"The Summer looks out from her brazen tower,
Through the flashing bars of July."
- Francis Thompson, A Corymbus for Autumn
Through the flashing bars of July."
- Francis Thompson, A Corymbus for Autumn
June's drought continued into July but unlike last year at this time the temperatures didn't reach 100. The last week of June brought almost daily rainfall which was very welcomed.
I walk about the garden taking notes on which plants are most affected by the heat and lack of rain. My beloved viburnums, although located in a semi-shady place, are the first to bow their leafy heads and ask for a deep soaking and I use rain collected in my barrel to answer her demands. Below is a photo of her Spring blooms . The asters, goldenrod, blackeyed susans, spurge, zinnias, ornamental grasses, and autumn sage , catsmint and lavender have fared rather well in this drought.
Viburnum plicatum 'mariesii '
In the orchard the 'Blushingstar ' white fleshed peach tree produced many deliciously sweet fruit .
The tomatoes, cucumbers and squash have been abundant in the veggie garden.
In the hen house HeiHei, my Buff Orpington, has gone broody ! She sat on her nest all day and all night, seldom leaving it for food or water. To break the broodiness I isolated her in a wire cage with food and water. It took 3 days before it worked. If nothing is done about the brodiness it affects all the other hens and the result is no eggs .
I am on the hunt for the Canadian hyrid lilac Hyacinthiflora 'Pocahontas ' which claims to be able to take this Southern heat. Two other shrubs on my wishlist are 'carol mackie ' daphne and 'koreanspice ' viburnum which local garden centers don't carry.
My roadside garden is bordered with Ajuga which has been attacked by the soil borne disease known as Southern blight or crown rot. The experts advise to dig everything up, excavate soil 6-8 inches below and replace it . Or you can save a lot of toil and trouble by applying Bonide lawn and garden fungicide which I aim to do once the ground dries out .
Looking forward to Fall and cooler weather . I have plants that need dividing and transplanted and plants that died over the winter that need replacing.
