Under our deck is where I play & pot & make lots of messes. I have my porch swing that Ron built me here if I just want to sit. It's quite a pleasant place until late afternoon when it's baked by the hot sun.

Here's the view from my swing under the deck. I actually sit here once in a while.

Container Gardens 2007

It's the time to get our gardens cleaned up and ready for Iowa winter. I disassembled my container garden up on the deck (bed #39) a couple weeks ago after a couple colder nights. Several containers got moved down under the deck (bed #14). They were just too pretty & fun yet, to be dumped! I have plans to take cuttings of the scented geranium but it may, or may not get done. Iowa is waiting for hard frost to do the deed.

I haven't even thought about digging my calla lilies yet, let alone my cannas. I didn't have many cannas this year. They are just now beginning to blossom. I didn't get them into the ground until the first of June or so. I was really slow this year.

Several plants have all ready been brought indoors for safe keeping over-winter. Every year I say I'm not going to bring any plants indoors to keep from freezing, but every year I do. Actually, it seems to get worse every year. There are plants every where in this house from the kitchen counters, to the lighted plant racks in the family room, and the sewing room, to plants in front of every window in the house, plus 2 giant hanging plants over the stairway under the skylights.

The definition of addiction:

1. Being abnormally dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming.
2. An abnormally strong craving.

Copper Leaf Plant - Acalypha wilkesiana

You know how friends influence our choices, (commonly known as peer pressure) well, my friend, Nila, knows about lots of plants I do not, but she's teaching me.

I learned about Copper Leaf Plant when Nila included one in her container-combo entry at our garden club's 'Sitting Pretty' contest this summer. It was the only one there too! I had never seen one before. I was on a search mission until I found it and brought one home with me.

I planned to put it into the ground to grow for the rest of the summer but could not find an appropriate planting spot anywhere in my gardens. The copper leaf plant ended up living in a small clay pot all summer-long. It needed extra water being squeezed into a small clay pot. I could tell by the droopy leaves when it wanted a drink. It sat in full afternoon sun surrounded by other plants I had dragged home and didn't know what to do with. Reprieve came for the copper leaf plant with threatening frost. I was forced to finally, pot it up into a larger pot and lug it indoors to stay warm during our long winter months. Recently the plant put on long, thin, sort of brownish, dangling thingies. Soon tiny seed began to fall from them. Now, I'm thinking I could try growing copper leaf plant from seed.

Hey! girls just want to have fun!

Acalypha wilkesiana (pdf)

Copper Leaf Plant - Acalypha wilkesiana macafeana
sometimes referred to as beefsteak plant

Iowa State University Extension News

Copperleaf Plant Attracts Attention Indoors and Outdoors

Learn More - Copper Leaf Plant

I'm a proud Cactus Grandma - summer 2007

These tiny cacti have lived undisturbed, year-round, on the west side of our home for 3 years now. The rock and sandy soil in the clay tile planter (straight from the field) allows good drainage and gathers warmth from the sunshine for these fun little characters. This pin cushion species is definitely winter-hardy in Iowa. It's so fun!

I'm still learning about winter-hardy - zone 5 cactus. I still want to join the Iowa Mid-Iowa Cactus & Succulent Association. I have a long list of "things to do in life". Maybe after retirement age I'll get to it all.

Containers from the deck had migrated to below the deck awaiting there turn to be moved into the house before frost. Our second light frost came during the night October 22 - 2007. I moved everybody indoors that evening after work. Our first light frost was in mid-September. Neither did noticeable plant damage.

Hosta 'Rufus Rider'

www.foosf.com/rufus.html

I won hosta 'Rufus Rider' from the AHS (American Hosta Society) 2007 internet auction. The plant was donated by the boyz from Naylor Creek. It is a Ron Livingston introduction. It has been growing 'great guns' in a big clay pot under my deck all season. I have come to really enjoy the plant. It put on quite a fancy flower show too. 'Rufus Rider' will have to over-winter out in the shade house, hopefully I can find a permanent home for it somewhere out in the gardens next year.

[M] (Livingston) H. ‘Rufus Rider’ is a seedling from Ron’s breeding program that comes from a streaked breeder called H. ‘Unknown Glory’ and H. ‘Red Neck Heaven’. It has a lovely combination of soft light creamy edges on a smooth dark green leaf held atop red petioles and forms a semi-fountain shaped clump. Leaves have a nice sheen and are topped with lavender flowers. Has proven to be a vigorous grower.

www.naylorcreek.com

Hosta 'Paradise Backstage' - NR
Marco Fransen
'On Stage' sport
size - M
Leaf color green / yellow

"This reverse sport of 'On Stage' gives us a late emerging Montana 'Aureomarginata'! Super reversed sport of H. 'On Stage': green leaves are long and narrow and have an irregular yellow border. Topped with lavender flowers midsummer and will be happiest if grown in morning sun. Above average substance and good growth rate."

I am so lucky to have Holland Drive Gardens just across the street from our house. Trudy always has the best & the newest hostas for sale. And some times she has a $5.00 selection wagon. Yep, that's like almost free. This spring I feel in love with hosta 'Paradise Backstage' at first sight in Trudy's little shade house. 'Paradise Backstage' is such a graceful lady with deeply veined flowing leaves. She reminds me of a beautiful belle of the ball waltzing in a gentle breeze.

Every year, I swear, I am NOT going to pot up so many plants that I have to water and fuss over all the time. And every year I do! There is that 'addicted' thing again. I just can't resists bringing home beautiful little plants to spend the summer with me.

I put a lot of perennials in pots / planters for seasonal fun; then lay awake nights wondering where I can find room to plant them in the fall. Often, I end up pawning them off on family & friends. My gardens are getting so full & everyone is growing so big, demanding their own space.

This summer I had to adopt out hosta 'Alex Summers' to my daughter's gardens. He was getting crowded out by his neighbors. I sure miss him. I do have visitation rights though. And I had to send my second, hosta 'Hycinthina' away to David's garden to live. It's just down the street so visitation will be easy.

For more pictures from 2007 see Slideshow: Garden Beds #14 and #40.