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Waterwise Gardening - a book review

Waterwise Gardening: Everything You Need To Know About Efficient Watering to Grow a Healthy Yard by Richard Restuccia Published by Rizzoli, 2025 I would guess that watering is the major issue that most gardeners grapple with, especially novice gardeners. I know from working at the nursery that the majority of questions and issues we get stem from either watering too much or not watering enough.  Many people in our area have sprinkler systems and I'm sure that can be a good thing if used properly but I feel that they primarily keep the lawns green but fall short for landscape plants. Especially when it comes to trees and larger plants, the timing and amounts are not satisfactory for many plants. I often hear people say that their sprinklers are set to come on every day - yikes! And there are those who did not water because it "rained" when it actually drizzled.  The best thing to do in this situation is to have a xeric garden but that would mean sacrificing favorite plant...

Late Spring Flowers

The dreaded heat and humidity is encroaching!  The good news is that we have been getting rain. These photos were taken during the last two weeks and I am just now getting around to them. I have already posted some of these photos on Facebook and Twitter so if you follow me there, I apologize for the duplications!

Some close-ups from the garden -


Lady Belles (Adenophora)



Geranium "Vancouver Centennial"
Geranium "Vancouver Centennial"
Spiegela (Indian Pink)
Indian Pink (Spiegela) - love this plant!
Indigofera amblyantha (Chinese-Indigo)
Chinese Indigo (Indigofera amblyantha)
Rose "Red Cascade" and Phlox
Rose "Red Cascade" and Phlox
Rose "Daydream"
Rose "Daydream"
Rose "Sweet Chariot"
Rose "Sweet Chariot"
Aralia cordata "Sun King"
Aralia "Sun King" (Aralia cordata)
Variegated Solomons Seal and Indian Pink
Indian Pink (Spiegela) with Variegated Solomon's Seal
Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Indian Pinks are fab. I would love to see a splash of their color here. The heat is building here too. Summer is almost upon us.

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  2. The Daydream rose is dreamy.

    Your Indian Pinks look fab. Mine are finished already! But perhaps that's because they were nursery bought and planted this spring? Maybe they'll bloom later and longer if they return next year? (I didn't deadhead, which I heard can stimulate repeat bloom, because I'm hoping to get seeds. But I don't know. They may have finished blooming before the hummingbird came back to the garden...)

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  3. Phillip I believe it was good year for Indian Pinks. Never had this many blooms. Love them too!

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  4. Phillip,
    I always swoon for your roses! Do you do anything to keep them robust -- spray, etc.? Which ones do you feel hold up best in our humid environments? Thanks!

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  5. Shenandoah, I don't do anything special to them and I don't spray. Only the toughest stay! I find that hybrid musks do well and they take our increasing shade better than most roses.

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  6. Nice photos today. I especial like the rose - Daydreams. Very nice. Glad to make the visit today. Jack

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  7. The roses are adorable. Love those small sweet blooms. You know, I've tried growing Indian pink, but it died out. I must have placed in a place it didn't like. I do love the look of it though. ~~Dee

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  8. I love those roses...the color is amazing.

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  9. I love your Indian Pink. I was given some last year, but I critter dug it up almost immediately. :( Hopefully I'll be able to find some more one day!

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  10. I love to "visit" gardens in other zones, and see the different plants. Indian pinks look really cool, I've never seen them in person. That first rose picture is absolutely gorgeous!

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