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Summer Approaches

Our summer solstice is still three weeks away, but all the signs of the season have arrived. When we left for Vancouver in mid-May, the California poppies in the front garden were ending the season as the nigella bloomed.

I had hoped the poppies might linger, as the orange and purple look pretty together. Flowers have their own time and place, so, of course, nature took its course. It’s one of the joys of gardening.

Nigella

I laughed when one of the seed pods split open as I worked along the path, spewing tiny seeds in my direction, which bounced off my cheek. The seeds could almost be mistaken for course black pepper. I swept them into the garden and will enjoy what takes hold next season.

With the first San Jose heat wave, the sweet peas cry uncle and begin to set seed. I leave the plants for a few weeks to allow the seeds to drop. This past week, I removed the plants, gathering seeds to offer to friends while leaving an equal amount to self-seed in the fall.

As I removed the sweet peas from the curb garden, I uncovered sturdy gladioli. The sweet peas created a dense cover, but the gladiolus thrived and were none the worse for it. Today, we planted two tomato plants, four sunflowers, and some strawberry starters. The existing ground cover has room to spread its delicate leaves, with lovely purple flowers to contrast the yellows, pinks, and, of course, green.

Over the long weekend, Mike put up the shade sails in the front and back while I uncovered the garden swing, tables, and the like. With virtually no rain until October, we can leave things out.

Nasturtiums spread throughout the back garden, traveling up, over, and around various obstacles, spreading stunning shades of orange, yellow, and, occasionally, red. They took over one of the garden paths while we were away, and how I wish I had a photo of our cat’s expression when he couldn’t pass.

My garden has found its rhythm these past few years as natives are more established, and annual seeds, bulbs, and rhizomes reliably return, filling the garden with spring’s abundant gifts. Back-to-back seasons of welcome rain certainly helped create healthy roots.

We’re expecting temperatures around 90F (32C) this week, so my time in the garden is limited. I’m glad to have accomplished so much in the last two weeks with Mike’s help, and every day, I celebrate this lovely patch of earth.

41 thoughts on “Summer Approaches”

  1. Summer has truly arrived in your beautiful garden, Alys! So much color everywhere! Wait until you read what’s happening in our Illinois garden… I think you will be amazed! 🩷

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  4. I have just read Dale’s post where she is talking about how she has found her sweet spot in life, and I think you have found your sweet spot in your garden. Work, yes, but working with the garden to find out what it wants to do. It is looking wonderful!

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  5. Those sweet peas were simply gorgeous Alys. Glad you had some gladioli to fill the gap after you removed them. And the Nasturtiums are amazing – looks like a colourful jungle! I think it must be nice to be able to leave furniture and shades outside all summer, but I wouldn’t like the heat you get. We have too much wind and occasional storms in summer so we often have to move or protect our table and chairs! Hope you can stay cool. 😘

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  6. Your garden is so lush looking and very inviting. We will have a week in the 90’s too. Unfortunately, we have had very poor AQ here this spring with no hope of relief until July when our monsoon season starts. We didn’t get it last year. I love seeing photos of your garden. You’ve done good planning and planting for it to hold up while you are away. Glad you had a great trip.

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    • Hello MH. It’s so nice to see you here. I’m sorry to hear that you’re heading into high temps and poor AQ. The first seasonal wildfire started this weekend just sixty miles from here, but the wind hasn’t blown the smoke in our direction so far. Are the wildfires causing your poor air? That can’t be food for you and your time outdoors, but I suppose in that heat, you’ll want the benefit of AC.

      What’s new on the sewing machine?

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  7. I have sweet pea envy. Having had two previous years with so many beautiful, fragrant blooms, this year’s haven’t done anything and we don’t know why. The peas and broad beans haven’t done well either. Still, there’s always other beautiful blooms to admire and other veggies to eat. As you say, the garden doing its own thing is one of the joys of gardening although to hear Mr. Tialys when he looks at his poor blighted beans ‘joy’ probably wouldn’t be one of the first words you’d think of 😂 Still, as he’s out there almost every minute he’s not working, there must be something in this gardening lark.

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    • I’m sure you’re both feeling let down by the absence of their beauty. It’s perplexing when that happens without explanation. I used to grow cornflowers in the front garden, another self-seeding plant that returned year after year. I left the plants in place long after their prime because the birds loved the seeds. It was joyful to watch. After years of that, they simply stopped returning.

      I hope Mr. Tialys is able to sort out the mystery. Sweet peas are unmatched in scent and beauty.

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  10. What a jungle you got growing there :) Great photos too. What I’d worry about is hail, but I guess you don’t get hail there. It’s been the demise of many a garden here. We’re still in spring mode here plant wise. Only the Iris are blooming so far. The blooming trees are finishing up, they’re my favourite part of spring. Good luck with the tomatoes!

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    • Thank you for your kind words. I like the idea of a garden jungle. Even as flowers fade, it’s amazing how many shades of green there are. It’s my favorite color, so lucky me! :-)

      San Jose has mild weather year-round. The climate is considered semi-arid, so we go months without rain and rarely see hail. When we do, it lasts for a short time.

      By the way, your comment shows Someone, so please let me know who this is and where you garden. Thanks for your good wishes.

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      • I must admit to a huge soft spot for big, opulent tropical stuff. I have a turmeric patch out the front, and it’s just beautiful, with tall, broad spear shaped leaves and flowers like pink and yellow pineapples. Shell ginger, smells wonderful. Helliconias, orchids just ramping up the trees in the back yard, a variegated hibiscus with brilliant scarlet flowers. From which you’ll gather my tastes run big and bold rather than small, delicate and shy!

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