Worry is like a rocking chair, it's gives you something to do but gets you nowhere!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Bloomin' Tuesday...

Althea--Rose of Sharon--Hibiscus Family is on it's second round of blooms. My flowers have not performed as well this year as last, so I'm just showing some garden areas for Bloomin' Tuesday over at http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/ I am making mental notes of big changes to come for the gardens over the winter. #1 mental note: WRITE THEM DOWN!

I have Ornamental Potato Vine throughout all of my gardens. It's very fast growing. I buy one 4 inch container of the green and one 4 inch container of the blackie. Every day for about two weeks I snip a piece, place it in a glass of water on the porch and it's rooted in two days! Another tip from Ms. Doris three doors down.



Jake over at http://nefp.wordpress.com/ asked what a Tipsy Planter was.. Here ya go! Take a large container, drive a steal pole through the hole far enough in the ground to handle the weight of the finished container. Fill container with soil, take another container (smaller) slide it on the steal pole by the hole in the bottom, tip it to one side and let it rest in the soil of the first container. Fill with soil. Repeat until the planter is as tall as you like.

Now, get on over to Jean's and see what else is bloomin'!

34 comments:

Randy said...

Beautiful flowers, we planted tons of blackeyed susan vine seeds this year and not a single one of them came up. Maybe we will try again next year.

tina said...

Your tipsy planter looks great! I am going to be outside snipping pieces of my one potato vine this afternoon so I can spread them around. I love those things but they are expensive. Tell Ms. Doris thanks! It looks great weaving in your garden. I tried this one year but it was during a drought and the vine languished. It was so sad. You have the best ideas!

Dorothy said...

Love that Althea bloom! You have a beautiful yard!

Sue said...

I love the hybiscus, don't think I've ever seen that color. They can, indeed, be just as beautiful as roses. Great photos!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Darla: Doesn't look like the hot weather has slowed your plants down a bit.

Prospero said...

The Rose of Sharon is particularly nice. The tipsy planter sure sounds like a wonderful idea - and you've pulled it off brilliantly.

George said...

Thanks for telling us how to make a Tipsy Planter -- it sounds interesting. I personally think your garden is looking wonderful.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Wow Darla... Things look terrific to me. I need to get some Hibiscus.. Tell me more about them. How fast do they grow??? Do they like sun or shade???? I have some scraggly Azaleas which I'd love to get rid of and replace them with eithe Rhododendron or Hibiscus.

Glad you enjoyed my joke... Made me almost choke!!!! ha ha
Hugs,
Betsy

Lona said...

Gee whiz, your potato vine is running a muck! It is so pretty. I have that same Rose of Sharon bush that seeds came from my grandmothers years ago. Wonder what its name is?

Carla said...

Hard to see your tispy planter under all those vines! I love your idea of pinching and rooting. Your vines look so lovely draping. Love the color of Athela:)
Hope these storms headed your way bring you gentle rain:)

Anonymous said...

My new flower beds have been so plagued by disease. I guess it's just the humidity.. I am still trying to persevere with my yellow oleanders, but the caterpillars are back. I love the tipsy planter idea, you do have the greatest ideas Darla!

Patsy said...

change ? in that beautiful garden.
Patsy

Kristin said...

Lovely morning glories! Lovely garden...I love it!

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

What a great idea with the potato vines! The tipsy planter looks great, I'd love to try that next year too.
I love making garden lists in the winter, it makes me feel like I'm still doing something garden related when it's too cold to actually do anything.

Jake said...

I may have to try out a Tipsy Planter of my own if you don't mind. I have that same Morning Glory blooming in my yard now, I love it. That is the Rose of Sharon I got from my Aunt's house in KY in June. It is starting to put out new leaves.

Thanks for posting the Tipsy Planter,

Jake

Lois said...

Hi Darla! I just gave you an award and if you would like to accept, you can pick it up on my blog!

kesslerdee said...

Oh your tumbling pots are truly amazing!!! I love the sweet potato vine- I am going to have to try that somewhere. I need fast growing plants and those are beauties.

Susie said...

I love the way your tipsy container looks Darla. You can't even see the pots!

Jean said...

Love the potato vine all over! It looks great in the tipsy planter. I wish I had all year to work in the garden! Jean

~~Rhonda said...

Darla, I love your potato vines. They add great color to the garden. Rooting your own is a great way to get freebies. :) ~~Rhonda

MissyM said...

Never knew that about potato vines. Beautiful morning glory!

Tootsie said...

I love my sweet potato vines too!!! Yours are just so huge and healthy!
do you ever get a period in your gardens where there is NOTHING? I know I do>>>>Oct-May! lol

Aiyana said...

The potato vine is beautiful. I usually get one in early spring, but it doesn't last past May. Wish I could grow one in the ground like yours.
Aiyana

Anonymous said...

You did get some nice photos of flowers.

Thanks for the comments on my blogs. I am glad you visited Pick a Peck of Pixels as that will be my best blog and you have already become part of it. I appreciate anything you can do to help it become part of history. Become a Follower, put a link in the side bar, or just mention it to your friends. Come back each day, if you have time and comment on what's new.

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Dani said...

Beautiful bloomers Darla. Sorry to hear about your veggies. :)

Gail said...

What's the secret to the Thunbergia growing so well? It never took off here and I planted seeds and a vine!
But don't you love the sweet potato vines! Nothing stops them! Your garden is always lovely to visit...gail

SmilingSally said...

I love your blooms.

Mary @ Framed and Tagged said...

Great tip from your nice neighbor!
Your flowers and vegetables look great! I love the idea of the tippy pots. I'll have to give that one a try.
Not everyone can grow ivy...I can grow it in the ground but not in a pot...perhaps I water too much?
Thanks for visiting!

Tootsie said...

nope...no sage or anything...that what you are referring to as filler??? not sure...could it be chick weed you are seeing? it is similar to creeping charlie...
where are you referring to??? the pots? that could be swedish ivy you see..I am soooo confused! lol

momstheword said...

Oh I love the tipsy planter. It's so pretty! Girl, you have a green thumb like nobody's business!

Linda said...

Hi Darla! I eventually got round to putting a link to your new blog from mine, and now I'm catching up with all the posts I've missed. So much for having more time to read blogs when on holiday! But then the garden beckons...

Tamara Jansen said...

Hey, we just saw one of these tipsy planters on our garden center tour in Ohio! Love the idea. Your yard looks amazing :)

Tootsie said...

Send your Virginia Creeper weeds to me!!! lol....I am trying to root some in the kitchen ...they are expensive here. Funny how they are bad for you and good here...lol
The Clematis is about 8 years old...and yes I fertilize it every week. I cut it down to the ground every fall too. I think it is a Jackmanii....but not sure.
now....the filler question that caused me so much confusion....lol
(hey-I'm blonde) is called Swedish Ivy. I have it in a lot of my pots this year. This is the first year for me to use it in the hanging baskets...I also have a purple leaf version in the greenhouse waiting for me to give a haircut!
Have a great weekend friend...My 10 year old looks like a member of some circus ...he is painting the fence for the young guy next door...and it is a seriously runny paint....and it is blue...and ...it is NOT latex...all I can say is thank goodness we don't have family photos scheduled!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for reminding me about the vines rooting in water so easily. I think I'll try and overwinter a few. Would be so economical. Cause yours sure do look awesome!