Extreme Makeover, Garden Edition

Yes, I did just title my post like that.

Anyway, I've been going a little crazy this season as many of you can tell. I decided that in order to avoid comments like, "This patio is crazy, Sam." and people thinking I've become a nut job, that I should at least organize my plants back there so that it seems there is a method to my madness. 

Here is what I've done:

• I planted the last of my purple Liatris and Echinops (Globe Thistle) bulbs that I got in the mail in containers and in the ground at my apartment. I also moved an unknown plant from full sun to shade because it would keep SERIOUSLY wilting during the hot days here. I should have taken a picture of it because once I gave it water, it sprang back to life multiple times. It was kind of miraculous actually.
  
• I bought a Mandevilla vine from Home Depot for $10 and planted it under the Cercis (Redbud tree)
• I bought Gomphrena and planted it next to my Zinnias and my Ipomoea (Ornamental Sweet Potato) and Star Glory Vines. 
• I planted more Ranunculus (2 bulbs) They rotted when I planted them earlier in March while we got all that cold rainy un-Austiny weather. But now that it's warmer, they should be a lot better. I'm kind of doing an experiment because I don't think you're supposed to plant these bulbs in zone 8b until fall, but we'll see how it goes. If I can get this to bloom next spring it will be my crowning achievement because they are BEAUTIFUL.
• Finally and most importantly, I mulched and ameliorated the clay soil with vermiculite. The beds look SO much better now, more finished. 

My next project is to build 3 trellises for all the vines I have back there. Vines are quickly becoming among my favorite plants. They're so easy and annual vines grow very fast. I'll be posting pictures as they come up. Maybe Robert will let me use his fancy, newly found camera to take some fancy pictures.

I also bought a crap load of new plants and put my Plumeria seedlings in individual pots. Some of my new plants are in pictures below. Salvia 'Black and Blue', Candlestick plant, Evolvulus glomerata 'Blue Daze', Osteospermum (African Daisy), and Ruellia (Mexican Petunia). I'm trying to at least learn the Genus names of common plants. Sometimes the species. It makes me feel fancier.

Here are some pictures as a reward for listening to my rambling, not that they'll be much of a reward to anyone but meeee....

Ipomoea (Ornamental Sweet Potato) It looks like a climber, but it actually will grow along the ground unless its tied to support. I should not have planted this in full sun, it wilts. When I give it water every day though, it's fine.

One of the newly mulched beds, those tall leaves are Gladiolus that I bought from the DOLLAR TREE! I got like 10 bulbs for a dollar. We'll see if they bloom though. Also there is Purple Hyacinth LabLab Bean vine, and Cerinthe and Zinnia. 

Gomphrena The tag says it does well in poor soil with little care, we'll see. I love the bright, round, and compact blooms

Osteospermum (African Daisy). For all you Latin buffs out there, osteo- bone, sperm(um?)- seed. I haven't seen these seeds, but I imagine they have a tough shell. Note: I read that this plant requires cold night temperatures for flowers to grow. Otherwise, the flowers will abort. I love how Home Depot or where ever I bought this sells it in 8b in the SUMMER...

Candlestick plant. It will grow like 5' tall and have blooms that are long and yellow. I'm keeping it in a pot though, so hopefully it won't get that tall. I actually bought it for the interesting foliage (It looks like an Acacia tree I am growing - it's related I believe).

Evolvulus glomerata 'Blue Daze' I like the flowers. They're about half an inch across. This picture doesn't really capture the true color :-\

Salvia 'Black and Blue'. Salvia is actually latin for sage, I believe. It's this genus from which we get our culinary sage. As you can tell perhaps, I like flowers that are blue. If I'm not mistaken, it's a color thats not THAT common for reasons having to do with our light wavelengths on earth. This blue is accompanied by another less-than-frequent color among angiosperm flowers, black! You don't get many true black flowers. mostly it's dark purple and dark blue. 

Eustoma 'Mermaid Blue' (Lisianthus)

Here is what I did with the flowers, simple and kinda cool. I wish the stems were longer.

My current efforts are to find out what this plant is. This is the one that wilts and comes back to life. The picture doesn't really do its color justice.

Mandevilla

Lastly, my Hyacinth Bean vine. close up of a tendril clinging to the trellis I built. 

Have you had your feelings hurt lately?

It's been a really long time since I've had my feelings actually hurt. I was really surprised. It is one of those things you don't realize will upset you until you're actually trying to talk about it without crying.

I'm not sure if I'm more mad at myself because maybe I misunderstood the relationship.

Maybe I am mad at the lack of a good reason and the assumptions that were made about how I felt WITHOUT even asking me. I think it is just an excuse so you don't have to take responsibility.

Yes this is meant to be vague.

Anyhow if there is any upside to this situation, and I would like to think there is, it is that I'm more cognizant now about how I feel about my friends and the distinctions I will make between best friends and good friends and acquaintances. 

This last part is largely to organize my thoughts, it isn't aimed at anyone. What is a best friend? Is it someone you have known since you were small? Is it someone you have recently become close with over the past year or two? or is it someone who you may not constantly hang out with but that you KNOW will be there for you when you need them. I don't want to discount 2-3 year friendships as being less valid than 6-7 year friendships, but some people really need to THINK about the effort that has gone into being their friend and keeping in touch with them while they are going to school 2 hrs away.  

Basically, my eyes have been opened to reevaluating all my friendships, and I thank you for that at least.