Waiting for the rain...

The waterfall area has to be watered almost daily because of the potted impatiens.

I don't give a hoot about football, which is all you hear about around here, but I am excited about one thing this weekend - rain is on the way! Tropical storm Lee is sending it this way and the weatherman says 6 - 7 inches can be expected in our area. Hooray! I was getting to the point where I don't think I could drag hoses around one day longer.

The only plant I've watered in this area is the potted geranium and it is sometimes days between watering since I'm not in this area often. It seems to like this and this is actually the first geranium I've ever grown succesfully.

I have been watering less this summer because our garden is just too large but overall, we have received regular rains up until August. I know it is a lot worse out in Texas and Oklahoma and I feel for gardeners out there. I've been keeping the containers watered (daily or at least every two days), the hydrangeas (every week, sometimes twice per week) and the vegetable garden. All other plants are on their own!

These impatiens out by our front gate require daily watering and even with that, they look like they are ready to throw in the towel. I have them on a soaker hose which makes it easier. Next year I'm going to try something different. Perhaps Vinca (Periwinkle), which I have planted next to your back entrance and doesn't seem to mind less water.

Even the poor rudbeckia hates this dry weather.

As this situation seems to be a regular thing every year, I seriously debate adding plants to the garden that are not drought tolerant and if and when we do retire to the country, I'm going to design a garden with drought in mind and only plant hydrangeas and such in close promixity to the house.

Hydangeas - I love them dearly but you water them one day and this is how they look the next. The wilting is partly a matter of the plant's natural reflexes against the heat so don't over-water them

 

Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena), one of my favorite annuals for pots. Daily watering is a must. This is near the back door so I'm better about it keeping it watered.

Some plants that don't mind the drought are the 'Adagio' ornamental grass and liriope.

Viburnums don't seem to fare well in drought but this one, the Leatherleaf Viburnum
(Viburnum rhytidophyllum), performs better than many of our others.

Cornus kousa "Wolf Eyes" dogwood, one of my favorite trees, droops
badly without water but manages to hang in there.

Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora) - a sign that fall is near -
let's hope it is not a dry one.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy