Two weeks vacation at the Delaware Shore, what could be better? Unbelievable how fast the time goes ... now I'm back, bringing a Tropical Storm with me!

Oh well, Hanna really wasn't that bad afterall, and we really needed the rain, but it did delay my assessment of the garden for another day. After a week's vacation, I always look forward to seeing what's new in the garden ... however two weeks can wreak havoc!



Don't get me wrong, I'm very grateful to my family for helping in my absence to take care of things. But as all you garden enthusiasts know, it's just not the same as when the primary caretaker does the job.

Afterall, we gardeners do things on a daily basis without giving it much thought like weeding, pruning, feeding, etc. When you're gone for any extended length of time, things always fall thru the cracks.

Since it was really dry while I was away, even with regularly watering, things have dried up. It is almost the end of the season, so I don't mind that my annuals look like death warmed over. The vegetables are slowly giving up as well. Even the grasses were starting to droop without any significant rain.

But the biggest difference is in the pond. My dad is the primary caretaker of the pond and fish while I'm away. And please don't get me wrong, he does a great job, and I couldn't go away for as long without his help. However, he just can't keep his hands off that darn waterfall!


I don't know what it is (because I haven't had the time to fully check it out yet), but the pump doesn't seem to be doing as great a job as it did when we first hooked everything up. The water began to backflow again, under the waterfall and out of the pond. So dad did his best and tilted the waterfall forward to give the pump a little help. Thus shifting the decorative stones around it and tearing a few of the elephant ears in the process.

The giant papyrus doesn't want to hold its own anymore. It just leans against the side of the pond. The Canna have once again become too top-heavy for their pots and are leaning against the sides as well. (This happens every year, I really should learn my lesson.) And due to the winds yesterday, the black Taro Elephant Ears have fallen over and can't get up. They're completely knocked off balance, so I'm hoping if I trim the biggest leaves I'll be able to right it again.



The pond needs vacuuming, my parrot boat sank yesterday (I was able to bale it out), the filter needs cleaning and the smaller water feature we have on the other side of the patio needs tending to as well.

But in the midst of it all, there's hope. While assessing the work ahead, I saw one of the frogs sunning himself among the Canna, see it you can spot him.

It'll take another week before I get things right again. Oh well, such is life!

Well, I'm a little late this year, but better late than never.
I'm referring to my Giant Elephant Ear bulbs. I just put them in the ground yesterday. They're supposed to be planted after threat of frost has passed, so with the way things were this past week, I don't think I'm too far off the mark.
Pictured here from last summer (with Lexie), Elephant Ear plants are a big, leafy member of the Caladium family. And I'm talking BIG, leaves as big as an elephant's ear, hence the name. And the colorful leaves have a shape resembling an elephant's ear, too.
Gardeners are fascinated by this big-leaved plant that grows 3-5 ft. tall. Originating in tropical and sub-tropical areas, they love sunshine, heat and high humidity. They are easy to grow and will grow in sun or shade. However, I found out last year that they don't grow nearly as well or as high in shaded areas. I primarily bought them for shade, because that's what the ticket on them said they liked, only to find the one single bulb that got sun was absolutely spectacular, as seen here.
Elephant Ears are grown from tuberous bulbs, resembling some kind of prehistoric egg. In our Zone (6), after the plants have died back in the fall, the bulbs must be dug up. Clean and store them in a cool, dark area until planting the following spring.
They can also be grown in large, heavy pots for ease in storing. Pots must be heavy to shoulder the weight of the huge leaves. I absolutely love them! I got my bulbs at Home Depot last spring. They cost $5 per bulb, but they were worth it!

Also don't overlook their close cousin the Black Taro bulb. I like to grow it every year in the pond. This is the first year that I was actually able to winter-over the bulb indoors. Good thing too, because as you can see here, it was awesome last year!

Note: These plants can be poisonous to children and pets. However, the Black Taro doesn't harm the fish.

Up next, our good friend, the Clematis!