Location, location, location

I'm sure I've never before had an astilbe that is shoulder high. This one has blessed me this year. I can only believe that it must be the location, where it gets morning sun followed by filtered mid-day sun followed by afternoon shade. The "location factor" gave me pause to reflect on two comparisons elsewhere in the garden:

This is the sweet pea's "happy spot." They are in good soil which is protected from drying out. Early morning shade, sun most of the day with late afternoon shade. They have reached the top of twine I provided and today I had to string more twine up the railing to keep up with their exuberance to climb. I just can't wait to see and smell their blossoms.

But.... the flip side. This picture was taken at the "other" sweet pea location. When the very brown seedlings (which you can barely see at the base of the trellis) reached their maximum height of 5" and refused to climb I disassembled the whole system. The seedlings did not even dignify a toss onto the compost heap. Live and learn

Last year a friend invited me to help myself to all the myrtle I could dig from his lot. I put small transplants wherever I wanted to cover the foundation. It LOVED this spot on the North side of our house and one year later it has rewarded me with glossy green leaves in abundance.

And this is the myrtle that I planted where there is strong southern exposure. It is struggling, whimpering, begging for mercy. The experimentation and constant moving around are all a part of the fun, the challenge and the mystery of gardening.