I felt that there wouldn’t be much to photograph for this month’s Bloom Day due to the drought and heat that we have been experiencing for the last few months. Our “green and pleasant land” is only as it is because of all the rain we experience throughout the year. Not this year though, we haven’t had any sizeable showers since the beginning of May and the temperatures have just kept rising to the low 30C which is much hotter than we usually have.
The roses have stopped flowering, as soon as the buds open, they are over, such a shame. However, some plants are standing up very well to the lack of water and high temperatures so I will concentrate on those.
July is the time for Hemerocallis, the day lilies, they seem to have loved this weather.
Iris ensata are still doing well in the bog garden, there must still be moisture down there somewhere.
My favourite day lily at the moment, such a bright gold, it really stands out.
and my favourite hydrangea, it started out pink, but soon showed that it wanted to be blue.
The one next to it though also started out pink, at the same time, but is taking a lot longer to change to blue.
Crocosmia Lucifer is putting on his usual show.
Lysimachia ephemerum is shrugging off the heat alnd lack of water.
A lily by the back door. I have really given up on lilies as we have so much damage from red lily beetle, but this one keeps coming back.
Santolina Lemon Fizz is revelling in the high temperatures and lack of water.
Acanthus mollis by the pond is surviving, the leaves have wilted but the flowers are standing up nice and strong.
Some fuchsias are coping better than others, this is Delta Sarah, which is about half its usual size.
Agapanthus are just starting to flower in the front border.
Inula helenium with visiting bee. This is much smaller than normal due to the lack of water, usually it is way taller than me, but now only up to eye level.
Potted plants in the gravel area are doing well as they get watered every day.
But this is where I flake out every afternoon when I can’t take the heat anymore. The corner of the gravel area has an arbour covered in honeysuckle which is flowering at the moment, the perfume is divine! I can be found here with a long cold drink and a good book, sitting in the shade, keeping cool. Cheers.
While writing this, we have actually had a tiny shower, lasting all of 5 minutes, it didn’t even wet the paving. they keep promising us proper rain, but when will it come?
How are you and your garden coping , I hope better than I am!
Today we have had the first rain in weeks and everything is breathing a sigh of relief !Sadly some of our plants have not survived the scorching temps ,and the roses have all really struggled. Think the forecast is for summer again tomorrow !More watering !
We are just not used to it are we Mary! Gardening on heavy clay does have its compensations though at times like this, there is moisture there as long as plants can get their roots down deep enough. I really hope we have some serious rain soon, we are supposed to have more showers on Wednesday, but I don’t know if they will do any good.
Nice to see your beautiful flowers, Pauline, I have some of the same ones, all the way over here in the American PNW. We also have similar weather here right now, hot (90s F) and dry. I know I shouldn’t wish my life away, but I really wish autumn would come quickly since it normally brings plenty of rain and cooler temperatures.
Thanks Alison, usually our summers have plenty of rain, this weather is so unusual for us. Most of my plants are ones that like moist soil, they are coping, but only just, rain can’t come too soon for me.
It’s most interesting to see what is happy Pauline. Your shady spot looks like a perfect retreat. Oh it’s been hard work this summer. Last time around I was 40 years or so younger and didn’t have a garden 🙂 We’ve had some decent rain today in the north west but would be happy to see more forecast.
My shady spot is wonderful Anna when the sun is beating down and frying everything to a crisp. I envy you your decent rain, I really wish we could have some here, lugging watering cans round every morning isn’t my idea of fun, hopefully it will be a bit cooler now.
Well how fortunate it is that you have so many plants that are managing so well during this weather Pauline. Looking after a garden is such a struggle isn’t it when there’s no rain! It’s the same here in Sweden though we had a heavy shower of 7mm yesterday. Your shady spot looks so inviting!
Unfortunately even more are not managing well without rain for so long Denise, I didn’t show you those! It is depressing looking at the garden at the moment, I hope it ends soon. Even though it is now quite a bit cooler, my shady spot is still where you’ll find me when I’m worn out with lugging watering cans.
I thought the SW had had some rain Pauline? It must have missed you 🙁 It is really interesting to see how plants respond to these conditions and we will just have to wait to assess the longer term effect. Like Anna, I didn’t have a garden of my own in 1976 and endless days of heat and sunshine didn’t mean the same thing as they do now, when the garden is my number one interest. Hey ho, it won’t last for ever… I think I bought one of thos elysimachia last year but I can’t remember where I planted it – don’t think can be doing as well as yours though!!
Don’t believe all you see on the weather forecast Cathy. We were promised rain yesterday, but not a drop fell here. Any rain that comes from the west gets dumped on Dartmoor and there isn’t usually any left over for us in the east of Devon. More is forecast for tomorrow, but I won’t hold my breath! It’s at times like this that I am grateful for all our heavy clay soil and the underground stream!