Saturday, August 6, 2011

Garden in Distress

My garden is gasping for some cool air and a few drenching rains. It’s not unusual for us to have 90-95F (32-35C) summer temperatures, but a never-ending string of such days and only a scant shower every now and then – that is unusual!

Watering continues, a few times a week, but it’s not enough. It’s never enough. Serious thought now has to be given to a complete garden overhaul next spring, doing away with plants that cannot sustain themselves in summers like this year’s and bringing in others that manage to survive or even thrive. More Sedums and fewer Baptisias, Daisies and Daylilies. Stick to Angelonia and Zinnia for annual color and maybe Calibrachoa.


Joe-Pye Weed has always been a splendid part of my garden; this year, it is short and turning brown before it even has a chance to bloom.


The Butterfly Weed and Mexican Petunia are in distress. The Basil (in front, left of center) has given up and even the Lamb's Ear is not happy in this heat. The only thriving plant in this picture is a Switchgrass.


This Sage (center) is one of my favorite plants and I wonder if I'll see it again next year. Flanking Sedums are doing fine (although the one on the left had something, perhaps a rabbit, jump right in its center and does not look all that attractive any more) and the Gaura, no longer in bloom, tries to stay alive horizontally.

We need rain. And cooler temperatures.

21 comments:

Kris said...

The heat has been brutal down here too. We got some rain this morning, but like you said it never seems to be enough during these summer months.

Lya Sorano said...

Thanks for commenting, Kris. It's been cloudy all afternoon, but still no rain . . .

Renee said...

My garden is looking sad, too. But next month when it cools and it rains again the flowers will look better.

We have been watering, too.

Kat said...

Looks like my garden the previous summer, the sun was just so strong and everything just wilted....I try to ignore everything during the day (it distresses me too much and all I want to do is water them and I know in the heat it is the wrong thing to do) I have learnt to water well early in the morning, under the mulch and depending on the plants to have the mulch very wet to help them to get through the day

Lya Sorano said...

Thanks for your comments, Renee and Katrina.

Just Me said...

Very nice garden. Great blog too. Thanks

Unknown said...

very nice blog

Unknown said...

Hi i know this is late in coming but just thought if your mulch could be your problem. Pine needles will kill most plants that are not acid loving in nature. Jim

Md.Abdul Aziz Student of Arabic Language & Literature from Islamic University, Kushtia as 1st class 1st among the Arts faculty said...

it is very fine!looking good.your blog is very fine.
Islamic Books and Articles

Anonymous said...

Gardening is my favourite hobby.
TestKiller
CertKiller
Exam Questions
Test Papers

Andy said...

Plants do need regular maintenance in order to live a healthy life like us, I want to see the development of your plant the next one month.

ray ban wayfarer said...

anthony jersey
j.r. smith jersey
chandler jersey

might undermine the constitution of the race and bring chaos into the well-tried order of the world. By all means let minor eugenical researches be carried out for increased health,

Unknown said...

Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back frequently!

ps3 jailbreak 4.41

mightycleanducts said...

Hey! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the good data you will have right here on this post. I will likely be coming back to your blog for extra soon.

- Furnace Cleaning Edmonton | Duct Cleaning Edmonton | Duct Cleaning

Miami Real Estate Trends said...

nice garden, congratulation

Anwar Fazil said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Superb photos i like it
Lechuza Planters

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Beautiful garden!Thanks for share. Please visit my site BT email contact number

Unknown said...

awesome...thanx for sharing
whatsapp puzzles

David Shapiro, DC, CFCBP said...

Gardening in the south does have its share of hot and dry spells. As a chiropractor in Tucker, and when the heat hits hard, my patients are always coming in with new and worsening complaints. Keep up the great work on your posting and great pics.