14 Aug '09 5:31 am We are now on our 50th day of 100+ degree days. Last night, just before dinner, a storm started brewing just north of us. We sat on the front porch and ate our dinner hoping for the much needed rain. We waited and waited and then watched the storm split in two and go around us. SUCH DISMAY, SUCH DEPRESSION. My garden is trying hard to survive, the azaleas and the hypericum shrubs are sunburned and losing their leaves and the phlox has just about given up the fight. The roses, zinnias,butterfly weed,mallows etc.. are doing OK. Hand watering has become such a task, due to the heat. By the time I am finished, I have no energy to do much else.
I have pulled out the entire vegetable garden, getting ready for a second planting. I am fortunate to live where there is time for a second planting. I did have a pretty good harvest of roma, beefsteak and Mr Stripey tomatoes. Cukes,cantelope and eggplant were a little disappointing. Beans, squash and green peppers were just OK.
I have ordered my bulbs for the fall and with great anticipation, I am planning the new landscape project around the pool area for the fall. I shall continue to push on and on despite my whinning about the heat and no rain.
Regards
Mark
Home gardener & plant fetishist
Berkeley, California, USA
Sorry to hear it.
14 Aug '09 9:04 am I know folks (online) in Australia who went through a horrible heat wave. Where are you located?
Our summer has been mild enough here in coastal California but this winter will be an El Nino so no telling what sort of extremes we may get then.
roking
valued member
Hot August
18 Aug '09 2:01 am Good Morning Mark,
I am in south Texas. I do expect it to be hot but the 100+ days that started in July, which according to the locals is early. And with no rain, it has been a challenge to keep things going, especially myself. The weatherpeople are saying that we need a good hurricane in the gulf to bring in some moisture. "Good Hurricane", now that sounds just plain stupid. SORRY. Hope all is well in your garden this fine day.
Regards
Mark
Home gardener & plant fetishist
Berkeley, California, USA
A record hot summer.
18 Aug '09 2:30 am I have a cyberpal who gardens in Austin and she has lost a lot of plants. She was away on a trip and had hired someone to come in and water twice a day. Unfortunately they didn't do it correctly.
In the kind of heat you're experiencing I'm inclined to just lay low. Pretty tough after so many weeks.
Best of luck,
MacFlax
nominate your own title
Canberra, Australia
20 Aug '09 12:39 am Hi Roking. Sorry to hear you're doing it tough.
