Autumn is also supposed to be the best time to plant roses, shrubs, and trees in Texas. In some areas, the winter is too harsh to plant some things now. But here, the cooler weather allows the plants to establish themselves before the heat of summer rolls around again, and the fall rains help them get off to a good start.
Unfortunately, our autumn rains have not materialized this year. This year, instead of the 9 inches of rain that we average during October and November, we have had less than 1. That's less than one inch for October and November combined, so far.
So, I've been using the sprinkler system, just as I would in summer. The difference is, it's not summer. The system has to be restarted and then drained with every use, in anticipation of early morning freezes. Plants located outside of the sprinkler system have to be watered by hand.
This trend is worrisome because the terrible drought we experienced the summer of 2011 actually began the fall before. I hope this is not a trend signaling another long drought. But, only time will tell.
For now, I wander around the garden, taking in the delights that are present. Many plants are showing the effects of frosts and freezes, but there is still so many joys to be found.
If you live in Texas, plant now. Plant shrubs. Plant trees. Plant roses! Plant the garden of your dreams. But watch for the rains, and if they don't come, be prepared to water new plants yourself.
And while you're out there, maybe, just maybe, you'll experience that magical moment when the wind brushes your face with an autumn kiss, while the leaves swirl up for one last dance.
I hope that you don't get into that serious drought like before. We have not recovered from our horrible drought this summer either. 2 years in a row was just too much and hardly any Fall rains here either. Not even from hurricane Sandy which we thought we would get some of that. Let's hope for better things next year.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
Oh, I do so hope that none of the US is in a drought next year. You are so right - it is just too much for the plants to endure.
DeleteHolley, you have nice roses still in bloom. I love to touch them, their buds are soft and dense.Is the last one David Austin's? Happy gardening!
ReplyDeleteNadezda - the last rose pictured is Julia Child. It starts to take on just a slight touch of pink in the autumn, a feature I love.
DeleteI love the day that the leaves "rain" for hours and hours... not sure we are going to get that day this year as many leaves have already dropped. I have been cutting my thug of a rose "Maggie" to the ground - again. But this time she will be dug out and moved to the back yard - she is a great bloomer and grower but too big for the front.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love it when the leaves rain down, too!!! A few days ago, I realized our driveway was covered in leaves from the crape myrtles alongside it, and there were no tire tracks in the leaves yet. It must have 'rained' leaves overnight!
DeleteWe are way beyond planting time here in MD. In fact forecast tonight is rain and snow mix. I have some irises and lilies sent to me by a friend in MS but they will have to winter over in the box in the garage. No hope of getting them planted before spring rolls around agin.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get your needed rain.
Rain and snow! Well, I hope you get rain, and not too much snow! And that your irises and lilies winter over in the garage well.
DeleteSo lyrical, those lines about autumn wind kissing your face. Excellent post Holley!
ReplyDeleteThat's how it's always seemed to me - even long before I was a gardener. There are some sensations that are just unforgettable.
DeleteHi There, Hope you are wrong about an upcoming drought--but I certainly am concerned. We (here in TN) are VERY dry this Fall, at least up here on the Cumberland Plateau. We haven't had any rain in a long time.. That's not a major problem for us right now since it's going into winter---but it does make me wonder about next Spring/Summer.... Scary!
ReplyDeleteI will enjoy your Fall Roses --since ours are gone 'til Spring. Thanks!!!!
Hugs,
Betsy
I am sorry to hear you are so very dry there, too. I hope this coming spring brings some rains to both of us.
Deletewould be wonderful if that awful drought would fade into memory for you. Hope you get your usual rain soon. Pam @ Digging has had some posts about gardening in Texas and the drought. I too wait now for next autumn to do some replanting and reorganising.
ReplyDeleteThat drought was the first year I blogged, and I was so excited about my garden, and then the drought hit and the garden suffered so. I hope I'm just jumping to conclusions a little too early, and am proved wrong! I guess once you live through a drought (or any other type of weather) as bad as that, you never forget, and always worry just a little.
DeleteBeautiful post! I think you nailed it when you said the wind gives you an autumn kiss. I hope that you all get rain and that there is no drought in the future. We are hoping for cooler temps this winter in Chicago but we will see.
ReplyDeleteI am surprised that Chicago is not cold right now. I was so hoping this winter would be a 'normal' one!
DeleteAutumn is a beautiful season on its own right and has its own merits to enjoy. A beautiful post, an ode to this season. And hopefully the drought won't happen too!
ReplyDeleteI have always loved autumn, and only begun loving spring as much as I do after I started gardening. I still think autumn has a special, magical quality to it.
DeleteFirst I sighed at your beautiful wording about the wind kissing your cheek at the same temperature as the air around you--not hotter or colder. And then I had to giggle because that time period is long-gone for us here in the north. Your Roses are stunning, as always! I'm praying that most of us in the U.S. will have plenty of snow and rain in the months ahead.
ReplyDeleteI hope so, too. This summer was not bad for us this year, even though most of the US was in a terrible drought at the time. I think the way the jet stream travels across the US makes a big impact on us. It's discouraging to see a high pressure system sitting on top of Texas even in winter.
DeleteI am sorry to hear of your droughty conditions...again! I truly hope you will be spared the brutal conditions that of 2011 will not be repeated next year. Meanwhile, your autumn garden is still lovely!
ReplyDeleteI hope we're spared, too, and that I'm just jumping to conclusions too fast! One thing about the weather is it's always changing! Let's hope it changes to the good for everyone.
DeleteI've been using the sprinkler, too. Funny, my roses must know their time is short - they are throwing out lots of blooms. Beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteMy roses don't seem to mind the light freezes we've been having, either. They are still going strong. I hate using the sprinkler in the autumn and winter months, but the soil is completely dry. I didn't plant last autumn because we were coming out of the drought, and I didn't know what to expect. This year, I thought things were fine, and planted some new shrubs, but now I'm having to worry over them! Ah, the life of a gardener! ;)
DeleteI still have a few scattered blooms from my roses. Just today I saw a bloom on my "Weeping China Doll" tree rose, and it hadn't bloomed for months. I love Autumn, too, and what a poetic description you gave of the Autumn breeze!
ReplyDeleteEvery rose bloom at this time of year is special. I am lucky to still have so many roses still blooming, as we've had several freezes. But the freezes were light, and didn't last long, so I guess the roses are still happy!
DeleteOh dear. That truly is dismal rainfall, isn't it? Just the opposite is true here. Last week there was so much rain that the river was over its banks. No significant flooding but it was iffy there for awhile. I will keep my fingers crossed that Texas will be blessed with rainfall soon and that you'll have plenty of warning about an impending frost.
ReplyDeleteYour roses are gorgeous! I know what you mean about that moment. It's already happened here. But it's not terribly cold so I'm content. Cheers.
Glad you didn't get any significant flooding. Too much water is, I think, worse than too little. Wouldn't it be wonderful if scientists could figure out how to even up the rainfall?!
DeleteI love your description of the wind, I know that moment too, but couldn't have described it so well. I hope you're not correct about the beginning of the drought but for sure the drought we experienced this summer started last year when there was little autumn rain and none in winter either. As it must be much cooler with you now do you need to water so much? I find that in the morning there is dew covering the ground and even without rain the plants are fine - not new planting of course. Christina
ReplyDeleteI'm not watering near as much as in the summer, only every three weeks or so, but still, I've had to turn on the sprinkler system a few times over the past couple of months. The new plantings I have been watering by hand. Of course, the cooler weather helps, as well as the dew, but I am amazed how dry it is when I go outside to work in the soil. Even a little bit of rain would help!
DeleteA real beautiful post. I love the autumn wind on my face and you can describe it so wonderful. Yes, also on the other side of the world in Europe where we have lots of rain in this season, the best time for planting roses, shrubs and trees is October and November before it starts freezing.
ReplyDeleteIt's usually so nice to be able to put in new plantings in autumn then forget them as the rains do all the work naturally, but my new little plantings are really suffering this year. I tend to worry about drought perhaps a little too much, because we experience a touch of it every summer. And I don't want that touch to turn into a slap!
DeleteA beautiful post about my very favourite time of year. We had a long drawn-out start to autumn - it was heavenly. Of course, that moment has gone now and our little island is drenched and there is far too much flooding.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have rain soon - not too much - just the right quantity. I think that planting in autumn has to be one of life's greatest pleasures. Enjoy!
Sorry to hear about your flooding. Seems the weather just can't get it right this year!
DeleteAutumn seemed brief this year, and if there was a blissful day as you describe, I missed it, but so glad you had one! Today we have snow showers so there will be nothing planted but maybe some late bulbs. Enjoy your planting!
ReplyDeleteSnow showers! We rarely have snow here, and if we do, it's only for a brief time, so it's a magical experience all on its own.
DeleteBeautiful gardens, love the roses. I don't autumn plant too much, while it's been mild the grounds can get saturated with too much rain. I do hope the drought is over for you.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that you are worried about too much rain, while I am worried about too little. You would think the rain clouds could get it right somewhere! ;)
DeleteWhat a beautiful fall we are having - except for that pesky rain issue. I, too, have been watering some. We've had no freeze yet, thank goodness, as the garden is still blooming in places!
ReplyDeleteI love fall, and am glad that it lasts a long time here. I just wish our summers weren't quite so long - I'd take more spring! :)
DeleteI really hate droughts. It's crazy, but it's hard not to take the weather personally when that happens.
ReplyDeletehaha - I think you're right! It does get personal when your entire garden starts dying!
DeleteI love the first warm spring breeze when the temp is cool but the sun warms the breeze....I actually prefer planting in fall when it is cool...hoping you get some rain...we had 2 inches in Nov which is unheard of
ReplyDeleteI should be planting now, but I am never organized enough to plant in fall. I'm not usually organized enough to do it in spring, either, but I get so excited, I just buy the plants anyway! :)
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