Bloom Day-August 2010-Think Drought
This month's Bloom Day sees the garden and the gardener very tired. Watering has been a non-stop task for the gardens and it is getting old. About mid July had me watering mainly hydrangeas and newly planted shrubs, now I have had to resort to watering so much more due to the fact we haven't had any significant rainfall in my garden for about one month. That is a pretty long time to go without water even for well adapted native shrubs and I am frustrated to see so many wilted plants. Now that I've gotten my complaints out of the way let's look at a few blooms that are relatively hardy. The first is the surprise lilies. They have definitely been a surprise to me because they are popping up in areas I had no idea they were planted in; whereas the area where I had big stand of them last year is a no show this year. Geez, surprise! These bulbs are drought tolerant and shine no matter the heat. Site them where they can be seen and not disturbed.
Next up are a few blooms from the Sunny Perennial Border. The giant coneflowerRudebeckia maxima) is reblooming and putting on another show. Wonderful! The 'Fireball' hibiscus is still showing plenty of color. This particular hibiscus has been a real trooper in my garden. You can also just see the sneezeweed (aka Helenium autumnale) just beginning to bloom. There is also a lot of verbena (Verbena bonariensis) in this photo. The verbena has self sown just about everywhere and that is fine with me. It is a very nice and airy plant with lots of color that attracts butterflies AND it is drought tolerant. That is a mighty big bonus to me.
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Night blooming jimsonweed is another drought tolerant plant. My good friend Geri gave me a few starts of this self seeder and I've been smitten ever since. This plant is fragrant, night blooming, and no maintenance. The downfall is that it is an annual and the seedlings are apt to turn up just about anywhere but around the mother plant. The good thing is that it does not self seed overmuch and the seedlings are easily transplanted. This jimsonweed is closely related to brugmansias (Angel Trumpets).
Here we have some ligularia. It's taken me a few years to get conditions right for the ligularia but now that they are this has been a reliable bloomer despite its need for plentiful water. The conditions are full shade and under the downspout! Conditions stay shady here and the plant gets what little moisture is available if it rains.
Lastly we have nicotiana, aka Flowering tobacco. This is a progeny of seeds I started in 2004. The plant itself is a tender perennial but self seeds handily in my garden. My vegetable garden and the surrounding beds have a bunch of seedlings that I let go. I love this plant. This plant rarely shows drought stress despite its very full leaves but occasionally might need a drink (it has been more than a month since we've had measurable rainfall in my garden). Its charms are that it is fragrant at night and produces a million seeds (so I can share) and requires no care.
Other bloomers here in Tiger Gardens are: paniculata hydrangeas, some mopheads are reblooming, lantana, impatiens, Rocky Mountain penstemon, zinnias, phlox, agastache, sedum, melampodium, veronica, Rose of Sharon, buddleia, hostas, cleome, coneflowers, patrina, rudbeckia, bouncing bets, crepe myrtles and that's about all I can think of....
in the garden....
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,
In the Garden
Impressive blooms for the hot and dry season! Love that jimsonweed !
ReplyDeleteGood early Morning! I have Grand Jury Duty today so up and at em early...
ReplyDeleteWelcome to my world of hot dry summers Tina! I am impressed with your blooms considering you have had little rain. We had our drought conditions the month of June and early July but finally had those showers falling and now everything is happy. Although, no rain for a week so I am beginning to worry a bit. My hose is ready when the wilt begins...
Everyone have a wonderful day. I will be busy hearing about dumb crooks…
Good morning Tina ~ In spite of drought conditions, you still have some lovely bloomers growing. I think my favorite are the surprise lilies of yours. I do like the Jimsonweed too.
ReplyDeleteHope you get some rain soon. We finally got some much needed rain starting last week, and I think it's rained every day but one. We are thankful.
Enjoy all that beauty surrounding you.
FlowerLady
So beautiful...love the Hibiscus! I have that night bloomer too.
ReplyDeleteYou say you have plenty of seeds to share from the nicotiana? If you still plan on coming down to Florida in a few weeks, could you throw an envelope in the suitcase for me? I know what you mean about the dry weather. This is our rainy season, but the rain has been hit or miss lately. I think we're supposed to be getting some in a few days, though, from that tropical depression forming in the Gulf. Maybe some of that rain will work its way up to Tennessee.
ReplyDeleteYour surprise lilies and jimsonweed look so refreshing in this heat. (Yes, 100 again today here).
ReplyDeleteLigularia is a beautiful plant. I see those in shady places and spaces.
Two weeks ago I thought there would be nothing but brown dried up flowers to show for Bloom Day, but thankfully we have had a few storms, includind while this gardener was away for 10 days. Vacation rain is always nice. I hope you start getting more regular rains.
ReplyDeleteFor the drought condition you have you still have a beautiful garden full of beautiful blooms.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope you get some much needed rain. It's no fun dragging that hose around.
Hope all have a wonderful day---Skeeter, Dawn, Jean, Nina, Anonymous-You to Tina.
I love the jimsonweed and the nicotiana.
ReplyDeleteWe are less with the rain this year too but my area gets regular balmy, fast, hard rain. (about every 3 days)
Always liked the nictiana But those coneflowers are something else.
ReplyDeleteYes, tired of watering also and the HEAT !
Think you're right about the Ligularia...had the same problem here.
Good morning all! What a busy morning. We have a dog who easily jumps a four foot tall chainlink fence and likes to roam-with the neighbor's dog. Whew! I caught her before she ran in the road but she did not want to come! I cannot see this problem changing so now I guess the newest pup will have to be tied:( Anyhow....
ReplyDeleteGardening Asylum, Welcome to In the Garden and hello to Connecticut! So glad you dropped by. Your garden is wonderful.
Skeeter, You have fun you funny girl. Maybe that flight attendant will show up in your session....
Flowerlady, It has been so tough this summer:( I have to stop watering soon as the bill is very high. Thanks for the wishes on rain we need them!
Darla, gotta love those hibiscus for sure.
W2W, We are for sure coming down but it may not be until October due to Mr. Fix-it's schedule. I'll package a bunch of seeds for you. The nicotiana will do wonderfully for you down there. Plant it once and you'll have it always but it is not invasive and easy to pull if too many grow. Not an issue here. I think I have about 20 sprout up. A good thing. We'll see ya then I hope! I'll email you ahead of time.
Cameron, Ha! I used to think it was only NC that got so hot in the summer. Now Tennessee has for some reason caught on and I tell you I might have to go north:) Stay cool.
Les, Vacation rain is the best! It is so nice to come home to healthy and happy plants. Lucky you!
Lola, One of these days I might snap some shots of my wilty plants:( Then you all would see the real deal-not happy here but a few blooms are nice. I'm sticking with these from now on. Mainly the crepes and hydrangeas are suffering. It's bad here. You have a good day!
Rain every three days is nice Dawn! I'd take it. It used to be in the 80s that this part of Tennessee got thunderstorms each afternoon. I think the jet stream shifted and now other parts of the country get it now. Funny think is two miles away they had rain-but not here:(
Patsi, I can't recommend the rudbeckia maxima enough. It is a keeper. Very nice flower and foliage and ever so easy. I was surprised it is going thru a second bloom. Yup, I know it is awful but I take comfort in knowing I'm not the only gardener watering. What does it mean? We give up gardening and not water? Nah, gotta garden so we gotta garden:)
Gorgeous blooms this month Tina inspite of the heat and drought. We've been having the same temps & conditions here too. Yuck! :( I love those Surprise Lillies, I've been wanting to add some for some time now. Just need to get off my butt and order them, lol. ;)
ReplyDeleteMy Helenium has been beautiful this summer. Am I suppose to deadhead it? I haven't and it keeps on going. Like you, I am watered out! Hubby helps me and we water twice a day. It is really getting old. Hopefully this time next month will be better!
ReplyDeleteAs usual Tina your plants look awesome. Sorry to hear you have to water so much. It's very dry up here as well.
ReplyDeleteEven with all that dry heat you sure do have great blooms for bloom day.
ReplyDeleteI do feel for you guys down there cause even here, I am watering EVERY DAY!!!! Hot and dry here also all summer this year. We have been very close to southern temps and also havin a high dew point but not nearly high as yours. However, that is bad for Maine. We got one half inch rain last night in a half hour. First rain in 3 weeks at which time we got 3 inches in an hour. Runs off when it comes like that. Oh well, better than the nearly every day rain that we got last summer that brought mega blight.
It has been really hot and dry here too. I am amazed at the blooms that you still have despite the weather. I have all but given up. Try to stay cool in the heat. Carla
ReplyDeleteThose lilies are popping up in other people's yards around here. They are very neat looking.
ReplyDeleteJake
Racquel, I got my surprise lilies from a friend. It's the best way with these I think. If you lived closer I'd gladly share. Perhaps you might know someone around you that has them? February is the best time to move them here in my neck of the woods when the foliage is up-though the bloom will be sacrificed the first year.
ReplyDeleteLinda, I don't deadhead my heleniums. I do cut it earlier in the summer and stick the cuttings in soil to make more. Very easy! If we ever get rain I'll plant the cuttings which are not happy in small pots. But actually I do more work than necessary-you can divide these guys. I've not had them self seed here.
Melanie, It is so frustrating with the watering! Grrrr!
Mom, You have a fantastic visit that great grandson (and grandson) of mine! If we see we see ya, if not that is fine too!
Carla, You are way smarter than me to give up. I just haven't learned yet when to say enough is enough...but soon.
Jake, The surprise lilies are ever so easy to grow. Find you a close by friend who might share in February. This is how I got mine. Your palm looks good! If you haa post ofve a chance at this post of our fellow blogger who lives in Raliegh NC-her palm was spectacular! She gave me my small palm tree. Don't think mine will grow like hers but that is okay. http://tinaramsey.blogspot.com/2009/06/north-carolina-bloggers-on-my-mind.html
Have you thought of using a soaker hose for your new shrub watering? Great to see the lilies doing so well in the heat and draught. I send my wet wishes to you.
ReplyDeleteThis gardener is tired, too, and it's not even from doing too much--it's mostly from being tired of feeling overwhelmed by all the things I should do. Love all your plants, esp. the nicotiana and the naked ladies (I found myself saying "I like naked ladies" in another comment today and had to reword it, lol). Happy birthday, too!
ReplyDeleteNice blooms Tina. I'm sure it's hard to water all the time when you're not used to it. It's a normal routine for me (which is why I should be doing more xeriscape!) I'm surprised the Ligularia is doing so well without water (or maybe it's one of the plants you've been hand watering?) I'm moving mine near the pond next year to hopefully help it out.
ReplyDeleteI definitely want to check out that Rudbeckia! Sounds and looks great.
Your supplemental watering sure is paying off Tina. Wonderful August blooms!
ReplyDeleteWow!!! That Hibiscus is Awesome...I have my own, but the color of yours is second to none...Absolutely Gorgeous...Keep'em coming...
ReplyDeleteCome by my blog and see what we have blooming
www.totallyterrafirma.com
Kathleen, I have not watered the ligularia at all. I think the full shade gravelly moist clay area is what it needs. The foliage is all limp but the flowers still stand up. Now we get rain so it is most happy:)
ReplyDeleteI haven't had any luck so far getting nicotania to start from seed, so I bought two six-packs of seedlings this spring and added them to some containers. They are great plants for shady areas. I've since noticed some nicotania that is much taller, though; is yours the tall variety? I've been wondering what the difference was between them.
ReplyDeleteWatering seems to be a never-ending chore here, too; if I'm busy one day and skip it, everything looks wilted and near-death the next day.
Sorry, Tina--how did I miss this post??
Rose, These nicotiana are quite tall. I'll save you some seeds and send them up when I have them ready. I initially started mine on a flat. I sprinkled the seeds on top of the soil. Every single one germinated and I was in shock as you know the seeds are quite tiny so there were a lot. They are troopers with transplanting though. Nicotiana does quite well in shade and sun-needs some moisture if in full sun but a real trooper. P.S. Don't worry about missing posts. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDelete