Saturday, August 27, 2011

Spiders, Perfume, and Hot Lips


Technically it is summer, and we do have days above 80°. The summer squash and Blue Lakes are producing, and we even picked a Persimmon orange tomato, so I shouldn't complain. But it's a good year to notice features of the garden other than vegetables.

The manzanita was peeling magnificently a short while back and we stared with unbelief at its ability to hold on to the peeled bark with some kind of magical glue.


fennel between manzanita and snowball
It's in the part of the yard where over a year ago I planted a tiny fennel bush that has now grown into a mighty giant. Spiders have taken over that end of the garden this summer and they really like building webby bridges from the fennel to the manzanita and over to the rhododendron and the pine tree.

...also to the snowball bush, and back to the fence, and including the wisteria, and....if Mr. Glad hadn't taken the broom to a dozen squatters yesterday I'm afraid they'd have wrapped it all up and out of my reach for good.


This morning I got entangled in the sticky threads just going through the door to take more photos in the mist. The red sedum is in bloom, and one of the two types of rose geranium that share a pot in the middle of the patio where we are sure to bump the leaves frequently and release that heavenly scent.



The hybrid verbena lived all through the winter, and the New Zealand Spinach self-sowed abundantly, so they make lush neighbors to the summer squash at the other end of the yard.

In the Spring I planted a new salvia, called Hot Lips, if I remember right. Each little flower is a half-inch across. 

Do they make you think of a kiss? Well, then, I send them to you as a greeting on this summer's day.




6 comments:

Jeannette said...

Pretty lush for such a cool summer... a holy kiss to you dearie.

Gumbo Lily said...

Look at that peely bark! Does it ever come off or does it stay like that all the time? Your garden looks very lush for August. I like the hotlips! Kiss back!

Jody

Kassianni said...

I have never seen bark like that! and your garden is so lush!! so jealous! :)

Pom Pom said...

Oh, it really feels like summer here. SO HOT! Your garden is so interesting!

Corner Gardener Sue said...

Hi Gretchen,
I stared at your first two photos awhile, trying to figure out what they were, before reading to find out. I am assuming those don't grow in Nebraska, where I live.

Thanks for your comment on my blog.

Cathy said...

I have never heard of a manzanita, what a creative plant.

And the blooms of the salvia do rather remind one of a kiss!

I hope your day is as flourishing as your garden.