When does a garden get listed as 'critical'?

Mine may be approaching that point. I'm throwing out the last of the tomatoes. Those pretty Cerinthes? Not so pretty any more. The stately Butterfly Weed? Seriously drooping. The Salvias? Gasping for air. Aye, aye, aye!

I still water, but with less enthusiasm. Especially since receiving a water bill more than twice the usual amount. Rain chances today range from 10% this morning (not a drop!) to 40% this evening (here's hoping!) and less tomorrow. It's tough to be a gardener in North Georgia these days.

Butterfly Weed

This is my first experience with Butterfly Weed - wonderful plant and the swallowtails are crazy about it, but I wonder if this is not awfully early for its seed pods to begin bursting. I had not expected to see this for another month or two. Normal? Or is the hot weather of this summer speeding the process up?

June Blooms

These are some of the blooms in my gardent this morning. From top to bottom -- the Monarda never disappoints and I have so many of them now that I have been able to share new plants with friends this year; the Rose Campion is new in my garden - a gift from a friend and neighbor; the Prunella 'Summer Daze' has settled in nicely, after a fairly poor start last year; the Hollyhock has been there 'forever' -- it's a biennial, but don't tell this plant that - this is its fourth year; the Butterfly Weed is another new plant for me - I have about two dezen of them, in 3 different locations and they all look good; last but not least, this Echinacea is from the 'Big Sky' series -- third year in my garden and it is finally coming into its own, with lots of blooms. I may have to move it again, though, as the Sweetshrub behind it has doubled in size since last year and the Japanese Aster next to it is growing rapidly as well. Oh, well - that's gardening, isn't it?

Plants from Seeds

Growing plants from seeds is a relatively new experience for me. Until this year, I have mainly purchased what I wanted in my garden - at plant sales or at local nurseries - or been generously given by relatives, friends and colleagues.

From top to bottom, the California Poppy and Cat Mint seeds came from Renee's Garden, the Butterfly Weed seeds were purchased at a garden conference last January, from a local grower, and the Cilantro's seeds were collected in my garden last year.