A Little Niceness

Summer is over (although it is supposed to be 80 degrees tomorrow) and it is time to get to work on the garden. It is looking particularly shabby due to a number of different reasons. First, there was a lot of growth this year as trees and shrubs finally became established and took off, creating shade where the plants were primarily sun-lovers. Not enough sun means few or no blooms, gangly growth and even disease in some cases as plants try to live in environments that are not ideal for them. Second, a chronic disease with no controls has wiped out a number of foundation plants leaving huge gaps where there was once lush growth. The third reason is my own fault. I have been rather neglectful while nursing a healing shoulder as well as being busy with guests and travel. 

The picture above is about the only really nice scene in the gardens at this time. It is right outside the front door in SJC and for once the chartreuse mums are blooming in the fall (instead of summer), a reblooming iris is adding contrast and everything else is filling in nicely without taking over. I have a ton of problem pictures to post later this week while getting ready for a refurbishment, but let's just enjoy this picture for now!