MinxterBLOOM

before they wilt. Yesterday and today in Suburban Maryland feel like the dog days of August. 

Sweltering. Oppressive:  Weather for the likes of August's yellow and orange flowers and not the roses of early June.  Here are my large walkway planters last week.  Today, the pansies lie exhausted and spent.  The twee-turtle is for the Terps I teach at the University of Maryland.  The tiny Alberta Spruce trio in the planters are the three Wise Men of holiday time. Caspar is first, then Balthazar, and finally Melchior near the house. I bought these styrofoam planters last year at steal-away prices.  Why the fuss and bother, since I am not given to container gardening? I nearly broke my ankle on the sinking brick walkway.  A tree once stood in the front yard; 40 or so years later, a mild sinking, as the root system finally collapses makes the walk unsafe.  Planters are less than new bricks, though I do not begrudge the masons and bricklayers their well-earned due.  I will replant these containers soon with silver-purple petunia, magenta spreading verbena, and a velvety purple petunia for scent.  The spruces stay of course, to give winter interest and the fine shape of conifer-cone-pyramid.

  
Terp Grad 2008: Sunflower Day, indeed!  Happy we are, click into thumbnail for details.