This is a sad plant update.  While I was gone on vacation, it just happens to be the HOTTEST two weeks Seattle has ever experienced.  That plus no rain for 3 weeks made some of my plants very unhappy campers.  I didn't make arrangements to have someone help me water them so some bit the dust cuz it couldn't handle the heat. :(  On happier news, some LOVED the heat and bloomed and grew like a mofo!  Anyways, enough babble... on to the visuals...


The Lantana loved the sun/heat so it grew and bloomed like a mofo!

 


The Strawberry:  On the night I returned, the strawberry plant was very droopy and looked like it didn't make it through the heat as well.  The next day, I watered it and it instantly came back to life the following day! 

 


I don't know what these are called but it also bloomed while I was away!



Not Pictured: My dahlia bushes also started blooming like crazy.  They grow in such wierd directions that I had to tie it up against the wall!  hahaha I've been cutting the flowers and putting them in vases so it wouldn't make the branch too heavy and breaking it. (It happened last year when I didn't do that.)


Now the sad part of this post:
The blueberry plant seems to be holding on to dear life.  While I was away, its leaves browned and crusted. :(




The pumpkin branched out really long, but didn't survive the heat.  It caved in and died.  The flower on there is from my dahlia bush and is a form of condolence as it (the remains of the pumpkin) is being taken way at the next Yard Waste pick-up.  It grew really long too! :(




While I was out there yesterday, I caught a frog resting on top of a Dahlia.  You know I couldn't resist taking its picture! hahahaa

 
  
 
 
Anyone know what these frogs are called?  They're all over my back/front yard!

One month in and I can't be happier with my plants!  I can't believe they're all still ALIVE and kickin'!  hahaa Green thumb schmeen thumb! 

Here are pictures, as usual:

The Pumpkin!


I really should put this guy to the ground, but I am afraid I might kill it.  It's a freakin' BEAST already!  Maybe I'll wait for the season to be over and let it die first before I make any drastic changes.  Hopefully, it can prosper in the pot and produce some pumpkins until then. 


It started growing flowers.  One day it would be in mid bloom (last week's picture), then the next day, it does this (pictured above).  I thought it's dying, but my co-worker told me that it's just normal behavior.  hahaa


The Strawberry!


No more fruit, but it's not dead!  It's still growing and getting bigger!  I see ants crawling around it.  I think I should get some bug spray for it.  Anyone know any safe home remedies to use to fend off these pests?


The Lantana!


Lots of flowers!  The hot weather we've been having is giving this plant a FIELD DAY!  There's a new color blooming this week.  Oh, and I found out the berry that it's producing is poisonous!

 
 


The Blueberry!


It's also growing... not dying in its new home. :) 

We are almost a month in and I can really see the progress on some of these plants!

Remember the supposed dying strawberry plant?  Well, it's been blossoming more and more branches!  No fruits yet, but at least it's not DEAD! :)  I see ants crawing around it.  Should a spray it with some kinda bug spray?  Will that cause harm to me when it eat the strawberries?

 


The pumpkin is becoming quite the beast!  I have no idea where to put it!!!  Also, it has gotten so big I'm scared of damaging it when I plant it.  It also has flowers in the bloom this week!

 



My lantana plant is sprouting another colorful bloom along with some weird fruit like berries.  This plant is just full of surprises! :)

 


The blueberry and red plant is still surviving in their new home...  I'm starting to think the dirt in that area is not made for planting... so dry!

 

These are the dahlia plants I nurtured and saved when I beauty barked that area.  The one in the middle may be a goner... :(  I did kinda stabbed the bulb a little when I was planting it...

 
The flowers are coming...!!! :)

Side note: I broke my lawn mower today and had to cut the rest of the yard with a weed wacker! :(

Everything is still growing strong!  The Lantanas are blooming like onions!  Flower after flower!  Just when I thought one bloom was complete, it sprouts more tiny flowers!  I really want to go back and get other breeds now.  However, I think it would be best to wait until next season seeing how summer is steadily coming to an end. 

 
 


The pumpkin plant is also growing like crazy!  My sis-in-law's dad came over last week and he transferred it to a bigger planter.  I already see flower buds.  I can't wait for the pumpkns to arrive... I wonder what month they come in...

 
 
Next time I plant a pumpkin, it's going straight in the ground.  These things grow like a beast!




I didn't want my blueberry to over grow its pot, so I gave it a permenant home in the ground.

 

The red plant is some kind of plum tree.  The leaves were a nice maple shapped a few weeks ago, but when the hot sun hit it during our hot streak, it shrieveled up like prunes! :-|  I have no idea what happened there...  Let's send a prayer out that these two will survive in the ground...

Two weeks in and my plants are still ALIVE!!! :)  Not only that, there are even flowers blooming and increase in sizes!  Words can't describe them, so here are a butt-load of pictures:

PUMPKIN:
 
The pumkin has gotten really big.  I'm afraid that pot might not be big enough for it.  I'm afraid to tranfer it to the ground because that might traumatize it and kill it.  I think I'll leave it in the pot for a few more weeks.  What do you think?


BLUEBERRY:
 
My blueberry bush is prospering.  It's standing tall and stiffer than when I first brought it home.  The color on the leaves are also changing.


STRAWBERRY:

My strawberry plant seems to be the only one doing the worst. :( The big strawberry rotted and the stems aren't as green. Double :(


LANTANA CONFETTI:

My Lantana plant is blooming beautifully!  I can't wait for it to be nice and tall with a whole lota beautiful blooms! :)

Here are more pictures of the Lantana:

 

 
I magified these two close-up with my 10x macro filter. :)

My co-worker told me about Flower World on Friday and so I went there with a couple friends to check it out today.  All I can say is... WOW.  Just WOW.  Once again, I had no intentions of buying anything, but I walked out with a couple strawberry plant and a BEAUTIFUL flower plant called Lantana-Confetti. 


My strawberry plant.  I bought two kinds: Rainier and ... I forgot what the other was.


My Lantana-Confetti flower


It's still in the baby stage, but isn't it already a beauty?! 


All the plants lined up together.  The three small pots were bulbs I found while digging out weeds. 

Everytime I walk into a garden store or maintain the backyard, it puts me in a horticulture mood and I just want to grow EVERYTHING!  Problem: my thumb is no where near the shade of green!  I went to Molbaks in Woodinville the other day for a single plant, but instead, walked out with more than I came for!  I will keep the progress of these plants here... If you have any advice, please please please share your wisdom. :)


Blueberry plant.


Pumpkin!  I've always wanted to grow my own pumpkin so I can provide for myself during Halloween!


Aloe (Doran Black) succulent.  It will have a tiny rod/twig growing out of it from the center with reddish/orange flowers.  Cross your fingers for me... ;)


A baby Dahlia plant.  I needed some color in the front yard. 

I also picked up some blueish white and red groundcovers (not pictured).  I hope to cover the whole front yard area with them!  I hope they propagate soon!

PF Changs' Fried Banana dessert.

Mr. Rat looks annoyed and is about to bite my hand off.

Kiids are so easily amused.

It was the only place open at 11PM. It was yummy and sure hit the spot!

This was on my way to ATL. It's like the ULTIMATE pit stop: gas station, store, Subway and MickeyD!

NO comment.

hahaha j/k

Sea shell pasta, bratsworth, red potatoes, egg, and Pepper Jack Cheese.