tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post4660253413464753509..comments2024-03-28T01:13:28.497-07:00Comments on Late to the Garden Party: Is Summer Here Already?Kris Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-87364378729056221892014-05-13T10:20:04.074-07:002014-05-13T10:20:04.074-07:00Some areas already have mandatory restrictions but...Some areas already have mandatory restrictions but they haven't been applied in my community yet. With reservoir levels so low, I wouldn't be surprised to see the restrictions go state-wide this year. I reduced the amount of water I apply earlier but now I'm looking at different watering strategies too. With this 2nd heatwave, it's clear I'm going to lose more plants so drought tolerant selections are becoming not just a choice but a necessity.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-84127770363929559172014-05-12T23:06:31.381-07:002014-05-12T23:06:31.381-07:00Austin feels your pain, Kris. Our new normal (for ...Austin feels your pain, Kris. Our new normal (for the past few years) is mandatory once-a-week watering between the hours of 7 pm and 10 am. We're likely to go to Stage 3 watering restrictions in June, with fewer watering hours. I'm glad for all my drought-tolerant plants, but even xeric plants, when new, need watering. It's tough. And yet we gardeners don't give up but keep looking for new ways of doing things, right?Pam/Digginghttp://www.penick.net/diggingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-28019496944608883762014-05-10T10:41:03.609-07:002014-05-10T10:41:03.609-07:00I actually have a lot of drought tolerant plants b...I actually have a lot of drought tolerant plants but proportionately probably not enough given the current degree of drought and heat. The winds here are tricky too - I didn't have a wind problem at our prior home 15 miles to the north but it's a daily issue here.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-1425231291818168052014-05-10T10:36:42.110-07:002014-05-10T10:36:42.110-07:00I could be more resolute about fall planting if I ...I could be more resolute about fall planting if I could find all the plants I want during that time period. The local nurseries generally offer plants only in season (i.e. when they're coming into bloom) and many of the mail order nurseries outside of California don't make summer bloomers available until spring.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-31496196984344152202014-05-10T10:31:03.718-07:002014-05-10T10:31:03.718-07:00I might be able to forgive and forget the heat if ...I might be able to forgive and forget the heat if we'd just get some rain but there's nothing on the horizon except another heatwave.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-59276215007482511662014-05-08T14:59:57.519-07:002014-05-08T14:59:57.519-07:00I'm sorry for that dang heat wave. We had it u...I'm sorry for that dang heat wave. We had it up here in Oregon too. But it only lasted for a few days. Now it's back to rain. Surprise, surprise. :) I sure hope the Digiplexis proves to be hardier than they're claiming. I'd love to grow it since the flower colors melt my heart. Your Agapanthus photo with the fat gray tree trunks--just beautiful! Hemerocallis 'Russian Rhapsody' ooh la, la! GRACE PETERSONhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04520343332670354262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-22130249179841334392014-05-08T08:45:41.849-07:002014-05-08T08:45:41.849-07:00I'm sorry for your plant losses. Isn't it ...I'm sorry for your plant losses. Isn't it funny how gardeners so often want to grow things more suited to other regions? The PNW wants to grow plants from California and the Southwest, and many of the plants I see in your garden I would expect to see in wetter, cooler areas. There are so many fantastic drought-tolerant plants, but maybe they aren't your style? Evan Beanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06732413653862912387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-61255496878957304092014-05-08T00:26:43.153-07:002014-05-08T00:26:43.153-07:00Having to contend with summer drought myself I fou...Having to contend with summer drought myself I found your post really informative. One thing that surprised me was that you plant anything in spring - I only plant in autumn now as I have so much more success, no plant can build up a root system to deal with wind and high temperatures in just a few weeks. I don't irrigate the larger part of my garden so am always looking for drought tolerant plants with the added difficulty here that winter temperatures can fall to minus 10°C so I have a smaller choice than you. Not many American plants are available here but I must try to get seed of some of the plants you grow; I also like your selections. Christinahttp://myhesperidesgarden.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-9872728931425096752014-05-07T21:21:28.389-07:002014-05-07T21:21:28.389-07:00No, we certainly can't change the weather; how...No, we certainly can't change the weather; however, in my own case here in southern California, I think I do need to face the fact that our warm season is steadily growing longer, our already brief rainy season is growing shorter, and our summers can be expected to be very hot. That means I need to shift my plant selections to more heat and drought tolerant plants no matter how much I love those thirsty, mild-weather plants.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-73223459563998778562014-05-07T21:16:34.637-07:002014-05-07T21:16:34.637-07:00You seem to have a nice mix of drought tolerant pl...You seem to have a nice mix of drought tolerant plants to balance your thirstier ones, Hoover Boo. I think I need to shift the proportions of those in my own garden and do a better job of when placing plants in order to lower my losses in certain areas of the garden. This garden is hotter, drier and windier than my old garden and I've been operating in denial of those facts.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-30766938612790602722014-05-07T21:10:08.245-07:002014-05-07T21:10:08.245-07:00Our summers are getting longer, drier and hotter. ...Our summers are getting longer, drier and hotter. My goal now, Jane, is to adapt to that reality.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-9595999911716095122014-05-07T21:08:00.942-07:002014-05-07T21:08:00.942-07:00It's not a well-formed plan but, yes, I'm ...It's not a well-formed plan but, yes, I'm committed to finding plants that can withstand hot, dry conditions and, if I'm lucky, put off rampaging raccoons too. I may follow Loree's example and invest in more spiky things.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-5641363449903068372014-05-07T21:04:47.785-07:002014-05-07T21:04:47.785-07:00That Euphorbia seems to be an anomaly, Chloris, as...That Euphorbia seems to be an anomaly, Chloris, as all the others hung on - maybe my irrigation system is missing that spot altogether. Re the Agapanthus, as I had a few flower here and there throughout fall and winter, I was afraid they might be too tuckered out to put on their usual show in early summer, hence the urge to take stock to verify that they'd really arrived en masse after all. Don't all gardeners have to be a little compulsive?Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-63573448330140038022014-05-07T20:59:25.709-07:002014-05-07T20:59:25.709-07:00Yes, our summer (which is getting longer as it eat...Yes, our summer (which is getting longer as it eats up a good part of our spring!) is definitely our equivalent of your winter in terms of gardening challenges, Angie. I spent last week hunkered down, only creeping outside to tend to the garden in the early morning and early evening hours.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-13185108556320119592014-05-07T20:55:28.199-07:002014-05-07T20:55:28.199-07:00Spring planting tends to be dicey here, Loree, whi...Spring planting tends to be dicey here, Loree, which is why I try to do as much as I can during the fall and winter months but, as you know, sometimes the plants you want just aren't available on a convenient schedule. As the nurseries tend to sell plants only as they're going into bloom, I think I'm going to need to rely more on mail order to get non-blooming plants I can tuck in during the cooler part of the year. Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-64709156877394239952014-05-07T20:49:27.097-07:002014-05-07T20:49:27.097-07:00The Digiplexis is definitely a good investment, Lo...The Digiplexis is definitely a good investment, Louis!Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-42057772288927632732014-05-07T20:48:15.623-07:002014-05-07T20:48:15.623-07:00Despite its name, 'Heart Attack' does seem...Despite its name, 'Heart Attack' does seem to be quite resilient, Jane. I'm glad yours came through this 1st heatwave too. Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-82631943273094023692014-05-07T18:52:55.586-07:002014-05-07T18:52:55.586-07:00Ohh, love your Hemerocallis, especially 'Spani...Ohh, love your Hemerocallis, especially 'Spanish Harlem' – absolutely beautiful! Sorry to see you have had some losses lately, the weather has been really tricky for a long time – we had stormy winds here today too and I was fearful of my tall baby magnolia, but it seems to have survived. Not much we can do with the weather, only prepare the plants as best we can :-)HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-38303439954115873232014-05-07T16:03:19.727-07:002014-05-07T16:03:19.727-07:00Nice Hems! You did get some damage--ouch! I'...Nice Hems! You did get some damage--ouch! I've not been overly stingy with water. <br />I decided to just cross my fingers for an El Nino winter and not worry about it right now--what else can we do? Hoover Boohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03083294821646284424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-69455527998146472492014-05-07T14:46:52.807-07:002014-05-07T14:46:52.807-07:00Hmm! Winners and losers ! I suppose every season i...Hmm! Winners and losers ! I suppose every season is the same but maybe not as extreme. For every plant that loves the conditions there is one that hates it. You have some lovely successes - and commiserations on the ones that curled up and died ! I love 'Spanish Harlem' - such a rich colour.Hoehoegrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00745640711509233722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-42914232925739261262014-05-07T14:29:31.159-07:002014-05-07T14:29:31.159-07:00Sorry to hear and see your losses due to the heat ...Sorry to hear and see your losses due to the heat wave, and pleased to see the ones that have done well. It sounds like you have a plan forming already to make your garden more adaptable to this phenomenon.Mark and Gazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09427245730390252976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-15381951427444752512014-05-07T12:47:18.936-07:002014-05-07T12:47:18.936-07:00How sad to lose so many plants. I am surprised you...How sad to lose so many plants. I am surprised you lost your Euphorbia.<br /> Your Digiplexis are looking wonderful. I' m goint to see if I can find them here.<br />I was amused that you went on counting your Agapanthus flowers right up to 70. I count my flowers too. Is it a compulsion shared by all gardeners do you think?chlorishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02037607962980090244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-70586471601196748182014-05-07T10:27:29.491-07:002014-05-07T10:27:29.491-07:00We are at opposite ends of the same scale Kris - y...We are at opposite ends of the same scale Kris - you do all you can to protect susceptible plants in summer, where as I have to do all I can in winter. It seems though that what ever our climates throws at us - we can thoroughly rely on daylilies! What an amazing group of plants. They cope with heat and drought there yet cope with cold and flooding here in my garden. Amazing! Sorry to read of your losses. Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14682908724307784154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-63421806636746327542014-05-07T08:32:51.416-07:002014-05-07T08:32:51.416-07:00Heat that comes on strong so early is difficult. W...Heat that comes on strong so early is difficult. We had a run last week too, topping out at 89. Several plants took it hard with sunburn and crispy leaves, although I don't think I outright lost anything. I am sorry you lost things and like Louis said I can't imagine your challenges with heat, wind, and no rain.danger gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09227500551609537140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-84767017639297225872014-05-07T00:46:36.956-07:002014-05-07T00:46:36.956-07:00I am in love with your digiplexis. I'm hunting...I am in love with your digiplexis. I'm hunting one or two or three down asap! I'm sorry to see the plant losses in your garden. That is always hard. If you can believe it, we even have things die up in the rainy PNW because of drought so I can't even imagine the challenges you face. But the garden is always changing and hopefully some things will come back, and for those that don't even better alternatives come your way. Cheers!Louishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06219272603726629982noreply@blogger.com