"We go in withering July
To ply the hard incessant hoe;
Panting beneath the brazen sky
We sweat and grumble, but we go."
- Ruth Pitter, The Diehards
Back in May I promised never to curse the excessive rainfall we had and now I'm wishing for it. Just watering the garden to keep it alive as the withering July temperatures cause even the sturdiest plant to suffer.
The banana palm is one plant that didn't seem to mind the hot weather. It's grown to at least 12 feet !.
The "dog days of summer " are especially tough on my black Aussie Duke as his fur seems to hold more heat than other colors.
The weatherman has been wrong in his predictions of rain at least 99 per cent of the time but finally, on July 23 and 24 we got a good soaking rain and the temperatures cooled off into the 80's. The garden and gardener are both elated !
I am making a note of the least drought-tolerant plants and will replace them this Fall with those that are. The Mexican petunia is one that constantly demands water so its out the door. I love viburnums but pay the price by having to give them extra water during this heatwave, despite the fact that they are in the shade. I've planted several rhododendrons only to have them die so I ordered one from Southern Living that so far is holding up to the heat it claims it can.
Farewell and good riddance July. Hoping for a better month in the garden in August.
The weatherman has been wrong in his predictions of rain at least 99 per cent of the time but finally, on July 23 and 24 we got a good soaking rain and the temperatures cooled off into the 80's. The garden and gardener are both elated !
I am making a note of the least drought-tolerant plants and will replace them this Fall with those that are. The Mexican petunia is one that constantly demands water so its out the door. I love viburnums but pay the price by having to give them extra water during this heatwave, despite the fact that they are in the shade. I've planted several rhododendrons only to have them die so I ordered one from Southern Living that so far is holding up to the heat it claims it can.
Farewell and good riddance July. Hoping for a better month in the garden in August.
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