On Sunday night, I watched the Women's gymnastics prelims/quallifying (?). It was really great to watch. On Monday night, I got tired of watching the local guy fill up time with Olympics trivia/history and got interested in a movie and totally missed the male gymnastics.

c’est la vie

bk

Raining yesterday, bad one. More to come, current prognosis 10 days out of next 14. Have a lot of leaf edema with opportunistic infections growing. Leaves simply not drying up enough. Humidity is high too. Mosquito netting, cream and Thermacell somewhat helpful but really too humid and hot to be outside wearing extra layer against mosquitoes.

I sprayed copper today on worst plants.

Bunnies damaged my premium streaker with my crosses, it is cut so low that I can not even put it in sugar water. So hoping maybe few seed will still ripen?

Tomatoes started coming in but the fungal stuff on the leaves is not abading.

Slugs are on the leaves even daytime, it is so wet. Lots of frogs thought.

On a positive note there are no fires or earthquakes.

Admire persistence of digging deep holes. I need to replace parts of the fence but there is no chance I will be digging.

The heat and humidity has been bad this week. I can’t be out in the back yard until maybe 4 when most of the yard is in shade. It’s just too bloody hot! 🥵 Many hostas are looking bad….bug damage, heat stress yellow leaves, nematodes on one, etc.
My perennials are looking good, but most of my hostas in the front look pretty sad. I have had to dig up several shrinking or underperforming hostas and plant elsewhere or pot them up to see if they recover a bit before frost arrives. I cannot believe the amount of tree roots that I find surrounding the hostas when I dig them up! They surround the hosta roots like an invasive netting….. 😝😝 I have a bunch that need digging up. It’s a lot of work. I have two arborvitae trees on the front corners of my house and those roots seem to be problematic as well. I dislike arborvitae and would like to take them out…..not sure what I would replace them with…. something without a lot of roots…..is there a bush or tree like that??? 😂😂😂

Bathroom still is not complete…..waiting for the vanity, wall cabinet and sink to be installed still. Our contractor is a personal friend and his son has been very sick and in the hospital for a week, so I know that’s the main reason why. The shower is lovely and working great. Will do pics when it’s all done….maybe by Christmas, 😂😂😂

Lindalana, what does copper do for the plants? Sorry the bunnies got your streakers!

I have not been into the Olympics this summer….. I think I like the winter games better and I am just too busy in the garden in the summer.

debra

I missed Celine Dion’s performance..I’ve seen a little bit of the Olympics..the athletes are amazing..

still enjoying the hummingbirds..left side of the clear part of the feeder..

they blend into my trees..see the fly?..the begonia leaf left of the feeder..

debra..I have some bad looking hostas too..🙁

Wheee is almost dead..😢

I see slugs every time that I’m out..

I lost one of my new succulents (split rock - my favorite) 😢..

my elephant ears look nice..I love growing tropicals..but not one of the caladiums I saved came back..

Stil trying to catch up with the weeding, never ending job. I also got a few good rains so haven't had to water so much. I keep puting off digging up hostas for tree roots, reverting and poor performers, maybe when it cools off some. Cutting out spent flower scapes but leaving any that might still attract bees, butterflies, birds, etc.

PS - I am trying to cross polinate a couple hosta (again). Haven't had any luck in the past as I just get plain green results.

PS - I am trying to cross polinate a couple hosta (again). Haven't had any luck in the past as I just get plain green results.

Old-dirt, if you're looking to get variegated or streaked offspring you have to start off with streaked parents. Sprout as many seeds as you can and when they get to the 2nd leaf stage start doing your initial selection culling. And be brutal or you'll be run over! Odds are there'll only be a few that aren't all-green, BUT, you may end up with some yellows or blues...Good luck!

Pieter

Thank you Pieter - Do both parents have to be streakers? I am trying to cross Sheila Macqueen (streaker) with Lakeside Paisley Print.

I've got a bunch of volunteer seedlings popping up -- and they are mostly yellow. Is that unusual?

Brutal heat and very little rain here. Clouds either dump all the rain on the shore of Lake Erie, 4 miles north or 60 miles south. I am baking in the area in between the 2. Very hard to weed since the ground is like cement. Been getting home from the office and make dinner and watch the Olympics. I can't believe what the gymnasts can do. Of course I am at least a foot taller than most of the women's team! The bike races were simply crazy, we couldn't believe the race through the streets in the rain.

Thank you Pieter - Do both parents have to be streakers? I am trying to cross Sheila Macqueen (streaker) with Lakeside Paisley Print.

Most breeders will use only one streaker parent. There's an interesting interview with Mary Chastain on the HL that I'd consider required reading....

Have fun and be prepared for surprises and disappointments....

Pieter