The weather over the last week has been unbearable with temperatures in the middle 90's for the last six days. By mid afternoon the gardens and container plants are all looking a bit worn around the edges with lots of wilted and unhappy flowers and foliage. I've been making the watering rounds three times a day and giving everything that's wilted a good misting every time I go outside and brave the blast furnace temps out there. (Today is 99 degrees) I know this is business as usual for folks in the southern tier of states but I'm in New Hampshire for crying out loud. Jeesh! Hydrangeas and fuchsias are simply not equipped for this. What is a big surprise to me is how well the plants recover at night.
When I work through my first round of watering for the day the gardens and container plants are actually looking pretty good if you don't look too closely. The fuchsias flowers are still burned and the rose blossoms are crispy around the edges but overall there is a lot of color out there. The fried daylily blossoms are replaced with fresh new ones every AM so they look pristine in spite of the weather. The other interesting happening is that the oriental/orienpet lilies are opening blossoms at record rates so there is a lot of color out there. Downside is there won't be any lily flowers left by the end of next week but for now it's a kaleidoscope of color.
I went walkabout with camera at 6AM today to catch the morning color. There is nothing quite like the misty, scented air in the gardens before the sun breaks over the horizon.
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| The Sundial Garden is strutting its stuff with the Orienpet Tarragona Lilies in full bloom |
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| The Terrace Garden |
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| The Tarragona Lilies and Hemerocallis 'Innocent Bystander' bloom at the same time. Nice of them to coordinate bloom times |
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| The West Container Border |
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| The Bromeliad tree is on the left |
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| The Grape Urn has filled in nicely |
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| The Sundial Garden looking West |
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| Patio Containers |
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| Terrace and Sundial Gardens |
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| Border on the East side of the house |
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| Hosta 'Golden Tiara' with Persicaria 'Painter's Palette' |
I'm so sorry it's so hot there! I wilt and get crisp at the edges too when it goes above 90. Your garden looks lovely, and kudos to you for being such a slave to it. I need to get one of those Bromelaid trees. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Alison, to get one of those Bromeliad trees just get about ten to fifteen bromeliads one old, sturdy branch, floral wire, sphagnum moss and assemble.
DeleteI don't know, Deanne, it looks just fine to me :). Morning is definitely a magical time in the garden on these hot summer days. Usually I'm getting ready for work and can't enjoy it. Hope to get to bed early tonight so I can be up and at it early tomorrow. Better days are coming!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sue, can't wait until tomorrow morning when the temps are supposed to be in the 60's... yea!
DeleteSeen in its entirety, your garden is nothing short of amazing! Everything is lovely, in spite of the heat. Thanks for sharing the beauty.
ReplyDeleteAwestruck by your gorgeous garden! Love all the garden ornaments, urns, and birdbaths too. So charming!
ReplyDeleteI am coming to visit...sometime. Gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteWould love to see Layanee! Any time
DeleteMy aunts in Holyoke, Mass. say this summer is like nothing they've ever seen too. Amazing how wonderful it looks after days of that kind of heat. Resilient indeed (you too!)
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise, today is finally going to be normal for us. I'm already enjoying the morning with the windows open for the first time in over a week.
DeleteDeanne, I have been following you and your garden for so long now. Many years ago I even put an urn in my garden, copying yours - your driveway garden was the first picture I ever saw, it had an urn that was planted with a fountain grass, which I copied in my urn. Every year I drool over the pictures you post and plan and dream. Unfortunately, I do not have your gift of arranging plants. Mine just always looks ratty. But I will not give up! You inspire me with every photo! I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...:)
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Leslie! Nice to hear from you. That driveway garden has changed so much over the years. I'm thinking of doing a blog post on it.
DeleteThank you for sharing these photos Deanne, your garden looks lovely and lots of plants have thrived well despite the heat. Hope the temperatures become more comfortable for you all in the following days to come :)
ReplyDeleteYour temperatures are hellish but your garden is heavenly. All your hard work wintering over so many containers is inspirational! Your design sense amazes me - I wish you could come and make some sense of the cacophony of plants in my garden!(Alas, I know that the answer is to get rid of some plants but I love them all!)
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