This summer of 2013, which started out so promising with rain and cooler than normal temperatures, has suddenly turned hotter than average here in Texas. As much as ten degrees above normal--a big difference when normal is 95-97F/35-36C. We're predicted to reach 106F/41C today.
An hour later I finished watering and headed out with my camera to take stock of the garden. The plants in the circle garden are managing well enough. The flowers are fading in the sun and there have been a few losses but it's going to be fine.
Along the north side of the house Salvia madrensis, a shade loving fall bloomer, remains wilted even with a good watering.
The ruellia continues to bloom each morning even while wilting.
The lemonquat is blooming for the third time this year even while earlier fruit is ripening.
A prairie verbena spring wildflower blooms among the crispy horseherb ground cover in a spot of shade.
The buffalo grass lawn goes dormant naturally as a defense against the heat and drought. It will green up quickly when rain and cooler temperatures return.
The weather report gives us a 20% chance of rain over the weekend which is not enough to even get our hopes up since we've heard this many times before. At any rate the high pressure which has remained stationary over us for more than a week should be moving out which will at least allow for a drop in temperatures. It will also bring in tropical humidity.
The sun is beginning to burn off the morning clouds and the air will heat up quickly now.
I head back inside for the day, but not before I check the thermometer on the deck and am surprised to see it's only 82F at 10:30 am because it feels so much hotter. We've more than 20 degrees to go this day and it will probably be that many hours before we see such a low number again. Indoors we try to stay cool without pulling the plug on the entire state due to record-setting power usage numbers this week.
Those of you who live in cooler climates probably wonder why we put up with this. Ask the same question in February when we are in the garden all day instead of shoveling snow. Even though most of my existing plants are surviving overall, I spend my afternoons taking stock of what works and rethinking my idea of drought/heat tolerant plants while planning changes for my garden this fall.
Fewer perennials and more cactus is what I'm thinking now.
I used to think that I would have to put up with your kind of summer weather in order to avoid the snow. Then I moved to the PNW. ;-) Little to no snow in winter, no overwhelming heat in summer, and no skeeters.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid even the PNW is too cold for me, the heat only lasts a few weeks and this is much worse than typical. After years of living in cold climates I am happy to be home in Texas.
DeleteNot a heat lover, I cannot imagine what you are going through. The tan buffalo grass is quite attractive,IMHO. And yes, we all have our season when the weather forces us indoors, so we'll be envying you in Feb.
ReplyDeleteI don't love the heat but it's sooo worth it when we can be out and about ten or more months of the year.
DeleteI agree with the more cactus. However, I don't like th pricklies. I prefer succulents. They are holding up pretty good.
ReplyDeleteAll the succulents, agaves, yuccas are going great right now. I'm fine with the pricklies!
DeleteYour last sentence pretty much sums up the sense of adaptation you have acquired as a gardener. Different areas, different challenges.
ReplyDeleteJust when I think the challenges of gardening in Texas have been dealt with, the weather throws out a new twist!
DeleteI do hope your garden is on the mend and look forward to seeing the big comeback.
I'm so sorry about your heat! Hopefully it will subside soon and you'll once again be able to play outside. How does the wildlife cope with the heat? We all make compromises in our gardening year unless, of course, we live in central California, Hawaii, or other horticultural paradise places. I have to admit to loving my area probably because it's what I'm used to. (and no poisonous snakes, no huge bugs, etc.)
ReplyDeleteWe do have some fascinating bugs. Poisonous snakes are scarce in my neighborhood fortunately. There are only a few of those paradise areas so the rest of us are left to discuss our challenges.
DeleteGreat question about the wildlife! I'm looking for post ideas since the heat makes progress in the garden nonexistent.
That is so crazy--our August has been much cooler than normal. Weird. We've hit a bit of a dry spell, too--but nothing like last summer or like your hot, dry weather. Take care out in the Sun, Shirley.
ReplyDeleteWe had a better than average summer last year so we were due for a hot one. Looks like we're almost through it now.
DeleteI think there are very few places where there isn't some sort of weather trade off, the trick is finding the place that works for you. I hope relief comes soon, and I'm looking forward to that agave growth post you mentioned on my blog today!
ReplyDeleteTradeoffs are an important part of it. The post should be up tomorrow (Monday).
DeleteTalk about survival of the fittest. The prospect of having stronger plants because they've been tested by fire is the only silver lining for that weather. I wish I could send you some of this Georgia rain, Shirley.
ReplyDeleteWe did get some needed rain over the weekend so that's a plus. It's amazing how much rain you've had this year. It's always about finding what works.
Deletelast year, we were seeing some heat... the temp was reaching 108° last July...
ReplyDeleteThis year... It's been awful cool here, rainy, and our gardens aren't producing...
plenty of tomato viruses, but no ripe tomatoes... watermelons cracking, bland cantelopes, about the only thing that likes this weather is the cucumbers... and the rodents... The rats are eating everything... I'm catching them in traps baited with carrots!
About all that I'm growing is bulk for the compost pile...
It's difficult to say... which is preferable... in the drought and heat, no weeds... And it's a good time to check plant appropriateness in the garden... the plants that die... weren't appropriate...
With all the watering that you're doing, though... doesn't seem like you're getting a true idea of the ability of the plants to withstand the climate... water the plants, teach them to develop shallow roots... and depend on that daily watering.
But... yeah, my posts were infrequent in the drought... I can post only so many wilted plant pictures...
Well said !
DeleteI agree. The heat has been horrible. The positive effect it's having here is making me even more diligent in changing the garden over to heat tolerant plants. Last week I converted three big ciruclar wooden planters over to agaves, cactus and succulents. When I'm hot I have no mercy on constantly wilting plants. I might mention two leafy shrubs that are holding up very well; yellow cestrum (Cestrum aurantiacum) and Wooly bee balm (Aloysia macrostachya). Amazingly Sweet almond bush (Aloysia virgata) is doing well and the one that gets a little water, very little, is even blooming.
ReplyDeleteThanks for mentioning what's doing well. I've written these down to try in my garden next summer.
DeleteDavid/:0)
It is hot. But then, it's August in Texas. I've lived in Texas all my life, and this is pretty much what we get, every year. The plants...and the people...have to be a bit tough. And, thanks heavens for air conditioning.
ReplyDeleteI'm seeing what's working and what's not, too. Natives and yes...more cactus.
At least August makes us closer to the fall.
Stay cool.
That's always my favorite part about August, next month is fall and we begin to cool down!
DeleteWell said. I am just counting down the hours until sunset and the promise of clouds and lower temps tomorrow. Even some of my special TREES are wilted after such a torrid week. I have two 50 gallon rain barrels filled with A/C drip water for just such emergencies.
ReplyDeleteWe have a 40% chance of rain the next 3 days, but even that doesn't guarantee that it will be my turn. Fortunately, just like you take stock on weeks like this, so do I. Over many, many summers here, my garden is almost 100% drought tolerant so I have very few losses. Still...when I do lose a 'trial' plant I blame myself for buying a non-Texas wimp. No wimpy plants allowed here in Texas...right? I hope and pray San Antonio and the rest of your area gets rain. Maybe we will! I'll be watching the radar instead of TV tomorrow. Already I'm seeing a lot of action in Louisiana and it's headed west!
David/:0)
We did get a bit of rain Saturday night and a few sprinkles on Sunday so not too bad. It was much cooler today. Even some of my native plants have wimped out in this record-setting weather.
Delete106! Ouch. I hope you get a break soon. Miraculously, we're experiencing cooler than normal weather. No rain but then we rarely get any summer rain (and not much in spring or fall either). Drought is probably something all of us in the southwest need to adapt to.
ReplyDeleteWe actually hit 104 so they were at little off and it was quite the cold front which brought the heat down about ten degrees this weekend so things are looking much better around here.
DeleteShirley, we are burning up here , too, in Freestone County, and we didn`t get the volume of rain you guys did earlier. Again, It`s rammed home to me that certian plants are just not xeric enough for Texas. 21 days till Septemebr!
ReplyDeleteExactly, and sometimes it seems even Texas plants are not Texas tough!
DeleteHey Shirley,
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you're burning up. You're lucky you're not into containers. Todd the bus driver/gardener extraordinaire has to water the 30" window boxes stuffed with five plants two or three times a day when the temperature is over 95. Can't imagine the water demands of 106. Hang in there.
I do like container plants and window boxes but they are planted with the most xeric plants I can find to make it easier. That is typical in the heat 2-3 times a day to make sure the plants make it through.
DeleteI feel for you and your plants! I'm pretty sure I couldn't make it in Texas, I can barely tolerate our Illinois summers as it is.
ReplyDeleteI've spent some time in Chicago Jason and I don't like the winters so whenever the heat bothers me I just think of shoveling snow.
DeleteHi Shirley, I thought it was pretty hot here in London when we had 90-95 degrees for weeks, I guess it is all about what you are used to. My garden certainly could not tolerate your climate! I hope you get some cooler weather soon! Take care, Helene.
ReplyDeleteThat is hot for London, I know you were quite cool last year and this spring so it really warmed up finally. Not too long before you start to cool off again.
DeleteIt's always about ten degrees hotter here near the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. I just hibernate during the hottest part of the day. I'm in my garden in the mornings and late in the evenings again. Yes, we garden most of the year. Here our spring grden can be started in January for many things. Hardly ever freezes, so it's worth it like you said.
ReplyDeleteI live for mid-October through early May in Texas. Those are the sweet months, and I plant or revise plantings steadily for 7 months of the year. It makes up for the horrible 5-month summer (mostly).
ReplyDelete