Very nice Flowers!! That spot where you threw seeds is so nice! I got a few seeds in one spot I sat and did some WS'ing in but nothing like that!

So sorry to hear of the loss of your Grandmother! A memorial garden is such a nice idea!

Karen

Vera,
Sorry that you lost your grandmother. That is always
hard. A memorial garden is something I want to do myself
when I figure out how I am going to plan it out.

I love all of your flowers, the hollyhocks look great!
I like the monarda. I didn't know that the reds suffered from
powdery mildew. I planted some, have one remaining.
Pretty bummed about that, but hey, there is always next
year!

Mary

My heart goes out to you Vera for the loss of your grandmother.

Your gardens are wonderful and so colourful!! I am especially taken by the Monarda Fistulosa. I have a purple Didyma which gets powdery mildew like crazy. Wish it didn't since the flowers are dark and the foliage is thick. I'll have to hunt for seeds of the Fistulosa. Nice one.

Wonderful!!

The idea of a memorial garden is awesome!! I always plant a rose for a lost loved one, but an entire garden sounds so much more encompassing!!

I'm sorry about your Grandmother, Vera.

But your flowers are awesome, as always.

I started my tomatoes inside this year and we have been eating them for weeks. Have more than I know what to do with, more than we can eat. It's been a very wet, cool, year here (coldest July on record) and I do have disease on some of them, a fungus I think.

Karen

Thanks everyone:)

Hi Mary :)

As far as Monarda is concerned I just belief M. didyma and most of it's cultivars are most susceptible to infection. Spraying plants with plain ol' water can aid in the prevention of the spores ability to germinate and often kills them, however it's hard to keep up trying to keep the leaves wet and doing so could also lead to other fungal issues that flourish with free moisture...especially at night or in humid climates, ect.; Botrytis, Downy Mildew, ect.
Didn't even realize the Hollyhock flower was in that picture! Actually I only had a handful of about 30-40 Hollyhocks that looked worth a damn....the grasshoppers came in droves this year! The earwigs also did a fare share of destruction this year on these and several other plants as well. Today I noticed several earwigs hiding within the Yvonne's Salvia flowers and sunflowers...good grief!

Tiffy,
I'd be happy to save seeds for the M. fistulosa...this is just the common prairie species native to my home state of North Dakota as well as S. Dakota and Nebraska. I'm pretty sure it's also native to MB, SK, AB and ON. Seeds are ready to harvest in October. Might have to remind me when it's gets to be that time :))

Karen,
Sure hope to bite into some tomatoes soon. My mouth waters every time I walk by LOL! I wonder how will I know when the Cherokee Green are ripe? I guess it will be by feel huh?
Regarding fungal or bacterial infection of leaves; whatever it is if it's not severe you can remove and properly discard infected leaves....when dry...never wet. I'm sure you are already mulching beneath plants to prevent soil splashing :)
Some more Hollyhocks that didn't look too bad. This giant red one had to come down after several days of rain/wind...my hummingbirds weren't too happy 'bout that LOL! It's ok though there's plenty others they visit....can't believe how much them go for the blue and purple larkspur!
Here it was on July 8th...a monster
{{gwi:427158}}
....again on the 14th...
{{gwi:427160}}
close up...
{{gwi:427161}}
Some hollyhocks in front on July 30th...
{{gwi:427162}}

Thanks Vera! Yep, got mulch there. the ones that have the mildew are more in the shade. I have a feeling that might be part of the problem...

Those Hollyhocks are so pretty! And so big!

I say bite a green tomato.. Yummy even if it is not ripe!

I am close to making some fried green tomatoes just to get to eat some. I made some last year and we put them on a hamburger. Oh it was so delicious!!!

Karen

Oh Vera - so sorry to hear about your grandmother ((hugs)) - flowers are a wonderful way to keep her memory alive

Your gardens as always are beautiful - thanks for sharing them with us again. Hollyhocks are my favorite cottage garden plant so I am very partial to all the hollyhock pictures but especially the last one taken on July 30th. If you don't mind I will think of it as a belated Garden Web birthday surprise - turned the bad ole' 65 that day :D .......

Lynne

Hi Vera,
So sorry you lost your grandmother. I planted a "memorial garden" in memory of my Mother. In the center I planted a Japanese Lilac tree because a tree is long lasting, like a Mother's love. The outside of the bed is a circle like a Mother's arms when she hugs you. The tree has only been there for 9 years and it was a twig when I planted it. Now it is over 25' tall and a beauty, just like my dear Mother was. And now when I hear of a loved one who has passed on I send the family a check so they can plant a tree or shrub in memory of their loved one so they'll have a lasting memory. Funeral flowers are gone in a few days but a memorial plant for the garden lasts a long time. So you have a good idea to plant the memorial garden Vera, you will always think of your dear grandmother when you tend it and the beauty will be a reminder of her.

Thanks Lynne and trowelgal :)

Happy belated B-Day Lynn!
Trowelgal,

Lilac was also a fave of my Grandmother and is exactly where I plan to make this bed around. My shrub was planted in fall of '02 from a sucker taken from a friends old fashioned. It is growing multi-stemmed and will be kept in shrub form. Currently it is about 5' and am so hoping next year brings flowers. Roses were another favorite and I plan to sow my R. rugosa come December for her.