Dear Carol, Mary Ann and all of our other gardening friends,
This morning, after breakfast, I walked six times around our property (five acres of it) which took approximately thirty minutes.
What does that have to do with gardening?
Just this . . . as I walked out my back door, the crunch of the river rock met my ears, and my nose was enticed by . . . the essence of cloves from the Dianthus, the intense perfume of the Phlox paniculata, and an intoxicating tea scent from the shrub roses. My fingers itched to play, but my feet told me to get walking, so I did. I am gaining weight, and it’s probably because I have no vegetables to eat.
About the produce, what can I say? If this summer were my first to grow vegetables, I would throw up my hands and quit. Out of the thirteen or so tomato plants I placed lovingly in the soil, I’ve eaten two paltry, but tasty, fruit. This is of course not counting ‘Sungold’ the cherry tomato who bravely soldiers on.
I blame our crazy summer weather for this lack of tomato goodness. Meanwhile, the vining green beans keep climbing and taking up space, blooming and then . . . nothing. Any ideas? Is it the heat dome which covered our state most of the summer?
By the by, my friends in Washington and Oregon, you are not used to this abysmal weather, and yet, you are still growing and glowing, ‘er sweating. along with me and other gardeners across the U.S. I salute you.
Although my vegetables are struggling, ornamental plants, like the hummingbird shrub shown above, are doing extremely well. They don’t need such even temperatures.
Last week, we had three days of rain and cooler temperatures, for which I am exceedingly thankful, but today the heat dome is back in place with temperatures of 100F today, 102F tomorrow and 101F on Wednesday. After our respite, it seems especially cruel.
Those lower temperatures were so enticing that as I wrote in my last missive, I hit the nursery sales. I found two lovely roses, the Floribunda, ‘Kimberlina’, and the Shrub,’White Meidiland’.
The white shrub is already in her permanent home, but I still need to plant ‘Kimberlina’. I replaced a very blackspot ridden ‘Mardi Gras’ with the white because I just refuse to spray anymore. My roses look bedraggled throughout the heat of summer. Some even lose their leaves completely, but with the cooler temperatures, they generally spring back into action, providing me with a second spring.
So, that’s it. All I’ve got for my hard work, veggie-wise, are some cucumbers, three ‘Yummy’ peppers, a small eggplant and one tomato (which I ate in my store-bought salad greens).
I hope things are going better for y’all, and I think, like Mary Ann, I’m just going to join a CSA next year. Kamala Gamble from Kam’s Kookery has a nice one, but it’s all the way in Nichols Hills for goodness sake.
Anyway, until next week, I remain affectionately yours,
Dee,
Sorry to hear your veggies are doing so well. Ours have been having problems with wilt (cucumber beetles: I despise them!) and some blight on the tomatoes. We’ve had quite a bit of rain which has brought on the fungi. The ornamentals are doing well though! Your cucumbers look great, I need to plant a few more.
.-= Dave´s last blog ..9 Things That Weeds Do =-.
Dee: I am also having some vegetable issues. The wettest July on record makes for green lawns and lush perennials but the tomatoes and peppers are slow to ripen. I feel your pain! We are finally in the warmth but few 90 degree days here yet. Just unrelenting humidity. This too shall pass…..
.-= Layanee´s last blog ..Summer garden maintenance =-.
I’m bummed for you about the lack of veggies. Hang in there, fall is coming for us both!
.-= Cindy, MCOK´s last blog ..Through the Garden Gate: Monday, August 3rd =-.
Kimberlina looks lovely. I hope you find the perfect spot for her. I can totally sympathize with the heat. This time of year I am just gritting my teeth, trying to make it until the end of September and cooler weather.
.-= Jenny B´s last blog ..Reunions and Cemeteries =-.
By the time your second spring is in full swing, my entire gardening season will be over for the year. Still, I don’t care for that heat.
.-= Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening´s last blog ..Allegheny Vine =-.
The wonderful scents of the garden are the best thing about this time of year. I’m glad you were able to get out and enjoy them. Your new Rose is just lovely. Good for you to get tough with the garden and remove those Roses that need to be fussed over. Sorry about your veggie disappointments this year. Cucumber sandwiches make a refreshing summer treat.
.-= Mr. McGregor’s Daughter´s last blog ..Mishmash Monday =-.
I was going to offer my condolences on the veg harvest until I remembered you have a 5-acre-garden and suddenly envy outweighed sympathy! PLus, I have realised you’ve still managed to harvest more than me. That’s it, I’m off to sulk…
Hi Dawn, your comment elicited a big smile from my face. I do have to write though that the garden itself isn’t five acres (thank goodness!), but a little less than an acre total. I don’t think I could keep up with much more.~~Dee
I feel for you and would be over with a trug full of vegetables if you weren’t 800 miles away in Oklahoma. Do you do much with fall sown vegetables?
Your flowers all sound beautiful and I wish we could smell them through the Internet!
.-= Carol, May Dreams Gardens´s last blog ..Ritual Of The First Tomato – Revisited =-.
Like Smell-a-Vision, right? Thanks for the sympathy.~~Dee