Monday, August 15, 2016

Summer Swelter

I'm here, I'm here! I know I've been slacking here on my blog. But I think you'll find the same is true for many garden bloggers this time of year. Instead of talking about our gardens, we're actually out there enjoying them. But I have to admit, I might be shirking in that department also. You see, it's been a very hot and steamy summer, with no rain to cool off a weary gardener.






Yes, I know, I should get out into the garden early before it gets too hot. Perhaps I *should* do this, but it doesn't mean I will. I'm not much of a morning person, and it's very hard for me to be up early and motivated. I'd rather linger over the morning paper with my cup of tea by my side.





This means that weeds are taking advantage of the situation, and growing vigorously. Some of my garden plants may be stunted by the dry spell, but weeds could care less about a drought. I'm looking at you dandelions! Lawns are drying up, shrubs are fading, flowers are giving up. The garden hose and I are getting to be really good friends, as I spend time every day giving everything a good, long drink.





If this sounds an awful lot like last month's post, I apologize. The drought is even worse now, one month later. Some parts of the city have gotten rain here and there, but it always misses us here in Robin's Nest. The funny thing is that despite the dry weather, the humidity is through the roof. Working out in the yard is just not pleasant this summer. Perhaps I'm a fair weather gardener. Well, I own that title. You won't often find me outside working in this much humid heat. Still, something has got to be done about that mess out there!




Even the plants that don't get watered regularly are crying out for my help. The vegetable garden is fading fast, despite my supplemental watering. Luckily the tomatoes are still looking good and putting out plenty of fruit. We've had plenty of cucumbers, but now the plants are dying quickly. I just can't get a handle on the cucumber problem every summer. I've heard that floating row covers are the answer, and I'm not sure why I haven't tried it. I guess I just don't know enough about how it all works. How do floating row covers, which have to be removed for pollination, do me any good at this part of the summer? This is when the plants always die! And I call myself a master gardener. Ha!





To combat the gloom and doom of this garden report,  I'm highlighting photos of the spots that carry on despite the heat and dry weather. I just can't bear to photograph the rough spots.





Like last year, I've been raising a couple of monarch caterpillars. This time, I started from the beginning, with eggs found in my own garden, so it's extra special to me. I'll be sure to post more of them next time. I find it so thrilling, especially when it gets to the butterfly part.







I wrote all of the above yesterday, and last night we actually did get a good rain. What was shocking to me was that I slept right through it! I would have liked to see this wonderful thing. An inch and a quarter sounds wonderful, but I hear we are three inches below normal. Let's hope for more. Maybe that way, I can put up a more uplifting post next time around!





26 comments:

  1. Beautiful photographs! It felt like a walk through your yard and garden. You must be doing a great job watering because everything looks lush. The hummingbird pic and the butterfly picture were great. I have a hard time catching pics of the hummingbirds, they just move so quickly. Good luck with your monarchs.

    I love the way you have the variety of pretty foliage plants by the door. Thanks for the garden tour.

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    1. Well thank you for virtual walking through my garden Susie. I did a lot of watering through that dry spell. Trust me, the bad spots are there, I just choose not to include them! Lol

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  2. How exciting with the Monarchs!!! I have a few Asclepia plants, but have not seen any butterflies yet. I feel for you with the heat and lack of rain. I'm in the PNW, and we've had an unusually cool summer, and even some extra moisture - which is absolutely NOT the norm. I'm ecstatic! Last summer was more akin to what you are experiencing now - all I wanted to do was crawl under a rock. Who knows what the new normal is going to be, but for now, I cherish every moment of moderate temperatures. I hope you have more rain and less heat in your forecast!

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    1. Since I wrote that post, it has rained and rained! Guess it pays to complain.

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  3. Your photos are delicious! Gems in the garden.

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    1. Thank you Layanee! I've been trying every year to get a little bit better with my garden photography. Just a hobby photographer, but I have fun with it.

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  4. You have packed so much in this post and it is a feast for the eyes! Despite the heat, your garden looks wonderful. We don't have the insect life here anymore. I used to see dozens of butterflies, but now only one or two. I wonder where they went. As a kid, I'd raise monarchs and they were plentiful. I saw one this summer dance through the garden. Your zinnias are gorgeous, too. And one last thought: how often to see folks walking by your house standing there on the sidewalk admiring your garden! I would be there gazing, swooning. Hang in there; soon it will be cooler.

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    1. Thank you Ann, but there's lots in this post because it took me so long to get around to doing it! I feel like I haven't seen as many butterflies either, but when I do, I run for the camera.

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  5. As I scrolled down your post, I kept thinking, "So pretty. I'll mention that in one in the comments." But with each one even more special than the one before... I am overwhelmed with beauty!

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    1. Thank you so much Lea! I'm glad you've dropped by my blog to visit.

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  6. This time of year is really hard on the gardens. I think yours still look absolutely gorgeous. Want to come here and help me with mine? ;-) The only garden patch that still looks decent here is my butterfly garden. Everything else, including the potted plants, look awful. Fading and leggy.

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    1. I'm just good at hiding the rough spots from the camera, but thank you!

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  7. Your garden is stunning, Robin, in spite of the heat! I like the variety of coleus leaves you have -- for some reason mine are somewhat plain and boring this year. And I have no monarchs. I must think about raising them in future -- I got very excited when I saw yours. P. x

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    1. I've been a coleus fan for years, and the local nursery sells them in mixed flats, so it's easy to get a variety. I see large pots of exotic types for extra money, but the flats offer all the variety that I want. When planted enmasse like that, they come out quite stunning.

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  8. Much heat here also, over a week in the 90's. You do know that you have an enormous amount of life in your garden, the colors are mind boggling.

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    1. Thank you Patsi! I often think that I coordinate my color scheme a little better, but then I remember that I just love colors!

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  9. I perfectly understand about the heat and humidity! It totally saps all the joy out of gardening. I am counting the days till mid September, when our cool down should begin. I heard the weather guy talking about this week's weather, talking about how much better it will be with lows in the upper 60s and highs ONLY into the lower 90s! I guess this will be good if I get out in the middle of the night or very early morning, but I can't see in the dark and I am not an early morning person either!

    Meanwhile, your garden looks gorgeous; It is so colorful!

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    1. For years, I've bragged about my love of summer. But for the last few years, summer heat has been my enemy. I suppose that hot flashes and summer sun just don't go together!

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  10. Wow, wow, wow. Great photos. Your garden looks divine. It has been hot here as well but unlike you, I love the early morning when the dew sits on the lawn and the day dawns quietly. That doesn't mean I am working in the garden though. LOL Enjoy!

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    1. Thanks for visiting Layanee! I've never been a morning person, so I don't bother trying to change at my age. But I often tease those morning people, saying "let's see how perky you are midnight when I'm ready to go!"

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  11. Robin, you are doing great job keeping your garden alive and attractive in such heat! I understand that camera can be very selective, but the garden vignettes that you showed us are beautiful!

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    1. I am diligent at watering my garden, even if it often annoys me to drag the house around. I try so hard to plant drought tolerant plants, but there's always some new plant that needs pampering, seedlings to baby, or containers that dry out quickly.

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