Some are thriving, really thriving.
And then there is my poor hibiscus. First I should ask, is it just me, or were there no hibiscus being sold this summer? Is it my location in Fort Worth? It is one of my favorite summertime flowers and since I lost all (like a dozen) during the Frozen in FW fiasco I was really looking forward to replacements. My inventory currently consists of two, but I really don't think this one counts.
'Cause if I put it in a pretty collage it won't look so bad?
I sat down this morning with a new will to get back into blogging and get some gardening encouragement/reinforcement from the blogging world. Surprisingly the inspiration I received from the blogging world today was not the plant material.
CreeksideRummager has some new ducks, Carol at SilverSprings has this really cool rock (possibly, tufa), then a visit to a new to me blogger on Blotanical, Linniew at "Women Who Run With Delpheniums" has this posting "Concrete Doesn't Wilt". Linniew, you see, has "Flora" in her garden.
Plants may come and go, but my mantra for today is "Concrete Doesn't Wilt".
10 comments:
I love your new mantra and it so fits this summer! It has definitely been my most challenging year in the garden. Just barely keeping most things alive. My beautiful Ruby Echincia didn't survive :) So will have to replace them next year...not even going to bother trying this year. My castor beans are usually as tall as the house and this year only one stayed alive and it's only 2 foot tall. It is discouraging to say the least. Next year will be better :)
As one who comes and goes I would love to know how to go in for the sequestered in kiddy pools method of watering in absentia. Worth a blog?
Carol, my castor bean plants are pitiful. Been telling the landlord how beautiful they would be... not this year. Yes, next year will be better.
catharine, in case you check back... the original posting was http://texastufa.blogspot.com/2011/08/garden-lives.html giving all the gory details.
HI! OMG I don't know how you Texas gardeners or anybody in that endless heat has survived this summer. I LOVE the wading pools and umbrella plan, you are a resourceful woman. Thanks for the link to my unwilted concrete. I had poster's remorse after that bummed out dead-end of summer post so I'm glad it made sense to some other people. Very fun to meet you!-- Linnie
Great mantra! I, too, feel like I'm being sucked dry from the heat and drought. I think most of Texas feels that way! I purchased a hibiscus at the garden center about a month ago. It was quite lonely. Hardly anything has been going to the garden centers for some time - too hard to keep alive, and too hot to shop! I went by there today and they had a middle table of cacti, and were throwing most of the other plants in a big dumpster. I was the only customer in the place.
I love your new Mantra - I'm with you. Cement flowers would work. Your plants do look very green. Glad you are back to blogging - I've missed you. I heard on the weather tonight that you are not suppose to be over 100 tomorrow. Hope that is correct and sounds like a tropical storm may touch at least some part of Texas.
Hey, concrete looks good to me as well some days, TG! It is one of those extremely odd frustrating years! We have 20 some days until fall! Think cool!
I too was inspired by linniew's post! My hibiscus didn't make it through last winter's freeze so I tried a perennial hibiscus in the sunny bed. Tag said full sun but I don't think it meant Texas full sun...it wilts every afternoon. Gonna move it this fall to a shadier spot and see how it does. Great idea for your plants while you were away...I'll have to give that a try.
I noticed what you did, that the plants only looked green and fresh after a rain, even a brief one. The pots get more water from watering, yet the rain that does not even make the pot seems to give them a fresher look. Must be the temps. Concrete does not wilt, but up here, heaves and cracks in winter. That is not much different than the clay soil with deep crevices all summer. They are strangely similar in appearance.
Great mantra! It sounds as if you are at your wit's end and understandably so. It can be so frustrating to attempt to grow a garden when nature is not cooperating. Maybe she will open up her pocket of rain soon...
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