We have reached the time where everything is as lush and green as it will probably be for the season. I am an early riser and I have already noticed that the sun is coming up a little later in the morning than it was even a week or two ago. According to the website www.sunrisesunset.com, we have lost six minutes of morning sunlight since Friday, July 1. We've only lost three minutes of sunlight in the evening. So we have definitely reached that point in the year where the tide is turning and the days are getting shorter.
One of our prized possessions at Crest Avenue is this wonderful banana plant. We have had this for several years now. I would estimate around seven years. Each year it gets a little larger and this year has been no exception. This is a wonderful specimen. Amazingly, it dies back to the ground each year after the first hard frost and then reemerges early each spring.
Right next to the banana is our display on the front porch. The Sky Pencil Holly has done well this year. The petunias are magnificent. As I told you earlier, you must deadhead the petunias. If you do, you will be rewarded with beautiful blooms like we have here. A giant upright California Sword Fern adds some nice greenery. And then at the end, a pot with a Rabbit Foot fern in the same pot with a small jade plant. All so beautiful.
Now, some unpleasant news about our tree canopy. We are about to lose a tree. Working in the yard this past weekend I was distressed to find one of the large Sweet Gum trees in the back yard is in very unstable condition. I have contacted my tree service company and they are sending someone out to take a look later this month. More to come on this project.
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| Banana plant from Behnke's Nursery planted around 2009 |
One of our prized possessions at Crest Avenue is this wonderful banana plant. We have had this for several years now. I would estimate around seven years. Each year it gets a little larger and this year has been no exception. This is a wonderful specimen. Amazingly, it dies back to the ground each year after the first hard frost and then reemerges early each spring.
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| A lush entrance |
Right next to the banana is our display on the front porch. The Sky Pencil Holly has done well this year. The petunias are magnificent. As I told you earlier, you must deadhead the petunias. If you do, you will be rewarded with beautiful blooms like we have here. A giant upright California Sword Fern adds some nice greenery. And then at the end, a pot with a Rabbit Foot fern in the same pot with a small jade plant. All so beautiful.
Now, some unpleasant news about our tree canopy. We are about to lose a tree. Working in the yard this past weekend I was distressed to find one of the large Sweet Gum trees in the back yard is in very unstable condition. I have contacted my tree service company and they are sending someone out to take a look later this month. More to come on this project.
