updates on the patio garden

Here are some July updates.

After almost losing my deep, dark red Plumeria this winter, I've been pleasantly surprised with its growth. Here is a reminder of what it looked like after I chopped off the top.

And here is what it looks like today! It has three branch tips, although only two are actively growing. I need to start fertilizing it so that it might bloom next year.

Here is a succulent I ordered off of Etsy. I think it's Senecio mandraliscae. I like its cool, chalky blue color

Next is one of my most prized plants that I almost killed when it didn't get any water while I was on my cruise. It's Quisqualis indica - google it. BEAUTIFUL flowers

This plant is really neat, I'll be sure to take pictures of its flowers once it blooms. It's Snail Vine, Vigna caracalla.

Two new additions, boxwood basil (front) and lemongrass (back)

Unknown gladiolus. Beautiful peach color

Purple basil. Most recently used in a delicious pesto I made last night :-)

Ornamental Black Pepper. you do not want to eat one of these. Here are the leaves.

Windowbox planter. From left, Shasta Daisy, petunia, some type of chrysanthemum

Next year: Plant things that are more drought tolerant

Now that I've finished my trips outside to water my plants using my two trusty milk jugs, I thought I would blog about how next year I'll be planting more Zinnias (or is it Zinniae?). This year has really been my first year where I've gone "all out" buying and planting and caring for a huge variety of plants. My previous attempts to take up gardening were hampered by school distractions and soccer, but now that I'm finishing up college and have an apartment with a small patio, it has been easier to get into gardening and follow through with the seeds I've planted. 

In March (yes, I know - late start) I planted some seeds - Zinnia, Chives, Lavender, Hyacinth Bean vine, and Cornflower. Only the Zinnias, Chives, and Hyacinth are still with us today - and the Chives are sadly not flourishing. I'm not sure what I did wrong with them, but I'm sure I'll try again next year. By far, the Zinnias have been easiest to grow. During this hot Austin summer, (the first day of summer was ushered in with some rain actually - but all the other surrounding days have been as high as 100F) my Zinnias have required little water and are tall and green. 

I've never grown Zinnias before, so tall might be a bad adjective for these plants, but I'm still hoping they will bloom. This weather has been playing tricks on me though because I feel like they should have bloomed already because it's so hot, but summer has actually only just started. Still, I am anxiously awaiting.

I just thought that from here on, I'd post recent pictures from my garden. I've gotten some new plants as you might be able to tell...

The one on the left (above) is my new Ipoemea sweet potato vine. I've never seen that color leaves before and I'm hoping they grow as big as the purple one on the left (which I watered soon after taking this picture. The wilting is what happens when you don't plant sweet potato vine in the shade in Austin)

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides

Ageratum, or Mist Flower. I cheated and bought it and the Ceratostigma at a local nursery. I'm not THAT good yet :-)

Delonix regia This seedling is about a month and a half old. Fast grower!

Plumeria seedling, 2 mo. old

Angelonia Summer Snapdragon (another one I bought already flowering)

Cypress Vine

This plumeria was stricken with damping off and I couldn't bear to throw it out, so I cut off the bad part (roots and all) and stuck it in water in a cup in the shade. I still have my fingers crossed that it will root! (this picture was taken 4 days after I cut off its roots)

 And we'll finish with this - Senecio rotundifolia, Senecio roleyanus. Possibly the most interesting succulent ever. It looks like peas!