The Long Hot Summer

Finally, fall is in the air.  The long hot and very dry summer has taken a great toll on my garden.  It's difficult to see all the years of hard and loving work gone.  The annuals never had a chance, the perennials are barely hanging on; even the shrubs and trees are very stressed.  There is a great need for the Almighty to bless us with rain.

 In late August we had the occurrence of a phenomenon known as spring-fall.  That is when there is a second bloom, caused by a very brief but significant drop in temperature. This causes many of the spring blooming trees, shrubs and vines to bloom and therefore they say, the garden gurus, that the plants won't bloom in the spring.  While this is not a happy thing, I hold out hope that God and mother nature see it differently.  Only time and spring will tell.

Blackberry Lily, always my faithful bloomer not matter the weather

There were a few Hibiscus, two to be exact

And the reliable Hollyhock just kept on blooming

The dragonflies were plentiful.  I know, they are fairies in disguise.   I hope they help mend the garden.

Even with the thought that the spring may not be a show stopper, I hold out the hope and prayer of rebirth and renewal that always comes with spring.  I hope you do too.

Fabulous Web Site

This month I somehow stumbled across the best kept secret for gardeners.  A web site that is designed like facebook but it is for gardeners.  It is fabulous. You have to try it out.  You can talk with so many people from all over the world. Share photos, ideas, advise, you know everything just like FB.  There are individual groups you can join.  It is great.  Take the time and check it out, you'll love it.

garden-share.com

Let's Share Our Gardens

     I started gardening with my grandmother at a very young age.  I played in her garden, pretending to live there and loved wandering in and out of the plants feeling like I lived in a fairyland.
     She had a wash house and chicken house and rows and rows of vegetables along with beautiful flowers.
     But, most of all she gave me her time and love and a childhood I have tried to pass on to my own children.
     So, please share your stories, ideas, help and pictures.


     My garden started out as a vacant lot.  Shortly, after we built the house and moved in I was in the yard planning and dreaming of things I could do.  I own more garden magazines than the Library of Congress.
     My garden slave (my loving husband) has planted more than seventy five trees, countless shrubs and many plants for me over the twenty two years we have been here.  Most of them are actually still alive.