Too bad. Upon my return, I took my camera outside to take pictures of whatever was pretty. When I came back in the house, I had taken zero pictures. Zero. Weeds had taken over, the grass needed mowing, and hardly anything was blooming. What a disappointment.
Well, this is where my stubbornness is an asset! I am going to remedy this! First, the water situation will have to be resolved, which it will be within the next few weeks. Then every spent bloom is going to get whacked. Every dead plant yanked, and then replaced. I will not allow my garden to continue in this state!
Yes, I am hot. I am tired of this drought. I am discouraged, disgruntled, and disappointed. But I am also determined. I am flexible. I will, somehow, find plants that can take our extreme conditions. And my garden will shine in every season. That is my resolve.
No matter how long it takes.
And the Plumbago picture? Well, that's one of my purchases to replace some dead plants. A designated Texas Superstar, the tag promises that plumbago "enjoys long, humid summers".
Gardening - always changing, always challenging. Just one of the reasons I love it so!
This is such a tough time of year--I've just watched half a bed fizzle and die for no reason I can see. I'm sorry you had a disappointment on your return, but good for you for rolling up your sleeves and wading in! That Texas Superstar designation looks brilliant--if the others on the list are half as beautiful as the plumbago, you are in for a delightful phase of planning and planting.
ReplyDeleteI no how disheartening this all can be. I know a few things that are going also. But you are determined and you will succeed.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
The pictures from your vacation look really good, interesting sites. Its amazing how fast plants can grow or change this time of year. You'll have your garden looking tip top in no time!
ReplyDeleteHolley, I hope you will feel better about your garden soon. I think it is gorgeous. The heat will end, and maybe plants will start blooming again? That plumbago looks gorgeous, it loves it here too!
ReplyDeleteStacy - I usually see what's in my mind, but when I returned, I actually saw what was there! And this year has been very, very hard on my garden. The drought has been the biggest problem. I haven't lost anything that was irreplaceable. I figure if it died, I need to find a better plant! Good luck to you and your fizzled bed!
ReplyDeleteCher - It's all part of the journey! I suppose it would be wonderful if nothing we planted ever died, but then it wouldn't be as challenging, either. And I do love a challenge!
Kelli - Just getting rid of the dead plants will help! :) I haven't had the heart to toss them, hoping against hope that they will somehow spring back to life.
Masha - I will feel better when I get the dead plants replaced. Although not really blooming much right now, my roses have lots of great foliage. I think it was just a shock after seeing such beautiful public gardens while on vacation.
I like your attitude, Holley: if a plant is gone, you are going to replace it not with the same type, but with a plant more suitable for your climate. I am trying do the same in my own garden - go with nature, not against it. I can't say I am 'there' yet. I do lose plants to our moist winters...
ReplyDeleteHolley, I am sorry to read that when you returned home from your vacation you did not find your garden in the condition you had hoped for. But if it is any condolence to you when I leave my garden alone, I always come home to a disappointing mess. I admire your determination to improve your garden situation and I am sure you will succeed. With the new well under the way I think you solved already one major problem: having enough water for your plants. Good luck for the future gardening adventure! Oh, and I forgot to say that what I have seen from your garden here on your blog it looks incredible pretty, you are obviously already a very successful gardener now, even though you might not feel like one in the moment!
ReplyDeleteChristina
I can understand the discouraged feeling. I am now determined to seek out plants in garden that are alive and loving this weather. And the weeds are easier to pull after watering a garden bed.
ReplyDeleteTatyana - It's been a rough year. The drought has affected everything. But all we can do is go forward, right?
ReplyDeleteChristina - Yes, usually my garden is a delight, and you are right about the water situation. With the new well, we now have made the switch and have that water in the house, and are slowly getting it to the garden areas that need it. It has taken longer than I thought, but after this main problem is solved, I feel like I will no longer lose plants at such a high rate.
Tufa Girl - It's hard to find plants that will take extreme heat, and be able to return after a possibly long winter, too. One thing Texas is known for is its extreme temperature swings. The weeds, somehow, do tend to thrive even in unbearable conditions!
Hi Holley,
ReplyDeleteYour pictures of A. New Mexico are sensational! Yes, while you were gone the drought continued. July will go down as another 'dust' month. I'm having to water DEEPLY my smaller trees in the hopes that they will pull through this summer. All the other survivors will stay and the dead plants are now just memories. I've been shifting 'westward' in my plant selections for over 7 years and I've taken a little comfort in how good some plants look. You're on the right track. That plumbago blooms here all summer and never seems to die. Good choice. Hope you get rain this week.
David/ Tropical Texana/ Houston
BTW: You're on my Fabulous 40 Flora Fanatics Blogroll as of today. Hope that cheers you up a bit. I like blogs like yours that talk about both the 'highs' and the struggles. :-)
That's the spirit Holley, pleased to hear your determination :) Your garden will look lovely again in no time at all. And your replacement plumbago looks gorgeous btw!
ReplyDeleteYou go girl. LOL! You sound so titivated.This has been a hard year for so many gardens. Where mine was drowning your is dried. I wish things would even out some for everyone. I love Plumbago and its pretty powder blue blooms.It is an annual here but I love getting it into some of the container.I hope you had a great vacation.
ReplyDeleteI, too, become frustrated with the weather at this time of year. The garden just does not seem as nice now as it is earlier in the season. The plumbago will add such nice color to your garden.
ReplyDeleteDavid - I could tell there had been no relief! As of today, my garden has received zero rainfall so far in July. That coupled with the extremely high temperatures, I agree - a dust month! I hope we both get rain soon! And thanks so much for including my blog! I really appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteMark and Gaz - Half the fun is buying new plants! The most upsetting thing to me is when I have three of something, and one dies. Sometimes it's hard to find another of the same variety. I'm going to have to really look over my garden and make some hard decisions. And do some hard work! But, that's what we gardeners do!
Lona - Too much rain is not fun, either! I can see why you love the plumbago. Such a pretty plant. I don't know why I haven't had one in my garden before.
Laura - I was thinking about the weather today. Late winter, gardeners are usually unhappy, waiting for spring, and late summer must be the same sort of change where we look at our gardens with frustration. But I think that just makes us better gardeners, with prettier gardens.
The Plumbago look gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteYou are one tough cookie! Hope your garden plants strive well!
Malar - Most gardeners are tough cookies, aren't we? Resilient, optimistic, and ever-hopeful. :)
ReplyDeleteOh so true! Ever changing, and ever challenging, but it does keep us on our toes, and we never get bored! ;)
ReplyDeleteCurbstone Valley Farm - Never bored, that's for sure! I wonder if my dream of having the perfect garden throughout the entire year will ever come to pass! But we can dream!
ReplyDeleteOh, I miss vigorous plumbago so much from our Cali days. Hope yours does well for you - but not too well (like taking over the whole garden!). Good luck catching up on the weeding and such. My backyard has serious need of deadheading and tidying up. Always something, right?
ReplyDeleteVW - Never having grown this before, I was surprised to read how far it will spread! Housework, gardening work - always needing tidying up!
ReplyDeleteI admire your determination! When I got home from vacation -- we drove in the evening before the sprinklers were to run, so my garden looked particularly sad. The next day the sprinklers ran and there was a little more life back in the garden. But my goal this week is to chop everything down that is in a suffering state and hope they return when the rains return. My garden and I just need to hunker down and endure until we get some relief from the heat and drought. Take care! I added your blog to my sidebar :-)
ReplyDeleteToni - I have some things that need chopping down, too. I've pulled most of the dead plants, and that helped my mental state a lot! The highs are becoming unbelievable - I'm hoping everything will make it through. Thanks for the add!
ReplyDelete