behaving like they are supposed to for a change!
And, the best for last. This is our newly-adopted girl, Dakota Blue. She joined our family yesterday from the PawMatch shelter.
Since I had a friend watering for me daily, my clusters of pots all look great now, in spite of this broiling heat. I did have to group them — they were in the trees and scattered about, but that’s so hard to get watered. 
And, I’m not scattering them about again, either, because it’s easier for ME to water them every single freaking day this way!
I also came home to find a nice collection of Agapanthus blooms. How exciting that they are behaving like they are supposed to for a change!
And, the best for last. This is our newly-adopted girl, Dakota Blue. She joined our family yesterday from the PawMatch shelter. She and Tanner seem to get along ok, though truth be told, Tanner was perfectly fine being the only dog. She’s about 3, a Catahoula/hound mix, and as sweet as can be. She has some manners and knows some commands. They really didn’t know much about her, other than she kills chickens. We don’t have any chickens, so I figure that’s ok.
Frankly, I think most dogs let loose would at least chase if not kill chickens. I know Tanner would go after anything he could catch! So, now we won’t be getting any chickens.
Your grouped flower pots look so colorful and pretty that way. You’re right to keep them clustered.
The watermelon is a cool surprise, especially considering the brutal weather we had while you were gone. I hope it proves to be a sweet treat.
And the new doggie is adorable, though in that photo she has an almost guilty look that indicates she knows she’s a chicken killer. 😉
Yeah – you’re right – she looks precocious there, but she really is sweet. I suspect she’s sneaky, though. And we have to watch her around food — she has long legs and is very tall, the better to scale kitchen counters!
Oooh, watermelon. Your watermelon looks promising. I hope it’s tasty!
I’ve given up moving my pots around and just keep them together now for the same reason. Fall can’t come fast enough for me.
Your new dog is cute, and I like her “freckles,” but I have to admit that she does have a “Chickens? Who? Me?” look in that picture. I’d have a hard time NOT dressing her up as a chicken for Halloween, but then, I’m a bad person. ;D
Lori — yes, and I wouldn’t have to cluster all those pots if I didn’t succumb to every little plant I see in the spring! But they do look nice. It’s just that watering eats up 1/2 an hour of my day every day, at least. Then there is spot watering in the garden, too. Miss Dakota would look cute as a chicken! You’ve given me an idea, that’s for sure…I like to get them little hats for Halloween, but my DH thinks I’m nuts!
Diana,
Great pics! I’m surprised to see your Agapanthus in bloom – mine only blooms through June. I had no idea it would bloom after the first blooms? And – can you tell me why the leaves on mine have suddenly in the past two weeks gone yellow?
Robin at Getting Grounded
Robin – I don’t know why they’d turn yellow…too much water? Not enough water? Mine are a mystery – although I have learned that the variety that I have doesn’t produce the full, round orbs that I so love. There are so many different kinds and mine is the more floppy kind. Wish I’d known all that before I planted ’em! But I still like them. They are so exotic! Mine are probably blooming late because they are in dappled shade – most likely slowed them down…
Diana – Almost all of my pots are filled with impulse buy. I planted almost all of my pots out in the new front beds this spring, but now that particular corner of the deck is crowded again. Sometimes I think I have no impulse control.
Also, if you dress Miss Dakota as a chicken, I want to see some pictures! 😉
Robin – A few years ago, my agapanthus went yellow, too, and when I dug it up, the roots had some sort of weird white foamy stuff on them and parts were rotten. I washed it down and divided it and replanted the healthy parts, but it hasn’t bloomed since. I have no idea what caused it, since it wasn’t in a waterlogged bed. Hopefully yours have a simpler problem.
Welcome back, Diana – your patio looks like a magazine with all the containers and baskets close together.
Chicken killer? I wonder if she’d consider the dozens and dozens of white winged doves in our neighborhood as chickens?
I have two agapanthus with opening buds – a dark beautiful color but as you said – floppy rather than the stiff orb we’re used to seeing. Maybe they’re a different variety from the lighter blue and this is their normal blooming time.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Annie – I read a wonderful piece on Agapanthus in Martha Stewart living and that’s where I learned about all the varieties of Agapanthus. So, now I am trying to appreciate what I have and not covet my neighbor’s Agapanthus! I’m sure Dakota is just like my other dog, Tanner – he’ll chase anything that will run away from him! Unfortunately sometimes he catches critters and brings them to me. I can do without that!
Welcome back. I hope you gave the person who watered for you a big tip. I hear it has been hot and dry in Austin but your containers look great.
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
Thanks, Carol. I did pay our sitter and took her Mom to lunch as she filled in on several occasions, too. I know – it’s work! I spent 5 hours weeding and pruning today trying to catch up from the 3 weeks we were gone. Just a little more weeding to do….sigh — and then I can start all over again, right?!!
I like the idea of ease of watering. I like the idea enough that I wrote a book about the therapy of watering your garden. If separating the plants (which look well grouped — a pleasant aggregation) would cause you consternation when watering well you lose the Zen effect.
Matt, Zen of Watering Your Garden
MightyMatt – I love your book topic! I am a firm believer in the Zen of watering. I’ll have to check out your book. I’m pretty darn happy standing out there with the hose (assuming I have the time to do it) and I really enjoy it. Just not when it’s so FREAKING hot — over 100 like it’s been for months here! Just gotta get up earlier get on out there with dogs and plants!
Congrats on the new addition to the family, Diana. Dakota Blue looks like a real sweetie. I hope she & Tanner are soon the best of pals, and that she gives her new people lots of sweet doggie kisses.
Cindy – She is a kiss-y girl and has lots of licks for everyone. She has such a sweet temperament. Tanner is still tolerating her, but when she wants to run and play with him, his tail wags, even if he doesn’t yet join in. He’ll get there – he’s just a little stubborn nudge!
I wondered who that long legged beauty was in your garden. Dakota has such a sweet face. I hope she quickly gets absorbed into your family. YOu won’t have trouble with birds eating your veggies with her around. Maybe she should go to obedience class so you will know how to train her to stay away from food and counters. I had a friend who had a dog that ate a whole birthday cake once. Be vigilant for awhile.
The personal watermelon looks yummy.
Lisa – Dakota has just fit right in – she is such a sweet girl. Unfortunately she did bring ticks with her, but we are almost cleared of them after lots of diligent work and treating. She’s so long-legged and FAST! She’s already learning really well – the begging has stopped and she knows where she has to go lay down while we eat. This was so easy compared to a puppy!