Thursday, September 18, 2008

I forgot...


Browsing through some blogs yesterday, I came across some Gardeners' Bloom Day posts. Eeek ... is it the 15th already? This month I completely forgot about it for the first time ever - and I've been posting for GBD since it started. I've been late before, because of lack of time, but I've never just forgotten. Old age creeps insidiously closer...

But perhaps one of the reasons I didn't think about it is because when I asked myself what was in bloom on the balcony this month, the answer was ... nothing much. Or at least, nothing that I haven't already blogged about in the past couple of months. The four o'clocks are still going strong, as are the impatiens and periwinkles. The purple surfinia have had it and the yellow surfinia and purple sage are past their best. I'd probably have more to show if I'd had more time, but it's been a busy month, and the balcony has been a bit neglected.

But as I walked past
my local garden centre the other day, I saw these. Impatiens New Guinea, growing in a large container together with a small Maple tree. By chance I had my camera with me, and couldn't resist ...


So for this GBD I'm showing you what my balcony could be looking like at the moment if I'd taken as much care of it this summer as the people at the garden centre obviously have with these. I'm not very good with Impatiens New Guinea. They're sun lovers, but need copious amounts of water. And if they're neglected, they succumb very quickly to red spider mite. Each year I try again - I had some lovely pink ones back in the early summer - but sooner or later I lose them.

A pity, because by the time they've grown to this size, they're glorious. Ah well, perhaps next year will be different ...


8 comments:

Carol Michel said...

Next year is always better in the garden, that's what keeps us going!

No problem with the "cheating", it is nice to see flowers, no matter where.

Thanks for joining in for bloom day.

Carol, May Dreams Gardens

Anonymous said...

I laughed when I read you nearly missed posting for GBBD - I only remembered it myself on "The" day!
Where does the time go??
But - better late than never At least you have an unblemished record for posting for GBBD - which I think is amazing.
Warm regards
Karen

Philip Bewley said...

I have had a great time looking at your wonderful blog. I have enjoyed it very much, and I look foeward to your future posts. I am a bit behind myself, but hopefully I can post this weekend.
I love your thought on container gardens. You have inspired me to freshen the pots up for this next few months.
Regards,
Philip

LadyLuz said...

I agree, Sue, those impatiens New Guinea, are greedy water guzzlers. I've noticed in the urbanisations where they're on mains water and timed irrigation, everything that's gone dormant in our garden is blooming in theirs, everything.

We've just had a tube well drilled, 25M, so next year, maybe......

Chandramouli S said...

What a lovely contrast! They look so perfect. My experience with Impatiens (Balsamina) was very bad, so I guess it'll take some time for me to get back to it.
Your blog always is such an entertainer and teaches me stuff. Love it. Keep it coming...

growingagardenindavis said...

I've never been able to keep one of them alive very long either Sue. But they sure are tempting!

Pat said...

Flowers always look better at the garden mart...they just throw out the old ones and put in new.
I fully understand about neglecting the garden, I think it's a time management issue.
Thanks for the welcome at blotanical.

Sylvia (England) said...

I do enjoy GBBD and I don't mind if they are late it must be really hard to keep up each month. It is lovely to see what is in flower around the world. I liked your pictures, if you get 'stuck' again perhaps you could show us what is flowering wild in your area.

Best wishes Sylvia (England)

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