Carol's been hosting GBBD for ages over at May Dreams Garden, and now I'm a monthly participant after years of observing. I have to admit I've rather been ignoring the garden other than to pop out and harvest veggies. But it trucks on without me, even if it's not too pretty. I dashed out in the pouring rain today to take a few photos. Not exactly how I imagined this would look when I planted the seeds for the chard and nasturtiums:
Yes those are the still unplanted annuals, yes it is mid-August. But our last frost should be sometime in October, so maybe not all is lost:
The plants in containers look pretty good even if I haven't been diligently keeping the coleus from flowering and I really have no idea what is ailing that heuchera:
So why are the nasturtiums in the hanging baskets not trailing? At least they're blooming:
The self-sown basils in the raised veggie bed have kind of taken over and are flowering madly. But the nasturtiums haven't fared well, though I don't know why. The kale bounced back after an earlier infestation of cabbage worms. And the cucumbers in back are full of flowers and have yielded about 5 cukes so far, which is far better than last year's crop already:
Okay, maybe taking photos in the pouring rain wasn't the best idea. The dahlias looked great yesterday:
Looks like there will be a few more zucchini coming our way:
And one of the bright spots...the zinnias are finally blooming!
Are you being kinder to your garden than I am to mine? What's blooming in your garden?
Love the kale.
Posted by: Rhonda | August 15, 2011 at 12:10 AM
That's a lovely Zinnia and I'm impressed with the Basil. It's doing very well. I let my Coleus flower all the time. I rather like the tiny bloom spikes. That red Coleus of yours is beautiful. Lots going on in your garden and it looks lovely in the rain.
Posted by: Bernieh | August 15, 2011 at 12:27 AM
Your veggies look lavish--maybe even better than flowers! I love the Zinnia. Here we are due for a warm-up after a cool last week so I'm avoiding the garden the next few days.
Posted by: hb | August 15, 2011 at 01:02 AM
Ha! Another Murphy's Law of Gardening... your hanging basket nasturtiums are upright, and the ones you want to be upright next to the Swiss Chard will spill all the way down to the ground. (I'm laughing WITH you--these things happen to all of us!)
Your coleus looks way better than mine does right now, and I've been deadheading it regularly. Maybe I should stop! I also have basil and kale envy... *sigh* Happy GBBD!
Posted by: Blackswampgirl Kim | August 15, 2011 at 01:21 AM
Great collection! L
Posted by: Larry | August 15, 2011 at 01:21 AM
Your August annuals and veggies are looking marvelous! Happy GBBD!
Posted by: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening | August 15, 2011 at 03:32 AM
I love the Zinnias!
Happy GBBD :)
Posted by: Christine @ The Gardening Blog | August 15, 2011 at 08:51 AM
Your basil looks so much healthier than mine after rains.
Happy GBBD!
Posted by: Bom | August 15, 2011 at 09:34 AM
Rhonda -- Our first year growing kale and we quite like it!
Bernieh -- I like the coleus flower spikes too, but they tend to get leggy if I let them bloom.
HB -- I keep waiting for a cooler day that's not muggy and overcast (cue the swarm of mosquitoes), but it hasn't come, or if it has, I've been stuck in the office that day!
Kim -- I know, I laughed too. I'm sure I planted the right nasturtiums in the right pots, but I guess they had a mind of their own. Definitely a banner year for basil in our garden.
Larry -- Thanks!
Lee -- Thanks, happy GBBD to you too!
Christine -- It is nice to finally have blooms on those darn zinnias.
Bom -- It's a great year for basil...not so much for some other plants though.
Posted by: Heather's Garden | August 15, 2011 at 09:59 AM
Your veggies look delicious, and that zinnia is gorgeous. Happy GBBD!
Posted by: The Sage Butterfly | August 15, 2011 at 09:59 AM
My 'hot-weather' tomato seedling is croaking - no rain for three days plus mid-nineties weather is just not what it was developed for.
On the plus side, however, my chives are now over two feet tall and in pretty-purple bloom!
And, delightful surprise - some hidden malibar seeds sprouted and are now leafing out. I'm thrilled!
Posted by: Mummer | August 15, 2011 at 10:18 AM
Your vegetables look scrumptious and l got ornamental 'Black Pearl' peppers coming up all over the place, kinda like your basil, it just comes up.....:-)
Posted by: Paul From Alabama | August 15, 2011 at 03:03 PM
Sage Butterfly -- Thank you, our veggies have been delicious.
Mom -- My tomatoes are pretty darn ugly too, but they keep giving fruit!
Paul -- I had ornamental edible peppers pop up all over the garden for 2 years after growing them, but last year they were very slow to develop and I don't think they actually got to seed because I haven't seen any this year. Aren't bonus plants fun?
Posted by: Heather's Garden | August 15, 2011 at 06:21 PM
Looks like you having fun at least.
Posted by: Greggo | August 15, 2011 at 06:35 PM
Your vegetables look great, and the coleus are pretty. Hope you are having a good summer!
Blessings, Beth
Posted by: beth | August 15, 2011 at 08:51 PM
Well it all looks OK even if you haven't been taking care of it. You should cut of the flowers off the basil if you don't want it to stop growing. Christina
Posted by: Christina | August 16, 2011 at 06:05 AM
I want zinnias, dammit!
Posted by: Wendy | August 16, 2011 at 09:42 AM
We had the same soaking rain. Love the lacinato kale and your wet flowers.
Posted by: Layanee | August 19, 2011 at 05:09 PM
Really love the up close photo's. Great job landscaping.
Posted by: Andrew Statezny | August 24, 2011 at 11:56 AM