Before leaving on vacation, most people prepare by getting someone to pick up their paper, feed their dog or cat, and get the mail. Before we leave, I am always in a panic because I need someone to watch the garden too. If I had my choice, I’d only travel during the months between November and February. However, this philosophy doesn’t coincide with school.
Over the years, we’ve tried an automatic watering system which worked with my soaker hoses. After that first summer, it quit, and we never replaced it. Opening all of the zones at the same time didn’t work well because the hoses watered at different rates with older hoses being more full of sediment and slower.
Lucky for me, this year, our nephew, C., has offered to house sit and watch over my baby plants.
As I led him through the garden yesterday, he seemed to think it was beautiful. That is the first step to getting good help. If the person likes plants, they are more likely to go outside and give them even the slightest care.
Still, I wondered if he would be able to keep everything watered. My system, which has been added onto over the years, is archaic. Long hoses ferry water to various “Y” connections that can be turned on and off. I’ve memorized which ones water slowly and which flood the area quickly (sometimes due to needed repairs.)
Would he know that some plants like esperanza, a Texas native, and tropical lantana, are very tolerant of neglect, but that when the hydrangeas droop, it means they need water NOW!
I’m not saying I don’t trust him, but these are things we learn over time through trial and error.
Add to this that the plants I’m supposed to trial for Athens Select arrived at my gate yesterday in a much disheveled state. Two didn’t have tags, and all of them looked like they’d been turned on their heads. I shoved them into the ground and watered them well. Let’s hope they make it.
My checklist:
- Complete laying shredded pine bark as mulch in the lower beds.
- Plant the last flat of impatiens in front.
- Fix all of the hoses
- Replace the hose and “Y” connector to lower beds on the right.
- Make sure everything is well watered before I leave.
Of these five things, I’ve only got time to do numbers 4 and 5.
Sigh.
On another matter, I want to be clear that I don’t hate all David Austin roses. I won’t be digging any of mine up, and I do love some of them very much in spite of the work they cause. I also agree that they smell wonderful, just like old roses.
For those of you who live in climates similar to England, cool summers with plenty of moisture, I’m sure they perform as advertised. However, in Oklahoma, mine are blooming, but already covered in blackspot. They will just have to shed their leaves while I’m gone. When I return, I will clean up and bag the diseased leaves and throw them away. ‘Graham Thomas’ and ‘Heritage’ are the least affected in my garden as of today.
As I’m typing this, my weather radio is screaming an alarm, and I can hear David Payne on the television chasing storms west of me. Gotta go watch.
Hope all of you are having happy gardening adventures. See you on the road.
Happy Trails to you. Here’s to hoping your gardens are well-behaved and well-tended while you are gone. I can certainly empathize with you. I’m already fretting about our vacation in July!
I hear ya! Sadly, I don’t have anyone to water and some of my kitchen garden was lost to the extremely sunny days we had while our family traveled for just six days.
Dee I understand totally, but we are blessed with an undergound programmable watering system, although it doesn’t get all the beds we have added! Plus I have a friend in town who is as much into gardening as I am, so we look after each others when away.
I was relieved to see last nights storms losing rotation before they got too close to you. I have been gardening away and will post more soon but just so you know I found a Double-Knockout Rose and my local nursery stocks the plants by that company Home Dept has too! I also got 2 Hucherra’s (spelling?) and a number of the other plants you recommended.
My biggest successes thus far are the Diablo Ninebark which is growing daily and my Passionfruit vines which have taken off too. Have a great trip 🙂
Wow. I’m with you on the not wanting to leave home part. After all, it’s beautiful!
My niece house sat for us last year and will again this year. I’m happy to report that everything survived. Just leave plenty of notes.
Oh–gorgeous roses!
Robin at Bumblebee
I know exactly what you mean. I’m looking for a responsible person right now to garden-sit this summer. And I’m already fretting about how the garden will fare without me.
Well, try to have a good time. I’m not much of a vacationer myself. I worry about things when I’m gone. Hardly seems worth it! I’m sure things will be fine though. I don’t have good luck with roses, and here I live in Tyler, Texas!
Brenda
I totally hear what you are saying. We don’t have animals anymore now that the kids are gone. It’s really nice not to have to think about their care when we want to pick up and go. BUT THE GARDEN is a very different story. Over all the years it has always been my greatest concern when going away. This year we cancelled a two week beach vacation in May because my first-ever veggie garden was due to begin harvest those two weeks. Crazy I know. Typically I plan not to have any new plants in the ground at the time of vacation. Even watering the established garden can be a real chore. I had to laugh with you talking about hoses and Y’s and how YOU know just how it all works. Same here. Fortunately my next door neighbor has always been gracious enough to do my watering when we’re gone. It is a really BIG blessing not to have to worry about it.
Hope you are having fun and enjoying your time with family. The garden will recover even if it doesn’t get the exact care you would give it.
Meems @Hoe&Shovel
Your description of your hoses hit a nerve–it sounds as if it was lifted from my garden. As for baskets–I’ve had pretty good luck putting them in metal baking dishes in the shade, if I’m only going to be a way a few days.
Here’s hoping all goes well!
–kate
If you were looking for sympathy you’re asking the right group, Dee – I never want to leave the garden in summerm but every single year there’s some compelling reasons and I have to do it. We’ve asked friends and neighbors and fellow Divas of the Dirt, tried automatic drip timers and hired young people – but even worse than worrying about the flowers is being gone when the tomatoes come in!
Hope your trip goes well and that your young relative not only does a good job but ends up enjoying being in your garden.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
What is even worse than leaving my plants is leaving my dogs. But, yes, it is worrisome. It’s hard to imagine someone will care as much as you do. Been there. I remember that once a very very long time ago I rented my house out for a month while I traveled in Mexico with my (gorgeous) beau. I even left them my cat, Flora. What happened to that carefree trusting side of me? When I got back the plants were larger and in better shape than when I left and the cat was fine. Sigh. Different time and place…Sounds like you have a winner, though, w/ your cuz!
After all the prep, hope you have a wonderful and worry free vacation.
Aiyana
Have a wonderful holiday, Dee.
Esther
Thanks, Esther.~~Dee
I hate leaving my plants to go on vacation. Even worse leaving for a seminar or conference and letting my men handle it. Scary monsters.
Have a great trip.
Debbi.
Yes, Debbi, that’s worse.~~Dee
I can imagine the stress! My parents are just down the road, and are experienced gardeners, so it’s nice to know I can leave mine in their capable hands.
Amy, you are so lucky to have your parents to watch the garden.~~Dee
It is very stressful leaving ones garden in the hands of inexperience. It is even difficult to leave ones garden in the hands of someone with experience this time of year. Just look at it this way your garden will look different when you return. You will see it with fresh eyes and have new ideas to carry out. Have fun..
Looking and seeing the differences in my garden when I return is a great idea, Lisa. Thanks.~~Dee
I can completely identify! Most of the time I don’t go away long enough for much ill to happen to my plants. I do usually at least take my hanging baskets down before we go. They tend to need to be watered daily in the heat of summer and my help doesn’t usually water every day. Something about wasting water. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
Have a fun trip!
Hi Cinj, I moved mine down to the surface of the deck too. We are having fun. Drove all day today and ended up in Memphis. Gonna eat barbecue.~~Dee
Howdy Dee! Is that a blacklace elderberry in front of your rose? I just bought one this spring and I’m not quite sure where it should end up in my garden.
Becky in Tulsa
Becky, it is!! I finally got it to thrive after I moved it twice. In my garden, it likes east sun and lean soil. It doesn’t like manure or much compost. It also doesn’t need a lot of water. For the first time this year, it looks really good in the border. Enjoy yours.~~Dee
I understand completely. I hope it’s all thriving when you get back. We stress so much about this watering thing. I have three different watering requirements in my garden and if you mess that up—they will be history in no time. I do hope you don’t have any wicked storm either.
Hi Anna,
I knew you all would understand. My family thinks I’m nuts. Yes, HH was helping me yesterday to pull a new hose through where the old one had finally succumbed. The wicked storms stayed north of us, but there were a couple of stunning tornadoes.~~Dee