Dateline: July 15, 2011, Guthrie, Oklahoma.
Hot, hot and more hot. Extreme drought conditions.
Death Orb pulsating in the sky day after day.
Gardeners in Oklahoma reported spotty showers in and around the state. A smidge of rain fell on the Red Dirt Ranch, but no accumulation was recorded. The only creatures happy with these conditions are the mighty grasshoppers eating their way through the entire patch with perennial hibiscus being their favorite delicacy. There will be not photos of this decimation. It is just too sad.
In spite of heat and other life issues, the gardener expects visitors to descend upon the garden Saturday morning. She is reportedly glad for the distraction, and it has given her an excuse to weed.
In the meantime, here are a few bloomers to light her visitors’ way.
None of this would be possible without drip irrigation four times a week. It has been over 100 for so long the gardener isn’t keeping track anymore.
Carol from May Dreams Gardens sponsors Bloom Day each month. The gardener thanks her.
You did weeding in 100 degree heat? We are in the upper 90’s, and that’s too hot for me to do any work out there. It’s too hot to water! LOL
Robin, I did the weeding in the early morning when it was only 85F. 🙂
Hard to imagine and glad not to be experiencing – weather hotter than our Chicago weather has been. Love the term ‘death orb’!
Dee-
I really love the image with Bubblegum petunias in the foreground. I planted 3 pink with a white trim in a windowbox with 2 ‘Diamond Frost’ Euphorbia and its blooming its head off even in this heat wave.
Hi Dee,
So nice to have found your website. I’m an Oklahoma gardener myself…well, I try! This summer has been a real challenge. I’m echoing a lot of the comments above: despite the difficult summer, your garden looks beautiful!
Best,
Annie
Hi Annie, you hang in there okay? It’s been a long, hot summer full of horrid heat and not rain, but we’ll muddle through until September. Thanks so much for stopping by.
I love that bird of paradise shrub too. .just saw a picture of it in some magazine not long ago, thinking HMMMM! At this point, I am trying to squelch my desire to plant new things this fall. .we too, are in that “way past counting” point of days over 100! We’re hoping that some water sports at Grand lake next week will cool us down and revive our spirits. Also hoping some of my plants will survive (and my mother in law too!!) Praying for Rain!
Hi Dee, we’ve been feeling the intense glare from the death orb here in texas too. Looks like your drip is doing the job though, love the Caesalpinia and Rhynchelytrum grass. Looking forward to catching up with you in the cooler climes of Seattle!
I feel your pain Dee. Still, your plants look pretty good. Maybe I should put my drip system on more frequently. Soon, very soon, we’ll have a break from the Death Star. 🙂
When I was in western OK in May the wheat was 1/2 as high as it should be. And my family their now says they haven’t seen rain in weeks, and crops are just vanishing. I was thinking of going back through again in August–only time I can for book research–but I know that’s the worst month possible. This is the hottest summer I’ve seen in a while. Maybe I should drive less or buy a solar panel.
The bird-of-paradise looks marvelous with the pink phlox. I think I have seed in the fridge and will have to try it next year. Love the ‘Pink Crystals’ grass and ‘Wendy’s Wish’ salvia. You are smart to have drip irrigation!
Despite the heat, your garden looks fantastic!
Lots of nice, pretty blooms. I also like you favorite spot and that deep red coleus.
Wow. Crape myrtles are resilient! I really like how you combine plants. There’s lots of variety in texture, height, and color. Nice!
Your visitors are in for a real treat! Your garden looks beautiful in spite of the drought, Dee. We have 90’s in the forecast for the next week or so, which is hot in Illinois:) I love ‘Wendy’s Wish’! I found one last year, and it was just amazing–it grew so fast, and the hummingbirds loved it. The seed I collected didn’t germinate, however, and none of the nurseries carried it this year. I’ve been spreading the word to them that they better order some next year!
There is still beauty in your garden. I find Salvia Dancing Dolls almost impossible to photograph. Finally realized what the Dancing part is all about just the other day.
If it’s any consolation, your pictures do not show any indication of your extreme weather. Happy GBBD!
I hate to tell you this. We got 4″ of rain in a very localized area Tuesday. Now it’s 101 with 70% humidity. But I’ll take the rain anytime. All I had to irrigate today were my Ligularias (bad mistake planting them). Your garden looks good considering. You hang in too.
Hi Dee’
Amazed that the ‘Pink Velour’ Crapemyrtle looks beautiful after such a winter and such a summer!
Really like the Bird of paradise shrub…I’ll have to check if my garden centers have it
glimpsesofglory-karen.blogspot.com/
Amazing showing given the heat! Love the Daylilies and really like your use of grasses.
Happy GBBD 🙂
Certainly not too shabby for the weather you have been having. Nice blooms a blooming. Happy GBBD!
Still hot but still looking gorgeous. I never thought that the bird of P was that hardy. Makes me want to try it again. Last time I grew it from seed and it died the first winter. I really like the yellow one. Happy Bloom day.
Lots of pretties at your place. Your comment on my blog about the dearth of pollinators on Caesalpinia sent me out in the humidity to see. I was sure I’d seen them. Fact is, the pollinators are on the Tecoma stans that crowd my Caesalpinia . Yours is C. gilliesii; mine is the gaudier C. pulcherrima still with no pollinators but I do have pics in other years of butterflies visiting.
I hope you get rain, but not on the same day as the visitors.
I, too, am amazed that you get out in this weather. Oh, how I remember it! I remember riding at night, because the heat of the day was unbearable. Your garden is fabulous. You inspire me to think of flowers for next year. We at least put soaker hoses in crucial places this year– soaker hoses! We thought we had left all that behind. But, dear, just now we have gotten some real rain. I’ve been repeating Psalm 103, Bless God, oh my soul. Praise and blessing avail much.
Dear Dee, fear not, your garden visitors will be delighted with your garden. I am amazed that you can even force yourself outside in this horrrid weather. You truly love your garden. I will wish a pox on your grasshoppers. I will pray for rain for your area. Happy GBBD.
Here’s wishing you a cool, soaking rain.
I am gathering trashcans (no rainbarrels usually needed around here) of rain just to keep it from inundating all my beds under the eaves. Too bad I can’t send it to you.
We are due for 110 heat indices here this week, all these delicate northerners and myself will probably implode.
Your garden looks great in spite of the drought and heat.
Is the pink/ruby crystals grass perennial for you? That is beautiful!! Your garden is gorgeous; your visitors will be in for a treat. Thank God for drip irrigation. I irrigate twice a week overhead and do a double run so it soaks in. I run all 12 zones and then start them all over again. So far so good. Pink Velour is one of my favorites. Surprised to hear it froze to the ground. Even the foliage of PV is pretty.