It’s been over a decade
Since we have had
This kind of heat.
Generally I try not complain about the weather.
After all, my grandmother drove a conastoga wagon
From Iowa to Oklahoma when she was 18
During the summer.
What have I got to complain about!
Yet, somehow this feels different.
It is unrelenting.
I think we are on week 4 or 5
Of most days well over 100.
Keeping the garden alive
Can be a full time job
In years like this
If you haven’t prepared for it.
There are two things I did by instinct
That help my garden survive.
Granted not everyone wants a full blown perennial garden.
But adding perennials to your flower beds
Will save you time, money, water and worry.
Because perennials intend to survive
More than one season
They are more deeply rooted
Meaning they can take the slings and arrows
That nature is throwing these days.
Some even thrive on it.
So right now these things are not just surviving
But are actually happy in my garden.
And providing all the nector
The flock of buzzing pollinators living with us
Seem to need.
Happy perennials are Maxmillion Sunflower
Purple Coneflower, Tall Garden Phlox, Gloriosa Daisy,
Veronica Spicata and Sunny Border Blue and Verbena Bonariensis.
All of these not only come back but also spread.
No perennial gives more than Annabelle Hydrangea
And her cousin Incrediball.
Then there are the self seeding annuals
Zinnia, Sunflower, Cleome and the ever present Cockscomb.
These are the foundation of my high summer garden.
Other plants may bloom a little but these are the staples.
Even in this heat they only require water about every 5 days.
That, of course, is with drip irrigation.
Fifteen plus years ago when we built my garden
I ordered a really large roll of inline emitter drip line
From Dripworks.
1,000 feet of coiled drip line was like a giant snakey octopus
All over my backyard.
Once it was softened by the sun
And put into place
It has been the lifeline of my garden.
I connect the line to two faucets at opposite ends
Of the back of the garden.
We are lucky to have a well.
I turn them both on at once
And let them slowly drip for several hours.
That’s right.
I want the water to go deeply
To the low roots of even the biggest plant.
The water will draw the roots even deeper
Helping the plant survive
The 114 degrees predicted for next Tuesday
And the two weeks near zero
That will surely come next February.
I don’t know whether plants are like people
Or people are like plants.
But I do know that without my deep roots
And firm foundation
The last 2 1/2 years would have been
Even more difficult.
For me and my garden.
Gail
In My Garden 