Echinacea and borders

This has been such a wonderful spring for gardening (in the SE U.S.) After 10 years of drought, plants are responding to abundant spring rains with abandon.

Our garden looks great, compared to what it's looked like in recent years. And my tomatoes, beans, squash and other summer vegetables are robust beyond anything that I've had before, since I started growing vegetables in earnest ~10 years ago.

This volunteer purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is huge and the meadow is looking robust.

And the side border is looking as nice as it ever has.

I've been so grateful for the rain, and it's heightened our appreciation of our garden landscape.

Our gardening assistant (Mocha) likes being at home, too.

Comments

  1. The photos of your garden really bring out the beauty there.

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  2. Lovely lush gardens-- oh the power of spring rains.

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  3. I wish I had volunteer Echinacea. Great looking garden guard too. - Dave

    http://snjgardener.blogspot.com/

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  4. Alexandria and Janet --thanks for the nice comments! I keep pinching myself in how nice everything is looking this year so far, after the heat and drought-stressed summers we've had in recent years. I kept worrying that the periodic rains might stop!

    And, Dave, after years of having my Echinacea in the meadow really struggle, it's amazing that that 'volunteer' even became established, but it has certainly flourished. I think a goldfinch might have dropped an 'extra' seed across the driveway. They're tough plants -- they just enjoy some water for a change.

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  5. I started five Echinacea a few years ago. I have one left but its getting over run by Bee Balm.

    http://snjgardener.blogspot.com/

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  6. your garden is just beautiful and looks like a really wonderful place..so peaceful and inviting! thanks for sharing..:)

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  7. I have inherited some garlic plants which former residents apparently planted- when does one harvest them?

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  8. A follow up about garlic for the last commenter--

    I've just about harvested all of mine -- generally when the tops are a third to a half brown is the time to dig them. I often use it fresh, or let it cure in a sheltered place for storage.

    Good luck!

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